Method and apparatus for building environmental compliance

• US 5,553,006 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reliable Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chelsea Group, Ltd (Ameresco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benda, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/257,157
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 364/493, 364/550, 364/557, 364/558, 364/580, 364/505, 340/870.02, 340/825.06, 340/825.08
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for replacing existing thermostats in buildings with physically small, inexpensive sensor array units that gather local environmental data such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, motion, particulate matter concentration, possibly toxic gas presence, and other parameters. The local arrays report data back over existing building wiring including thermostat wires and building power to a central data logging node. The central data logging node stores and reduces data for reporting over to a computer over a conventional RS-232 link. The data is used to prove compliance with environmental and safety regulations and requirements.

Claims

1. A building environmental compliance apparatus comprising, in combination:

at least one remote data collection point, said data collection point containing at least two environmental condition sensors, wherein said remote data collection point replaces an existing thermostat;

a data logging point communicating with at least one remote data collection point, said data logging point storing historical environmental data from remote data collection points;

a set of data polling intervals, each member of said set unique to at least one remote data collection point, whereby said data logging point stores data from remote data collection points according to said data polling intervals.

2. The building environmental compliance apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote data collection point communicates with said data logging point over existing thermostat wiring.

3. A building environmental compliance system comprising, in combination:

a first gas sensor responding to a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and sulphur dioxide;

a second gas sensor responding to a gas selected from the group consisting of methane, and carbon dioxide;

a temperature sensor;

a humidity sensor;

a signal conditioner for controlling and conditioning signals from said sensors;

a data logger for storing historical environmental conditions;

communications means for reporting sensor values from said signal conditioner to said data logger;

data reducing means for determining trends and averages in said sensor values. incorporate the examiner'"'"'s conditions for allowance and to correct claim numbering to put the claims in form to be allowed or better form for appeal.

4. The building environmental compliance system claimed in claim 3 wherein said first gas sensor is a carbon monoxide sensor.

5. The building environmental compliance system claimed in claim 3 wherein said second gas sensor is a methane sensor.

6. The building environmental compliance system claimed in claim 3 wherein said second gas sensor is a carbon dioxide sensor.