Patents by Inventor Michael Zeifman

Michael Zeifman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11561022
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. Some embodiments are directed to methods for determining the air leakage rate of a building, and accordingly, for determining suitability of sealing of air leaks to improve the energy efficiency of a building. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter. To isolate the impact of air leakage, subsets of the HVAC runtime data at time intervals selected to have substantially the same conditions, but different wind speeds, may be computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER USA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Zeifman
  • Patent number: 11168915
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. In some embodiments, a model-predicted indoor temperature may be fitted against thermal data measured by a thermostat at the building. The thermal characteristic of the building may comprise a thermal insulation, an air leakage rate and/or an HVAC efficiency. The method may be used to determine, using the at least one computing device, suitability of the building for a retrofit opportunity to improve energy efficiency of the building. Determining the suitability may comprise evaluating the one or more thermal characteristics. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Zeifman, Amine Lazrak
  • Patent number: 11162703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. In some embodiments, a model-predicted indoor temperature may be fitted against thermal data measured by a thermostat at the building. The thermal characteristic of the building may comprise a thermal insulation, an air leakage rate and/or an HVAC efficiency. The method may be used to determine, using the at least one computing device, suitability of the building for a retrofit opportunity to improve energy efficiency of the building. Determining the suitability may comprise evaluating the one or more thermal characteristics. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Zeifman, Amine Lazrak
  • Publication number: 20190041081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. Some embodiments are directed to methods for determining the air leakage rate of a building, and accordingly, for determining suitability of sealing of air leaks to improve the energy efficiency of a building. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter. To isolate the impact of air leakage, subsets of the HVAC runtime data at time intervals selected to have substantially the same conditions, but different wind speeds, may be computed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Zeifman
  • Publication number: 20180087798
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. In some embodiments, a model-predicted indoor temperature may be fitted against thermal data measured by a thermostat at the building. The thermal characteristic of the building may comprise a thermal insulation, an air leakage rate and/or an HVAC efficiency. The method may be used to determine, using the at least one computing device, suitability of the building for a retrofit opportunity to improve energy efficiency of the building. Determining the suitability may comprise evaluating the one or more thermal characteristics. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Zeifman, Amine Lazrak
  • Publication number: 20180068034
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. In some embodiments, a model-predicted indoor temperature may be fitted against thermal data measured by a thermostat at the building. The thermal characteristic of the building may comprise a thermal insulation, an air leakage rate and/or an HVAC efficiency. The method may be used to determine, using the at least one computing device, suitability of the building for a retrofit opportunity to improve energy efficiency of the building. Determining the suitability may comprise evaluating the one or more thermal characteristics. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Zeifman, Amine Lazrak
  • Patent number: 9817045
    Abstract: Identification and tracking of major electric appliances by using aggregate power data obtained at the main breaker level of a residence or commercial establishment. Step power changes and power surges characterize appliances. These features are identified and the time of use and duration statistics are considered to match an observed sequence of power changes with the appliances being turned on and off. The time-dependent usage of appliances and their power consumption are then reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Zeifman
  • Publication number: 20150081384
    Abstract: Described herein are various examples of techniques that may be implemented in some embodiments to determine a score indicative of a likelihood of a consumer enrolling in a behavior-based energy efficiency program. The score may be determined based at least in part on prior energy consumption of the consumer. The prior energy consumption of the consumer may be compared to characteristics of energy consumption that were previously determined to be associated with consumers who previously enrolled in an energy efficiency program and consumers who did not previously enroll. Based on the comparison, a score may be determined that the consumer will or will not enroll, or scores of the consumer enrolling and not enrolling may be determined. Based on the score(s), a prediction may be made of whether the consumer will enroll in an energy efficiency program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Zeifman
  • Publication number: 20130338948
    Abstract: Identification and tracking of major electric appliances by using aggregate power data obtained at the main breaker level of a residence or commercial establishment. Step power changes and power surges characterize appliances. These features are identified and the time of use and duration statistics are considered to match an observed sequence of power changes with the appliances being turned on and off. The time-dependent usage of appliances and their power consumption are then reconstructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Fraunhofer USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Zeifman