Abstract: A speaker system with acoustic event detection, the speaker system including a number of speakers, a head unit including an output circuit structured to output an output signal to the speakers to cause the speakers to output an audible sound, and an acoustic event detection module structured to receive signals from the speakers and to detect an acoustic event based on the signals received from the speakers.

Abstract: A speaker system with acoustic event detection, the speaker system including a number of speakers, a head unit including an output circuit structured to output an output signal to the speakers to cause the speakers to output an audible sound, and an acoustic event detection module structured to receive signals from the speakers and to detect an acoustic event based on the signals received from the speakers.

Abstract: An online energy audit system poses and collects responses to a list of survey questions regarding a subject house from a remote occupant via a survey UI. Survey responses are stored in an energy-use profile associated with the subject house and are used to populate model inputs to an energy-use software model, from which an energy-efficiency score is derived. To help a remote occupant choose appropriate answers and to facilitate completion of the survey, the survey UI includes question-specific house-feature images associated with some or all questions. Survey questions are designed to be easy for a homeowner to understand, and the survey is kept short. The energy-efficiency score of the subject house is presented to the remote occupant in comparison with comparison energy-use data together with an action message to encourage the remote occupant to improve the energy score of the subject house.

Abstract: Non-invasive moisture-sensing within concrete (such as concrete buildings, bridges, etc.) or a polymeric material may be accomplished by a capacitor structure comprising a porous material built inside the concrete or polymeric material. The capacitance measurements change based on the amount of moisture in the porous material. Moisture-sensing can be monitored remotely (including for submerged and other structures), relatively non-invasively, and in a repeatable and reversible fashion without intermediate conditioning or resting.