Abstract: A method and system is provided for communicating service and maintenance information about equipment located at distributed building sites. A customer web portal is provided with a database for storing the equipment service information. The web portal provides an efficient way of determining the service activity for equipment located at distributed sites without the need for maintaining service related information at each site. The user can also obtain information about individual service orders and service agreements for individual pieces of equipment.

Abstract: A line of sight temperature sensor in a thermostat allows placement at locations other than on a wall. For example, the thermostat is positioned in a ceiling, allowing easier wiring access. Wall placement may be used. By remotely sensing user selection associated with a remote location, control of the building automation is provided without requiring user contact. For example, the user places a finger or hand on a graphic for increasing or decreasing temperature set point. The placement is detected with an optical or other remote sensor. The set point for heating or cooling control is altered based on the remote sensing of the user selection.

Abstract: A configuration output system for use with a building automation system is provided. The configuration output system includes a database and an output engine block. The database contains a configuration data set selected by a user. The output engine block is operable to generate a plurality of types of outputs representing the configured building automation system as a function of the configuration data set.

Abstract: A building control system, such as an HVAC system, has a field unit incorporating a control panel (a field panel) with a local user interface allowing user selected parameters for collecting trend information when the system detects a change of value for a point in the system or a timed instruction in the memory of the field panel to begin collecting trend data for a point. The resulting trend data collected by the field panel can be uploaded to a workstation in the building control system, where the trend data can be formatted into a report, and then digitally authenticated.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a network based graphical user interface allowing individuals at a facility such as a factory work to efficiently communicate problems at the facility in real time. The graphical user interface of is comprised of one or more icons, with each icon representing a work site in a facility. Using the icons, workers at a work site can quickly communicate problems about the work site. The present invention allows managers at the facility to use the same graphical interface to drill down and quickly obtain information about potential problems in the facility. The present invention also allows managers to predesignate departments or individuals to respond to different types of problems at a work site, so that when a worker at a work site identifies a problem, notifications may be sent out in real-time to the department or individuals that need to respond to the problem.

Abstract: A method includes receiving at a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet using a web-browser. The method further includes executing at the first computer at least one interpreted software program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location. The method also includes transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device, and then transmitting to the first computer second information regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device. The transmission of second information is provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

Abstract: Fabric material having a backing, such as carpet, is used as a biomass fuel component. The fabric material is shredded and substantially separated into constituent backing and fabric components. The backing component is stored in a first storage unit. The fabric component may be mixed with another biomass fuel component before introduction into a gasifier. The gasifier produces synthetic gas, which is subsequently used to produce steam. The hot ash generated as a by-product of gasification is stored in a second storage unit. Each waste product may be confined to a distinct waste path such that the waste products remain isolated from each other, at least until the ash cools down to approximately the melting point of the backing component.

Abstract: A method and system for performing quality control checks upon weather data are provided. The weather data includes information pertaining to a plurality of weather parameters. The quality control checks may identify inaccurate weather parameters or be used to rank weather data sets. The quality control checks include hourly, daily, and forecast quality control checks performed upon hourly, daily, and forecast weather parameter data. The method and system may exclude the inaccurate weather parameters identified from a reasonable weather database. The method and system may determine reasonable or approximate weather parameters that approximate the actual weather parameters. The system may rank a plurality of weather data sets based upon the accuracy determination. The reasonable weather data or the weather data ranked as the most accurate may be used to calculate energy or cost savings for building energy conservation measures.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems. Each microsystem is operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature, and to communicate temperature and relative humidity information wirelessly to a network device. The network device is operable to communicate the temperature and relative humidity information to at least a first processor configured to cause a change in a building control condition based on the information.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems and a central data processor. Each microsystem is operable to measure a plurality of indoor environmental quality-related parameters and is operable to communicate first information pertaining to the measured parameters wirelessly to a network device. The central data processor is operably coupled to receive the first information from the network device, and further configured to generate a metric value of an indoor environmental quality of at least a first space based at least in part on the first information, the metric value dependent upon each of the measured parameters of at least a first of the plurality of Microsystems.

Abstract: A test tool enables the testing of multiple variable air volume (VAV) boxes from a single location in a building environmental system. The test tool includes a building level network interface and a test program for sending a test parameter to a plurality of VAV boxes so that measurements of air flow characteristics may be obtained at the plurality of VAV boxes.

Abstract: A non-slip, nocoat drywall finishing system for finishing inside and outside corners of any angle, the finishing system being a pre-formed, continuously extruded trim piece comprising a semi-rigid member that can be relatively thick in the center and tapers laterally to a thin edge. An outer finishing layer of fibrous material that directly receives paint or texture. A pattern of protrusions, ridges, or grooves on the inner surface of the semi-rigid member to avoid the need for an inner material layer. To install one of the pieces, it is selected from stock and cut to length. A flat coat of mud is applied to both sides of an exterior or interior angle, and the trim piece is placed over the mud and smoothed into place. Once, the piece is in place, the edges are feathered once with a small amount of mud and a wide blade. At that point the corner is complete except for drying.

Abstract: An arrangement for coordinating data representative of a building system includes a process connected to a memory. The memory stores a plurality of building space objects and at least one building automation device object. At least one building space object includes a reference to at least one of the group consisting of a parent building space object and a child building space object, a reference to at least one graphic file containing a graphic image representation of the building space, and a reference to information regarding one or more building automation devices associated with the building space object. At least one building automation device object includes a reference to a corresponding building space object, a reference to at least one operating value of the building automation device, and a reference to a link to a file containing information regarding the at least one building automation device object.

Abstract: A system controller is adapted to be integrated into a control network including a plurality of device controllers that communicate through the network via a network specific communication protocol for controlling a plurality of network devices. The system controller includes an application controller which is adapted to be connected to the network and stores a plurality of system points corresponding to a plurality of system variables relating to the network devices. The application controller is adapted to convert the system points into the corresponding system variables, and the corresponding system variables into the system points. At least one client is connected to the network and in communication with the application controller. The client is adapted to send a command and request a report relating to a select system point to and from the application controller.

Abstract: A method of operating a control device having a setpoint value, an error signal, and a control output is disclosed. The error signal is representative of a difference between a controlled variable and the setpoint value, the control output operable to affect the controlled variable. The method includes generating the control output based at least in part on the error signal and holding the control output at a held value independent of the error signal when the error signal is within a dead zone. The method also includes causing an integrating portion within the control device to track the error signal and the held value when the error signal is within the dead zone.

Abstract: In building automation architectures, components may be associated through physical communications paths and at a different level through building automation applications. Building automation applications implement control processes for a building function. Due to changing needs, such as a failure of a physical communications path or the addition or removal of components, the building automation application may be more appropriately performed in a different device. By dynamically positioning or determining a processor for implementing a building automation application, an architecture or network may more optimally control building functions, such as by requiring less user input, more rapid response and/or avoiding building function failures.