Abstract: In one aspect, a system may generally include a waste disposal having a disposal inlet and a disposal conduit in fluid communication with the waste disposal. The disposal conduit may include an inlet end and an outlet end, with the outlet end being fluidly connected to the disposal inlet of the waste disposal. The system may also include a supply conduit in fluid communication with a water supply. The supply conduit may include a discharge end spaced apart from the inlet end such that an air gap is defined between the disposal conduit and the supply conduit. In addition, the system may include a housing at least partially surrounding the air gap and an air gap switch provided in association with the housing. The air gap switch may be configured to control a supply of power to the waste disposal.

Abstract: In one aspect, a water supply system for a waste disposal may include first and second supply conduits fluidly connected to separate water supplies, with the first supply conduit having a first discharge end and the second supply conduit having a second discharge end. The system may also include a disposal conduit fluidly connected to the first and second supply conduits. The disposal conduit may be spaced apart from the first and second conduits such that an air gap is defined between an inlet end of the disposal conduit and the first and second discharge ends. The inlet end may be configured to receive water expelled from the first and second supply conduits. Moreover, an outlet end of the disposal conduit may be configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of the waste disposal such that water directed through the disposal conduit is received within the disposal.

Abstract: An electrochemical compressor type heat pump system is described. An electrochemical compressor compresses a mixed gas refrigerant whereby heat from the compression can be used to heat an object. The electrochemical compressor is capable of producing high pressure gas from a mixed fluid system including an electrochemically-active component, such as hydrogen, and at least one refrigerant fluid, for example water. Any suitable proton associable compound, such as any suitable ionic or polar solvent compound, may be used in the mixed gas refrigerant. The electrochemical compressor may be configured in a hot water heater along with a secondary type heating source to produce a hybrid hot water heater.

Abstract: A water filter assembly having one or more electrical connections with a removable filter cartridge is provided. The electrical connections can be used to provide power to, and/or communication with, one or more electrical components incorporated into the filter cartridge. Wire form contacts are used to provide the electrical connections. The wire form contacts can be incorporated into a variety of different water filter assembly configurations having a removable filter cartridge.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a system and a method for detecting liquid water. The method includes establishing signal communication between an RFID tag and an RFID reader, monitoring the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader and determining that liquid water is disposed between the RFID tag and the RFID reader or on the RFID tag if the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader is disrupted, interrupted or terminated.

Abstract: A heating assembly is provided to reduce the pre-heat time of an oven. The heating assembly vaporizes a phase change fluid in an evaporator, allows the phase change fluid vapor to travel to a reactor in thermal communication with a cooking chamber of an oven appliance. In the reactor, the phase change fluid combines with a reaction substance and condenses, releasing latent heat and providing heat to the cooking chamber of the oven appliance.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing energy of a home or other structure are disclosed. An energy management system for a home network comprises a central device controller configured to communicate with energy consuming devices, energy generation devices and storage devices at a home. Power/energy measuring devices provide consumption measurements for the home and each device to the controller. A user interface has a client application configured to provide information to a user/consumer and to an energy provider/utility about energy consumption, energy generation and storage. An energy profile and a carbon footprint of an individual's home are generated along with recommendations for energy savings and/or possible addition of on site generation or energy storage.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting security vulnerabilities in a client-server application where a client is connected to a server. The method is implemented by a computer having a processor and a software program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The method includes automatically extracting, with the software program at the client, a description of one or more validation checks on inputs performed by the client. The method also includes analyzing the server, with the software program by using the one or more validation checks on inputs performed by the client, to determine whether the server is not performing validation checks that the server must be performing. The method further includes determining that security vulnerabilities in the client-server application exist when the server is not performing validation checks that the server must be performing.

Abstract: An electrochemical compressor type heat pump system is described. An electrochemical compressor compresses a mixed gas refrigerant whereby heat from the compression can be used to heat an object. The electrochemical compressor is capable of producing high pressure gas from a mixed fluid system including an electrochemically-active component, such as hydrogen, and at least one refrigerant fluid, for example water. Any suitable proton associable compound, such as any suitable ionic or polar solvent compound, may be used in the mixed gas refrigerant. The electrochemical compressor may be configured in a hot water heater along with a secondary type heating source to produce a hybrid hot water heater.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a system and a method for detecting liquid water. The method includes establishing signal communication between an RFID tag and an RFID reader, monitoring the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader and determining that liquid water is disposed between the RFID tag and the RFID reader or on the RFID tag if the signal communication between the RFID tag and the RFID reader is disrupted, interrupted or terminated.

Abstract: A filtering system is provided that includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a filter cartridge. The temperature measurements can used to determine whether the filter cartridge is at an increased risk of suffering a leak due to a crack of other material failure caused by exposure to certain temperatures. More than one temperature sensor may be used. The temperature measurements can also be used to determine whether one or more corrective actions should be taken such as e.g., providing a notification to a user and/or shutting of a flow of fluid to the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.

Abstract: An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes.

Abstract: An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room and an associated method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed, the controller selectively adjusting operation of the air conditioning appliance based on historical operating data. The controller adjusts a set-point of the appliance for a preselected period of time in response to the historical operating data of the appliance when the appliance operates in an energy savings mode. The controller is configured to receive and process data relating to the rate of change in the temperature. Further, an override feature may be included to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value. Another feature is that the controller determines whether the compressor has been operational less than a preselected period of time and, if so, the compressor is operated until such time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions and data representative of at least an alert trigger time that represents a time before an end of an operating cycle of an appliance communicatively coupled to a home energy manager. The apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the memory device and configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a remaining cycle time for the operating cycle of the appliance, compare the remaining cycle time to the alert trigger time stored in the memory device, generate an alert when the remaining cycle time is equal to the alert trigger time, and transmit the generated alert to at least one remote device.

Abstract: System, method, and computer-readable instructions for use in communicating with an energy management device in a network that comprises one or more energy devices. First search results are created by searching for devices associated with a first energy management device identifier using a first discovery protocol. Second search results are created by searching for devices associated with a second energy management device identifier using a second discovery protocol. The first and second search results are combined to create a collection of candidate devices, and at least one candidate device of the candidate devices is validated to determine whether the candidate device is an energy management device.

Abstract: A heating assembly is provided to reduce the pre-heat time of an oven. The heating assembly vaporizes a phase change fluid in an evaporator, allows the phase change fluid vapor to travel to a reactor in thermal communication with a cooking chamber of an oven appliance. In the reactor, the phase change fluid combines with a reaction substance and condenses, releasing latent heat and providing heat to the cooking chamber of the oven appliance.

Abstract: An appliance for conditioning air of a room comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device.