Multi-room Temperature and Humidity Environmental Monitoring for Home Energy Control

Current building codes require that new central heating appliances such as oil and gas fired boilers be accompanied by a room thermostat and programmer. The location of the thermostat can lead to problems in operating the central heating system when the temperature local to the thermostat is not consistent with the temperature in rooms where there is demand. Likewise, the interaction with other energy saving measures, such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) can produce control issues and lead to negative end user experiences. This paper considers an alternative approach using low cost temperature sensors, open source software and hardware, and interactive dashboard to assist end users in optimizing their energy use with a view to reducing demand and fuel costs.