GB2425602A

GB2425602A - Determining an energy efficiency rating of a building

Info

Publication number: GB2425602A
Application number: GB0508421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alexander Culbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-26
Filing date: 2005-04-26
Publication date: 2006-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-26
Also published as: GB0508421D0; GB2425602B

Abstract

A building energy survey tool 1 comprises a processing module 2 (such as a personal digital assistant (PDA)), and a number of measurement devices (a laser range finder device 11, an electronic compass 12 and an electronic dampness meter 13) providing inputs to the processing module 1. The processing module 2 prompts a user to input required data (such as building dimensions, building materials, building insulation) or to operate the measurement devices to input the required data and determined an energy efficiency rating for the building. It may also generate a floor plan based on the input data. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating of a dwelling is claimed in addition to the survey tool 1.

Description

A Portable Building Energy Survey Tool

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a portable building energy survey tool, particularly, though not exclusively, to such a tool that can be used on site a building to facilitate the determination of the energy efficiency of the building.

Background of the Invention

Having energy efficient buildings is becoming more important as energy costs continue to rise. The energy rating of a building, that is, the energy needed for space heating, water heating and lighting is therefore becoming an important parameter, particularly when considering purchase of a property, and, conversely, selling the property. A Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) has now been developed to enable a standardized energy rating, assuming standard occupancy patterns and heating patterns, based on calculated annual energy requirements derived from the measured floor area of the property.

Although the SAP presently only applies to dwellings and not other residential properties or other types of buildings, it will be appreciated that determining the energy rating of a building may still be useful for all types of buildings.

As the sale and purchase of dwellings becomes more regulated in the information that a prospective purchaser must be given, it has become obligatory on the seller to carry out and provide a survey of the building including all relevant factors to prospective purchasers. This may in the future include the energy rating of the building being sold. Surveyors therefore need to determine the energy rating of a building. At present, this often involves a certain degree of estimation, if not guesswork, based on the volume of the building, the materials (and insulating properties) that the building is made from, the type of heating it has, the building's environment (including it's orientation with respect to the sun's path, prevailing winds and other nearby buildings) as well as various other factors.

Brief Summary of the Invention

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a portable building energy survey tool, which facilitates the energy rating of a building to be quickly determined by the simple inputting of relevant data on site.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a portable building energy survey tool comprising a computer module having a processor, a system bus coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing data for use by the processor and for storing results from the processor, a user input interface coupled to the system bus whereby a user can input user data to the module, a communications interface coupled to the system bus for enabling the tool to communicate with other devices, a device input interface coupled to the system bus for receiving device data from devices connected to the computer module, and a display coupled to the system bus, a laser range finder device coupled to the device input interface for enabling distance measurement data determined by the laser range finder device to be input to the computer module, an electronic compass coupled to the device input interface for enabling orientation data to be input to the computer module, and an electronic dampness meter coupled to the device input interface for enabling dampness data to be input to the computer interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the user data includes information relating to a building to be surveyed and the device data includes at least external dimensions of the building and geographical orientation of the building.

The user and device data preferably includes information relating to window area per floor in each wall of the building and preferably includes information relating to door area per floor in each wall of the building.

The user data preferably also includes information relating to the material from which each wall of the building is built and may include information relating to insulating material present in the ceiling, floor or walls, for each floor of the building. The user data preferably also includes information relating to any external obstructions for each wall of the building and may also include information relating to dampness for each wall of the building.

In one embodiment, the computer module automatically generates a simplified floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating of the building from the user data and device data.

Preferably, the user and device data includes information relating to locations and sizes of windows per floor in each wall of the building, and may also include information relating to locations and sizes of doors per floor in each wall of the building.

In one embodiment, the computer module automatically generates a detailed floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating from the user data and device data.

The user data preferably also includes information regarding required maintenance of aspects of the building and, optionally, their urgency and estimated cost.

The computer module preferably prompts a user, when the tool is in use, to provide the user data and to operate the devices to provide the device data.

Preferably, the computer module provides basic floor plan templates on the display and provides menu prompts to the user to input the required user data and to operate the devices to input the required device data.

