Home Automation Features

[juliecaracino]

Include data elements to support the ENERGY STAR SHEMS specification (forthcoming Sept 2019).

Question: Some of the 'dumb' versions of these technologies are in HPXML (under Building) Smart Technologies.xlsx

. Do we add an element to indicate that they're 'smart" or do we add a separate category for Smart Home Technologies or HEMS? See attached excel sheet for list of elements with definitions from EPA.

[juliecaracino]

At device level, may want to indicate whether it is IOT (connected) or within a home energy management system

[nmerket]

To discuss with @juliecaracino @TedKidd

[nmerket]

Notes from discussion

• Create a Connected (or something like that) sub-element that can be attached to
  • appliances
  • lighting
  • water heating
  • thermostats
  • room air conditioners
• Add an element for a home energy sub metering system. This should probably be a separate pull request.
• Add smart plugs to as a type of PlugLoadControl. Add Connected sub element to it.
• Add Smart Hub element. The Connected element could reference this as a device that controls it.
• What to do with occupancy sensors? They could be a property of devices (i.e. a thermostat "has a" occupancy sensor). Alternatively, they could be a separate device/element (i.e. a lighting group references an occupancy sensor that controls it.) As a separate element with a system identifier, they can be used and referenced in measures such as replacing a dumb light switch with an occupancy sensing light switch. Maybe we do both?
• We don't have a great way to talk about thermostats right now. The closest thing we have is HVACControl, which does more to describe the logical control of the hvac systems than to describe a physical device that controls the hvac systems. We could co-opt that to include more device level stuff (manufacturer, serial number, Connected, etc) or we could make a separate thermostat element that implements an HVACControl. Open to suggestions here.