Comprehensive Wireless Residential Energy-monitoring System

To address the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) need for a complete residential energy-monitoring system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Comprehensive Wireless Residential Energy Monitoring (CORE) system. This system is based on unique integration of multifunctional sensors into a novel wireless sensor network architecture. The innovation in the CORE system design, combining novel in-house sensors with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) multifunctional sensors offers real-time comprehensive energy monitoring in a dwelling with low-power operation (battery/energy harvesting), long-lasting (about 5 years) performance, and low cost. Integration of these sensors on a wireless platform with a flexible radio node design offers expandability and 100% sensor connectivity at all times. In Phase I, POC will build a deliverable CORE prototype capable of transmitting sensor data from five sensors wirelessly. In Phase II, POC will optimize the CORE system to develop a comprehensive energy-consumption-monitor by incorporating additional sensors and integrated energy-harvesting methods.