The portable building energy survey tool may further comprise a GPS receiver to enable the tool to determine its precise geographical location.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a system for determining an energy efficiency rating for a building, the system comprising a portable building energy survey tool as described above and a base computer for receiving data from the portable building energy survey tool and for determining the energy efficiency rating for a building from the received data.

Preferably, the portable building energy survey tool communicates with one or more databases to obtain reference data.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building, the method comprising the steps of determining the external dimensions of the building, determining the geographical orientation of the building, generating at least a simplified floor plan for each floor of the building using a portable computer module, entering data into the portable computer module regarding external elements for each floor of the building, entering data into the portable computer module regarding materials that elements of the building are made from, entering data into the portable computer module regarding insulation present in the building, and generating an energy efficiency rating for the building.

The simplified floor plan preferably includes data relating to window area per floor in each wall of the building and may also include data relating to door area per floor in each wall of the building.

In one preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of prompting the user to input data relating to any external obstructions for each wall of the building and may also comprise the step of prompting the user to input data relating to dampness for each wall of the building. The method preferably also comprises the step of prompting the user to input data relating to locations and sizes of windows and doors per floor in each wall of the building.

In one embodiment, the portable computer module automatically generates a detailed floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating from the user data and device data.

The method may further comprise the step of prompting the user to input data regarding required maintenance of aspects of the building and, optionally, their urgency and estimated cost. The step of prompting the user may involve providing a basic floor plan template on a display of the portable computer module and providing menu prompts to the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which: FIG. I shows a schematic block diagram of a portable building energy survey tool according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a simplified floor plan developed using the survey tool of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a detailed floor plan developed using the survey tool of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 shows a menu for facilitating input of information to the survey tool ofFlG.1;and FIG. 5 shows the detailed floor plan of FIG. 3 having a menu superimposed for facilitating input of further information.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable building energy survey tool I is formed of a computer processing module 2 and several measurement devices arranged to provide inputs to the computer processing module 2. The computer processing module 2 may be a Personal Digital Assistant (FDA) or some other suitable portable computing device, such as a tablet computer. The computer processing module 2 includes a central processing unit 4 coupled via a system bus 3 to a device input interface 5 for connecting to a device bus 10, a memory 6, a display 7, a user input interface 8 and a communications interface 9. The device bus 10 is coupled to the measurement devices, which include a laser range finder II, an electronic compass 12, an electronic dampness meter 13 and, if desired, various other measurement devices.

The device input interface 5 provides input and output ports (or a single input/output port) for communication with the measurement devices 11, 12 and 13, via the device bus 10. This interface could be either a wired interface, such as USB, or could be a short range wireless interface, such as Bluetooth or Wi- Fi. The memory 6 provides the central processing unit with a means for storing data, before, during and after processing, whereby that data can be input by a user from the user input interface or by the measurement devices, or from a remote device via the communications interface 9, and can be displayed on the display 7. The user input interface 8 may be a touch screen input, of the type well known in the art, or may be a keypad entry system, or any other suitable user interface. The communications interface 9 provides a communications link to remote devices, for example a central station, via any desired technology, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB and/or GPRS.

The laser range finder 11 is a standard tool for measuring distances by transmitting a laser beam and measuring the time it takes to bounce off a particular barrier or wall to determine the distance to that barrier or wall. They are well known as stand alone devices for measuring internal room sizes in buildings, as well as external dimensions of different parts of buildings and other areas of land.

The electronic compass 12 is also a well known device that senses the direction of magnetic north and hence determines the bearing along which it is pointing. Finally, the electronic dampness meter is a known stand alone device that is used to measure the dampness of walls in buildings by sensing the amount of moisture via probes that can be detached from the meter and placed in or adjacent an element where the dampness level is to be measured.

Thus, a preferred embodiment of the portable building energy survey tool I enables a user to facilitate the determination of the energy efficiency of the building whilst on site, whilst, at the same time, preparing a floor plan and other survey information that will enable a survey report to be prepared without duplicating the amount of work that needs to be done.

