Abstract: A system for managing drainage of heat pump coil condensate using a building's legacy heat piping infrastructure. The system includes a drainage pan that accumulates condensate and directs it into condensate piping. The condensate piping feeds the condensate into the building's legacy heat piping infrastructure, preferably after treating the condensate with a neutralizer to reduce its acidity. The system also includes a system control for monitoring the accumulated condensate levels and the status of the legacy heating system to determine when to open a flow control means allowing the condensate to drain from the condensate piping into the building's legacy heat piping infrastructure.

Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and/or energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that integrates with a residential capacity air handling unit (AHU) is embodied in a small footprint HRV or ERV unit that connects directly to the return side of an AHU and to outdoor air inlet and exhaust ducts. The ventilator includes a control system incorporating a processor and sensors that control the operation of the system to provide desired ventilation flow rates under varying conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, reducing cycling of heating and cooling systems by varying the deadband of a thermostat. The deadband is varied such that it does not impact human comfort significantly. The deadband is kept narrow (at its current normal value) during peak heating/cooling period, while it is made wider during periods of non-occupancy, shoulder months with low heating/cooling requirements, and set-back periods. The variation of deadband can be based on an internal clock/calender, an outdoor temperature sensor or a combination of both. The apparatus may be an electronic thermostat which may be programmable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a passive, fiber-optic day-lighting system collects and transports sunlight as a cost-effective technology solution for day-lighting applications. The system utilizes a low concentration ratio sunlight collection system, in expensive optical fibers, and an inexpensive passive solar thermal tracker. The sun-light collection system uses an array of conical compound parabolic concentrators with concentration ratio in the range of 50-500. The sun-light collection system may also use an array of square or rectangular shaped Fresnel lenses with circular concentric grooves. The array of Fresnel lenses can be formed on a single sheet of plastic, which will minimize the cost of manufacturing and reduce the cost of assembly of individual lenses into an array. The sun-light collection may also use arrays of two concentrators in tandem.