Abstract: The occupancy status of a building space may be determined by sensing an indication of motion in the building space, in response to sensing the indication of motion in the building space, starting an occupied time period having a length during which the building space is indicated as being occupied, determining a measure related to a number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period, and selectively adjusting the length of the occupied time period based on the measure related to the number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period.

Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC system can include receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of the HVAC system to a requested set point value, converting the audio into a natural language audio stream, identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream, transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, and receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range.

Abstract: The occupancy status of a building space may be determined by sensing an indication of motion in the building space, in response to sensing the indication of motion in the building space, starting an occupied time period having a length during which the building space is indicated as being occupied, determining a measure related to a number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period, and selectively adjusting the length of the occupied time period based on the measure related to the number of subsequent sensed indications of motion in the building space during the occupied time period.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring an air filter installed in an HVAC system may include operating the HVAC system in an air filter monitoring mode such as, for example, a fan only mode, and measuring, for example, a differential pressure across the air filter when the HVAC system is operating in the air filter monitoring mode. The method may include evaluating a status of the air filter using, for example, the measured differential pressure value, and in some cases, display the status on a display of an HVAC controller.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: A Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller, such as a thermostat, is configured to receive and accept one or more requests for a temporary boost in ventilation. The requests may be received from one or more remotely located ventilation boost control units located throughout the building, and/or through a user interface of the HVAC controller itself. In some cases, the HVAC controller may be configured to coordinate multiple requests for ventilation, and adjust the ventilation time as appropriate.

Abstract: A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. Voice recognition software identifies a trigger phrase included in the natural language audio message and in response the HVAC controller performs an action. The voice recognition software may be used to create a natural language text based message from a recorded voice message or streamed voice message, where the natural language text based message is translated into the command recognizable by the HVAC controller. In response to the command, the HVAC controller may perform an action and/or respond with a natural language text based or audio message. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the thermostat and/or a remote device.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the condition of a new air filter installed in an HVAC system are disclosed. In one example, an input that indicates a new air filter has been installed may be accepted, and in response, the HVAC system may be automatically operated in an air filter verifying mode, in which the fan of the HVAC system is activated to drive air through the new air filter. While in the air filter verifying mode, a measure related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the new air filter may be received. A status of the new air filter may be determined based, at least in part, on the received measure related to the amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter of the HVAC system. Once the status of the new air filter is determined, an indication may be displayed on a display, which may communicate the determined status of the new air filter to a user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating a status of an air filter of an HVAC system may include receiving a measure that is related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter in an HVAC system, using the measure to determine whether the air filter does not need replacing, the air filter needs to be replaced soon, or the air filter should be replaced now, and displaying on a display of an HVAC controller an air filter status indicator, wherein the air filter status indicator includes a stop-light metaphor. In one example, the air filter status indicator may display a green color when the air filter does not need replacing, display a yellow color when the air filter needs to be replaced soon, and display a red color when the air filter should be replaced now. In some cases, the air filter status indicator may also include a qualitative term indicative of the current status of the air filter.

Abstract: Sensor offsets for an air filter monitor installed in an HVAC system may be determined by measuring a sensor offset differential pressure value across an air filter when substantially no air flow exists through the air filter. The sensor offset differential pressure value obtained at or near zero flow may represent the sensor offset for the air filter monitor. The sensor offset differential pressure value may be used to compensate an un-compensated differential pressure value obtained during flow conditions.

Abstract: A clean air filter may be used to set an air filter change threshold value for an air filter monitor installed in an HVAC system. The air filter change threshold value may be used to determine a status of an air filter (e.g., clean or dirty).

Abstract: A blocking panel may be used to set an air filter change threshold value for an air filter monitor installed in an HVAC system. The air filter change threshold value may then be used to determine a status of an air filter (e.g., clean or dirty).

Abstract: An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, is configured to receive and accept one or more requests for a temporary boost in ventilation. The requests may be received from one or more remotely located ventilation boost control units located throughout the building, and/or through a user interface of the HVAC controller itself. In some cases, the HVAC controller may be configured to coordinate multiple requests for ventilation, and adjust the ventilation time as appropriate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to steam humidifiers with an auto-cleaning feature, and more particularly, to steam humidifiers that include an auto-cleaning feature for automatically cleaning impurities and/or other byproducts from the steam humidifier while still operating the humidifier in a relatively efficient manner. In some illustrative embodiment, this may be accomplished by providing some level of flexibility of when an auto-cleaning routine is initiated and performed. For example, tank flushing may be initiated and performed preferentially during non-heating states of the steam humidifier, which may potentially decrease down time and increase attainable output capacity and efficiency of the steam humidifier.

Abstract: A blocking panel may be used to set an air filter change threshold value for an air filter monitor installed in an HVAC system. The air filter change threshold value may then be used to determine a status of an air filter (e.g., clean or dirty).

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating a status of an air filter of an HVAC system may include receiving a measure that is related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter in an HVAC system, using the measure to determine whether the air filter does not need replacing, the air filter needs to be replaced soon, or the air filter should be replaced now, and displaying on a display of an HVAC controller an air filter status indicator, wherein the air filter status indicator includes a stop-light metaphor. In one example, the air filter status indicator may display a green color when the air filter does not need replacing, display a yellow color when the air filter needs to be replaced soon, and display a red color when the air filter should be replaced now. In some cases, the air filter status indicator may also include a qualitative term indicative of the current status of the air filter.