The tool I is used on site by a user at, for example, a building such as a dwelling house. In order to determine the energy rating, the user needs to input some information, and other information will be input directly from the devices forming part of the tool I. In some cases a simplified floor plan that does not include the rooms on a particular floor, but only the external dimensions of the floor may be produced, since the internal walls are not essential for determining the energy rating. Furthermore, the simplified floor plan need not include all the windows and doors accurately positioned on the external walls, but only needs to indicate the combined area of the windows and of the doors. Thus, for example, where a wall may actually have two or three windows, the simplified floor plan will only show a single window with the same area as the two or three windows combined. An example of such a simplified floor plan 15 is shown in Figure 2, with an equivalent detailed floor plan 16 being shown in Figure 3.

As can be seen, although external elements, such as windows and doors, need to be relatively accurate in size, their positioning is not necessarily critical in the simplified floor plan. For instance, several windows in the same wall on the same floor can in many cases be shown as a single window located anywhere in the wall and providing there is no nearby object blocking the sunlight the energy rating calculations will not be affected. Thus, the single window 14 in the right hand waIl 17 of the simplified floor plan 15 of Figure 2 has the same overall area as the three windows 18, 19 and 20 in the detailed floor plan 16 of Figure 3 and for energy rating calculations this will yield the same result. However if there is an obstruction blocking one or more of the windows then this approximation will start to produce errors and more detail will be required. It will be appreciated that the time taken to draw the simplified floor plan would be very short, yet it would still form a sound framework for the energy rating determination and other reports and would be reusable in future sales, for the same purposes.

Once the simplified floor plan is prepared, the tool will obtain the geographical orientation of the walls from data from the electronic compass, and will hence be able to determine the direction of each of the walls with external elements and determine whether their orientation in relation to average prevailing winds, hours of sunlight, and other relevant climate conditions. The user can also add information relating to the materials from which the walls are built (as well as the doors and windows, if appropriate) and to any insulation that may be built into the dwelling, including into the ceiling and/or floor. The tool then stores all the relevant data and either determines the energy rating on site or communicates with a central computer station, either remotely or when back at the user's office, so that the energy rating can be determined by the central computer station forming part of the main system, which can also generate any reports that may be required. It will be appreciated that the tool may be preprogrammed to prompt the user for the required information and may not permit further data to be entered until the required data has been input.

Figure 4 shows a preprogrammed menu-driven prompt to help the user to input all the information required for a more detailed floor plan and description, which may be required, for example, for marketing purposes. In this case a basic matrix 21 is used to drill down to the particulars, which is entered primarily on a per room basis. This is linked to building elements and a multiple-choice approach is utilised. The floor plan is then created from this matrix 21. The room definitions and particulars will also be linked to the floor plan and included in it. Thus, as can be seen in Figure 4, the matrix 21 includes various possible floors as rows 22 and various possible types of rooms as columns 23 for each floor. The user then only needs to click on the appropriate box to pull up a menu 24 of a range of rooms of each type and then to click on that room to "enter" it onto the matrix and floor plan for the particular floor of the dwelling.

Once all the appropriate rooms and other features of the dwelling have been entered via the matrix for each floor, the tool can generate a generalized floor plan, which is not shown, but which basically consists of generalized "blocks" for each of the rooms entered into the menu 24 for each floor. The blocks can then be dragged on the screen of the tool until they are in roughly the correct position and orientation with respect to each other. This generalized floor plan can then be used directly, or indirectly to provide the same or another user with information to facilitate generation of a detailed floor plan and the user can then operate the tool to input the dimensions of each room, as well as the external dimensions and those of the external elements, so that the tool can generate the detailed floor plan 16, as shown in Figure 3. This is the preferred approach and in the long term is the most effective and efficient. In order to enter the correct dimensions on the floor plan, the element, such as a window, is selected and entered with the correct width but only approximate positioning. The tool is held with its edge against the window frame and a dimension box for the distance between the window and the nearest perpendicular wall is selected.

The tool will then measure the distance and update the dimension repositioning the window and update the other dimensions at the same time, to the extent that may be possible. So for, example, if the total length of the wall is known, and the width of the window is known, then updating the distance to the nearest wall will allow the tool to reposition the window in the correct position on the wall and update the dimension to the other perpendicular wall.

