Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods and tools for coordinating the activities of a contractor and a user during a setup process of a building control system. In some instances, a contractor may install a building device and then partially configure the building device. The contractor may then leave a message at the building device for a customer. The message may including an instruction on how the customer can take action to further configure the building device. In some cases, the message may include an electronic message displayed on a display of the building device. In some cases, the message may be on a cling that is releasably secured to a face of the building device and/or may be on a hang tag that is releasably secured to the building device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods and tools for coordinating the activities of a contractor and a user during a setup process of a building control system. In some instances, a contractor may install a building device and then partially configure the building device. The contractor may then leave a message at the building device for a customer. The message may including an instruction on how the customer can take action to further configure the building device. In some cases, the message may include an electronic message displayed on a display of the building device. In some cases, the message may be on a cling that is releasably secured to a face of the building device and/or may be on a hang tag that is releasably secured to the building device.

Abstract: An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, may be configured to allow a user to set and/or select schedule time period in which one or more indoor quality units (e.g. humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.) will or will not operate, and/or will operated but using different settings. In some cases, the schedule time periods available for selection may correspond to the time periods of a programmable temperature schedule of the HVAC controller, but this is not required. In some instances, the HVAC controller may allow a user to select which indoor air quality units will or will not operate, and/or what settings the indoor air quality units will operate, during a user's vacation.

Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may be configured to allow a user to grant or deny access to its HVAC system in response to the user receiving an electronic invitation to the system. The granting of access by a user to its HVAC system may allow for remote monitoring of the HVAC system.

Abstract: An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, may be configured to allow a user to set and/or select schedule time period in which one or more indoor quality units (e.g. humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.) will or will not operate, and/or will operated but using different settings. In some cases, the schedule time periods available for selection may correspond to the time periods of a programmable temperature schedule of the HVAC controller, but this is not required. In some instances, the HVAC controller may allow a user to select which indoor air quality units will or will not operate, and/or what settings the indoor air quality units will operate, during a user's vacation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods and tools for coordinating the activities of a contractor and a user during a setup process of a building control system. In some instances, an application program for a mobile device may provide contractors and users with different user experiences when configuring a building device, where the contractor is provided with additional features and functionality.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods and tools for coordinating the activities of a contractor and a user during a setup process of a building control system. In some instances, a contractor may install a building device and then partially configure the building device. The contractor may then send an invite, such as an electronic invite, to a customer that invites the customer to complete the configuration of the installed building device.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information, a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller, and a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the network connection. The controller may be configured to receive one or more messages related to the operation of the HVAC system via the network connection, and to display the one or more messages on the touch screen display.

Abstract: An HVAC controller includes a user interface configured to accept inputs from a user and to display information to the user, and a controller configured to process inputs from the user interface and to provide the user interface with information to be displayed. An equipment connection may be connectable to one or more HVAC components and may be operably coupled to the controller. A network connection may be operably coupled to the controller and may provide the controller with access to outside information. The controller may output (via the user interface) a particular cue in response to information received from the equipment connection and/or the network connection, and wherein the particular cue is a cue that was previously selected and activated by the user.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device that includes a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information. A network connection is configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller. A controller may display one or more screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device and to accept input from a user to remotely program one or more functions of the HVAC controller. The controller may provide a tour via the touch screen display of the mobile device that guides a user though programming functions of the HVAC controller and may output the one or more programmed functions of the HVAC controller to the remote server via the network connection.

Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: A building control system that uses geofencing in conjunction with a time-based schedule when control one or more building systems. In one example, geofencing may be used to determine if the building is occupied or unoccupied. If the building is determined to be unoccupied via geofencing, the building controller may control to an unoccupied setpoint. If the building is determined to be occupied via geofencing, the HVAC controller may control in accordance with a time-based schedule.

Abstract: A call for humidity signal may activate a water valve of a humidifier to cause water to flow onto a humidifier pad within the humidifier. In some examples, a controller may activate the water valve in a pattern such that most of the water evaporates, rather than flowing to a drain system, yet still provides the requested humidity level. In some examples, the controller is configured to cause the water valve to deliver water to the humidifier pad in a water delivery pattern having a controlled period and a controlled duty cycle.

Abstract: An HVAC controller and/or server may be programmed to determine if ventilation of a building is desired based, at least in part, on the one or more user-specified air quality thresholds stored in a memory, and one or more of a measure of indoor air quality and a measure of outdoor air quality. The air quality parameter threshold may relate to an air quality index, an air pollutant concentration, a smog alert, a pollen count, a dew point, a chance of precipitation, and/or the like. In addition, the HVAC controller and/or server may take into account current or future weather conditions when determining the ventilation needs of a building. Upon determining that ventilation is needed or recommended, the HVAC controller may send or display a message to the user. The message may recommendation that the user open a window or operate a ventilation system, as desired.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device having a touch screen display, a wireless port and a controller that is in operative communication with the touch screen display and the wireless port. The controller may establish communication with and download an application program code from the remote download server. The controller may establish a direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller and execute the application program code, which provides one or more configuration screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device to enable the user to configure the HVAC controller via one or more configuration parameters, and then upload the one or more configuration parameters to the HVAC controller via the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller.