Abstract: The recommended running time for an indoor climate control system, such as an HVAC system, for a building is determined. Ideally, the recommended running time reflects the amount of time during each operating cycle that the system ought to run for an indoor climate control system that has been properly sized to the building. Energy usage data of an indoor climate control system are obtained for a time period of interest with a time resolution that reflects the physically relevant time scales. The data is formed into a time series of running times. The running times of the system are compared to the recommended running time to infer the apparent sizing of the indoor climate control system.

Abstract: The invention provides a buffered substrate that includes a substrate, a buffer layer and a silicon layer. The buffer layer is disposed between the substrate and the silicon layer. The buffer layer has a melting point higher than a melting point of the substrate. A polycrystalline silicon layer is formed by crystallizing the silicon layer using a laser beam.