Clicking on different elements of the detailed floor plan 16 can bring up further user prompt menus, such as shown in Figure 5. In this case, for example, a window 25 is added and sized by clicking and dragging the image of the window to the appropriate position. Clicking on the window again will drop down a menu 26, enabling the user to enter the window height, window structure, its condition and finally in case the operator wishes to remove the window there is the delete function. The user then selects the item to enter and there are further context related options to choose from in one or more submenus 27.

The system assumes that the first element of any type to be entered is the default element type. Therefore if this window structure is defined as, for example, upvc casement frame with 24mm double glazing units the system will assume that all windows are of the same type unless overwritten. The same approach is used for "Condition." This enables the user to enter the data swiftly yet retain detailed control. In the situation where a "generic" element condition has been entered to cover all similar elements the system will write the report for this element type in a generic manner. For example, the generic condition may be entered as: "Windows Condition rating 3 - The windows were in a generally poor condition and require urgent repair and repainting" or, if more detail is required, the entry might read: "Windows - Condition rating 3 - Maintenance estimated at 1030 urgently required for this element category.

Details The majority of windows were in reasonable condition and did not require urgent attention.

Exceptions: Defect number I - Window in the north wall of the Kitchen/Diner has damp rot in the frame and needs to be replaced. Estimated cost of replacement 510.

Defect number 4 - Window in the south wall of lounge has damp rot in the frame and needs to be replaced. Estimated cost of replacement 520.

Thus, the detailed floor plan will take a little longer to produce than the simplified floor plan, of course, but it has a number of advantages: i) A version of it can be used for marketing purposes in both brochures and on the web. This can be further enhanced if required to show items such as kitchen units and bathroom fittings.

ii) The accurate location of defects is easy to describe, e.g. "window in the north wall of the Kitchen/Diner", which is indicated by the spot number "1 ". It also makes it easier to report the location of internal defects - e.g. rising damp in the internal wall - defect number "3".

iii) The effects of external obstructions and shelter are more accurately calculated and where these exist (but a detailed floor plan is not requested) the critical elements can be shown in more detail while the remainder is dealt with in the broad-brush, simplified approach.

iv) An accurate floor plan can be used as a template for a more detailed full structural survey and it makes it easier to provide a detailed report more quickly.

v) Although in a Home Condition Report (HCR) only serious defects would normally be reported (rectification costs over 1000), the system will be able to report less serious defects if desired, which would certainly be the case if it is a full structural survey for the purchaser. By using a colour scheme, such as a "traffic light" scheme, rapid identification of the different grades of defect is enabled, for example, red colour for very important defects that need rapid attention, orange colour for less important defects, but ones that will still need attention in the near future, and green colour for defects that do not have to be looked at in the near future.

vi) The structure, once created, can be reused in the future. SAP data will be retained and providing the building has not been altered, no modifications will be required. Therefore subsequent surveying will be faster and the collection of more energy data will not be required.

The tool thus allows for: - Semi automatic dimension entry with automatic calculation of external dimensions from internal measurements; - Semi automatic dampness recording; - Semi automatic building orientation; Semi automatic room/wall orientation - important for irregular buildings; - Automatic calculation of the energy rating of the building from the collected data; - Cross checking for incomplete data; - Validity checking for inappropriate data; - Automated report writing.

It will be appreciated that although only a few particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, various modifications and improvements can be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various other measurement devices may be connected to the device bus, as required. One possibility is to connect a GPS receiver, so that the tool can automatically determine its geographical location. By cross-referencing that location with an appropriate database, either remotely or provided in the memory on the tool, the actual -11 - building address can be determined and any pre-existing information can be brought into play. It will also be appreciated that the portable tool and the main computer system will usually operate in conjunction with each other to calculate the energy rating of the building and to generate the required floor plans and reports. Thus, the amount of processing carried out by the two elements of the system (the tool and the central computer station) will depend on the way the system is configured. In some cases, it may be that the portable tool will be configured to simply require input of data by the user, but that all calculations and generation of plans and reports are carried out by the central station, or it could be configured such that most of the calculation and generation is carried out by the portable tool and simply downloaded to the central computer station for storage and final formatting. In reality, the "division" of tasks between the two elements is likely to be somewhere in between. - 12-

