Smart HVAC Zoning; not Smart Vents
During my time at ConnectM as CEO, in 2016, I acquired the assets of Ecovent Corp., one of the leaders in smart vents, and promptly killed the notion of the smart vent being the key to this solvable problem of rooms that are too hot/cold.
Why kill the vent?
Because it is not about smart vents…it is about SMART ZONING.
Achieving room-by-room climate control is best accomplished using applied science (thermodynamics) as the governing intelligence.
The Ecovent technology demonstrates the power of a robust sensory network measuring temperature, pressure, humidity from multiple key locations throughout a building.
Applied Data Science
With this data set, we apply the science of thermodynamics to derive a data-equivalent, thermal map of the entire building.
This dataset allows us to implement a system-level (entire building ventilation system) “command and control” function (via controllable vents) to distribute airflow while maintaining a steady static pressure level in the ductwork (a key safety feature for the HVAC system).
The key here is that the command and control function of the vents is just that — command and control.
It is a function of our algorithm, written based on applied science formulas. And those formulas are possible due to the dataset derived from the sensory network.
App-Based Room By Room Climate Control
And the end result is “App-Based Climate Control in Every Room” — which solves the this room is too hot/cold problem that we all know very well.
But these systems are highly engineered at the hardware level, making them high quality and expensive. They are also limited in sizes, and not applicable to all buildings or homes. So only the high income demographics, who have homes that match the current vent sizes can afford this technology today.
And we want to solve this problem for everyone. For the masses.
The methodology, software and science part is effectively solved….but the hardware challenge remains if we are going to reach the mass market.
So Lets Commoditize the Hardware
As such, we began partnering with manufacturers, and took this to the open-source community to put the wheels in motion to resolve this issue at scale.
We need commoditized dampers, vents and registers…and they must be motorized, outfitted with pressure/temperature sensors and communicate data.
Traditional Zoning Market Adoption Has Been Flat for 40 Years
The issue here is that the traditional zoning market has only penetrated 3% of the total residential market over the last 40–50 years.
The Ecovent Smart Zoning methodology and algorithms stand to unlock the other 97%…if we can commoditize the hardware.
Smart Damper Market Size
When you consider the housing market in the US alone, at 100m+ homes, with an average of 13 vent/registers per home, that is an addressable market of 1.3 billion dampers. If the manufacturer could sell these wholesale at $27 each; this is a $35 Billion market in retro-fit alone.
Even better is if the technology can be subsidized by utilities and insurance companies due to the energy efficiency and safety that can be achieved.
Open-Source Initiative
Full credit to the founders; Ecovent developed a killer system, with beautifully engineered vents, patented and designed with a curtain mechanism allowing for precise control of airflow from each vent.
There is also the patented Wall Sensor that provides super accurate readings from a room as part of the system.
But taking a page from Elon Musk, if our goal is mass-scale market adoption, and we believe it starts with hardware commoditization, then we help facilitate this by open-sourcing the patented hardware. No point in protecting something with patents if it doesn’t serve the greater good.
ConnectM will continue to serve the zoning market with adaptable zoning solutions, precisely governed by Ecovent’s proven methodology and science, while also working with the open-source community, partners and manufacturers to solve for the masses and commoditize the hardware.
So that is what we did — For reference, here is the UID with the Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA): US000092 The link to the project is here: https://github.com/connectm-us/ecovent
