Files
Abstract
Since 2011, the Nest Learning thermostat, utilizing proprietary occupancy scheduling algorithms and sensors, has transformed the residential and small-commercial programmable thermostat market into a smart thermostat market. Due to usability and design challenges, a majority of people who have programmable thermostats do not properly operate them, often times leading to lower potential energy savings and even higher energy consumption than conventional non-programmable thermostats. Compared to previous thermostats however, the Nest thermostat is designed to learn its occupants schedules and develop a heating and cooling schedule to best meet its occupants thermal comfort needs, bridging the usability and functionality gap that exists with previous programmable thermostats. While most thermostat research is focused on single family homes, this study was conducted using a multifamily apartment complex, where occupants were not responsible for their bills. This study emphasizes the importance of using smart thermostats correctly to realize expected energy savings, and how even a smart thermostat can fail to save energy if its features are not used.