Claims

Claims 1. A portable building energy survey tool comprising: a computer

module having: a processor; a system bus coupled to the processor: a memory coupled to the system bus for storing data for use by the processor and for storing results from the processor; an user input interface coupled to the system bus whereby a user can input user data to the module; a communications interface coupled to the system bus for enabling the tool to communicate with other devices; a device input interface coupled to the system bus for receiving device data from devices connected to the computer module; and a display coupled to the system bus; a laser range finder device coupled to the device input interface for enabling distance measurement data determined by the laser range finder device to be in put to the computer module; an electronic compass coupled to the device input interface for enabling orientation data to be input to the computer module; and an electronic dampness meter coupled to the device input interface for enabling dampness data to be input to the computer interface.
2. A portable building energy survey tool according to claim 1, wherein the user data includes information relating to a building to be surveyed and the device data includes at least external dimensions of the building and geographical orientation of the building.
3. A portable building energy survey tool according to claim 2, wherein the user and device data includes information relating to window area per floor in each wall of the building.
4. A portable building energy survey tool according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the user and device data includes information relating to door area per floor in each wall of the building.
5. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the user data includes information relating to the material from which each wall of the building is built.
6. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the user data includes information relating to insulating material present in the ceiling, floor or walls, for each floor of the building.
7. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the user data includes information relating to any external obstructions for each wall of the building.
8. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the device data includes information relating to dampness for each wall of the building.
9. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the computer module automatically generates a simplified floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating of the building from the user data and device data.
10. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the user and device data includes information relating to locations and sizes of windows per floor in each wall of the building.
11. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the user and device data includes information relating to locations and sizes of doors per floor in each wall of the building.
12. A portable building energy survey tool according to any either claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the computer module automatically generates a detailed floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating from the user data and device data.
13. A portable building energy survey tool according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the user data includes information regarding required maintenance of aspects of the building and, optionally, their urgency and estimated cost.
14. A portable building energy survey tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer module prompts a user, when the tool is in use, to provide the user data and to operate the devices to provide the device data.
15. A portable building energy survey tool according to claim 14, wherein the computer module provides basic floor plan templates on the display and provides menu prompts to the user to input the required user data and to operate the devices to input the required device data.
16. A portable building energy survey tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising a GPS receiver to enable the tool to determine its precise geographical location.
17. A portable building energy survey tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
18. A system for determining an energy efficiency rating for a building, the system comprising a portable building energy survey tool according to any preceding claim and a base computer for receiving data from the portable building energy survey tool and for determining the energy efficiency rating for a building from the received data.
19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the portable building energy survey tool communicates with one or more databases to obtain reference data. - 15-
20. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building, the method comprising the steps of: determining the external dimensions of the building; determining the geographical orientation of the building; generating at least a simplified floor plan for each floor of the building using a portable computer module; entering data into the portable computer module regarding external elements for each floor of the building; entering data into the portable computer module regarding materials that elements of the building are made from; entering data into the portable computer module regarding insulation present in the building; generating an energy efficiency rating for the building.
21. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to claim 19, wherein the simplified floor plan includes data relating to window area per floor in each wall of the building.
22. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to either claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the simplified floor plan includes data relating to door area per floor in each wall of the building.
23. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to any one of claims 20 to 22, further comprising the step of prompting the user to input data relating to any external obstructions for each wall of the building.
24. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to any one of claims 20 to 23, further comprising the step of prompting the user to input data relating to dampness for each wall of the building.
25. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to any one of claims 20 to 24, further comprising the step of prompting the user to input data relating to locations and sizes of windows and doors per floor in each wall of the building.
26. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to claim 25, wherein the portable computer module automatically generates a detailed floor plan of the building based on the user data and device data and determines an energy efficiency rating from the user data and device data.
27. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to claim 26, further comprising the step of prompting the user to input data regarding required maintenance of aspects of the building and, optionally, their urgency and estimated cost.
28. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building according to claim 27, wherein the step of prompting the user comprises providing a basic floor plan template on a display of the portable computer module and providing menu prompts to the user.
29. A method of determining an energy efficiency rating for a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.