World First Intelligent Interactive Comfort Meter Saves On Energy Usage For Heating And Cooling

Aug. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- With energy prices rising and the UK Government switching their emphasis to energy saving, Kyle Electronic Design Ltd in Glasgow has developed the worlds first intelligent interactive Comfort Meter which shows people how to save energy in their homes and offices by calculating the most economic comfortable temperature for the current conditions and graphically showing the user how far away from ideal they are at the moment.  Interactive advice is given on how to reach the most economic comfortable temperature and other strategies are proposed that might be used to further reduce energy without loss of comfort.

Everyone has their thermal comfort zone which changes depending on the humidity, clothing being  worn and the airflow around them. Everyone knows when they are comfortable but it can be difficult to relate this to economy. What can be done to reduce energy costs without moving out of the comfort zone?

The new eco-wand USB ComfoMeter system measures the local temperature and humidity which allows people at home and in their office to see, on their computer,  where they are relative their comfort zone. On being told what they are wearing and what  the airflow is like, the computer shows where economies can be made without sacrificing comfort. As the economy measures are taken, the results can be seen immediately on the computer and further measures may be taken. In winter it might advise to put on more clothes and turn the thermostat down or in summer it might advise to take clothes off and turn on a fan.

“The ComfoMeter is a multi-purpose tool that can show when energy is being wasted in the home or office” said Dr Gardiner who designed the system. “It uses the powerful graphics of a PC to give meaningful displays of the conditions in rooms. Using the computer for display and control allows us to provide the measurement hardware at a minimum cost and to give useful displays of where and when too much – or too little – energy is being used. Our slogan is - Live life on the edge of your Comfort Zone. It makes sense of the Government enjoinder to turn the thermostat down a degree. We have also designed it to be easily used, like an App, all entries are made by point and click or drag.”

As well as showing if energy can be saved at the moment, the history feature allows home owners and office managers to see what has been happening to the temperature and humidity or their premises. From this they can tell if the heating system timers are set properly and check the effectiveness of insulation measures. Because of the immediacy of the system, it can be used to see the effects of other energy saving measures such as closing curtains and blinds both when it is cold outside and when it is hot.

It is said that the average household can save £60.00 and 300kg CO2 per year. The ComfoMeter might allow you to go well beyond that or it might show that you are losing work efficiency by working outside the Comfort Zone.

The first batch of units are going to a local University who will be using the units to find out where the energy is going in their fifties and sixties buildings which do not have modern heating and ventilation systems.

More details of the eco-wand system including the applications in buildings management can be found on our website www.eco-wand.com

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About Kyle Electronic Design Ltd

Kyle Electronic Design Ltd is a designer of USB computer peripherals for temperature/humidity measurement to help people reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. The ComfoMeter is the first of our eco-wand range and is used to display the Comfort Zone for the current conditions and help reduce energy by showing how far from the most economic current conditions are.