Development of an Arduino based Energy Monitoring System to increase sustainability

• Sustainable energy usage in universities across England is a primary goal of both the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) and Brunel University.

• Both set out policies towards a reduction in carbon emissions.

• Brunel University is working towards not only meeting targets – but being self-sufficient, reducing costs and reduction in wasteful energy usage.

• 85% of first-year students stating “Universities should be more active in promoting sustainable development” (NUS, 2013).

Shakeel Ghani

PROBLEM DEFINITION

• This project seeks to develop a technological solution to reducing energy consumption on campus at Brunel.

• Specifically focusing on students living in halls and the amount of energy wasted in their kitchen facilities.

• “People are heavily influenced by what others around them are doing” - “providing people with feedback on their energy use” (Cabinet Office, 2011, p.18).

• There are several areas of energy use that may be better controlled in kitchens in halls of residence

• Electrical appliances in halls 

AIM

The aim of this project is to analyse current methods set out by Brunel University to reduce energy consumption and to create a simple IS-based technology solution to enable students living in halls to monitor their energy consumption in their shared kitchens, and alter their behaviour as a result, reducing energy use.

OBJECTIVES

• Literature Analysis – Energy sustainability - Brunel University - Persuasive design - Sensor-based systems – IoT

• Requirements Specification –Functional – Non-Functional – Technical Specification

• Design Products – design methods - use case - activity diagrams – prototype design of Energy Monitor

• Implementation/Prototype System – Arduino Hardware – software – tools

• Evaluation – Evaluation of Energy Monitor system against requirements

ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY & HEFCE POLICIES

Predicted depletion of fossil fuels in the future (Ecotricity, 2013) Key issues that enable sustainability (Cooper, 2008)

• HEFCE recently published a report on sustainability in Higher Education

• Brunel 45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020

BRUNEL & PERSUASIVE TECHNOLOGY

How Brunel currently uses energy (Brunel University, 2011) This captology describes where computing technology and persuasion overlap (Fogg, 1998)

• IoT – identifiable physically smart objects that are connected through the internet

• IoT encourages use of sensors to monitor data

ARDUINO SOLUTION

• Arduino enables a wide range of sensors to interact with its microcontroller

• A CT sensor will be able to record real time data about electrical consumption

• Open source, lots of resources available for development

• Apart of the IoT concepts

REQUIREMENTS

Functional Requirements

The system will display real time consumption data on electrical appliances.

The system will display electrical usage data on a GUI interface, therefore should be able to record data instantly in accordance with IoT.

The GUI will display the average electrical consumption measured in a time frame of 5 minutes.

The system will establish a trigger in order to trigger associated behaviour should electrical consumption be really high.

REQUIRMENTS

Non-Functional Requirements

Performance: The system should have minimal latency during operation and an instant response time.

Usability: The system should easily be understood with a friendly interface in order for the user to understand feedback.

Reliability: The system should be reliable and functional at all times.

Coding: The coding for the system should be written in the Arduino programming language.

Technical specification

Arduino Hardware – Software - Laptop

DATA COLLECTION AND QUESTIONARIES'

• Evaluate whether an energy monitoring system would change students’ behaviour in terms of energy usage on the Brunel University campus

• Were persuasive design techniques used have been successfully implemented, data was be collected from students on campus

• The data collection was via the use of a questionnaire

• Used in evaluation

DESIGN – SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

• Chosen SDP is the iterative development model

• Phases done in iterations

• Able to spot faults easier

• Agile driven process

• Compared against waterfall model

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

• Architecture of the system

• All relating components of the energy monitor

• Shows Link between electrical data with user interface

DESIGN - USE CASE DIAGRAM

PROTOTYPE DESIGN

• Based on the OpenEnergyMonitor projects

• Simples design using Arduino

• GUI interface available

• Meets requirements set out

Arduino Uno Microcontroller Arduino Ethernet Shield

CT SensorCT Sensor AC Power AdaptorAC Power Adaptor

IMPLEMENTATION

• Ct sensor – measure electrical current

• AC adaptor to measure voltage

• Arduino microcontroller

• 7 resistors

• 2 capacitors

• Based on OpenEnergyMonitor energy monitor projects

ENERGY MONITOR PROTOTYPE

• Arduino IDE

• ‘Sketch’ file

• Measures Current of electrical device

• Able to measure real power

• Uploaded onto Arduino board

• EmonLib - library

ENERGY MONITOR PROTOTYPE

• Arduino IDE GUI

• Serial Monitor

• Outputs reading from CT Sensor

• Real Power (Right)

• Apparent power (Left)

Energy Monitor (Current measure) Set-up

USER INTERFACE - EMONCMS

• “Emoncms” – open source GUI apart of OpenEnergyMonitor

• Able to visualise raw data from sensor• Historical electrical• Alert when electrical consumption is to high• Highly configurable

TESTING AND EVALUATION

• Testing carried out on prototype against functional and non-functional requirements e.g. usability & performance

• Which includes - GUI, Alert sent to user, Measuring electrical current – real time – reliability testing

• Evaluation carried out against objectives of the project

• Has the aim been met

• Personal Thoughts on project

• Heuristic evaluation methods will be used

MEETING OBJECTIVESAND AIM

• Literature Analysis – Reviewed various relating resources

• Requirements Specification – Detailed functional/non-functional

• Design Products – Design methods used to create prototype

• Implementation/Prototype System – Arduino energy monitor prototype created with GUI and trigger

• Evaluation – Against requirements, objectives and personnel reflection

• Meetings the Aim – Arduino energy monitor prototype created in order to show feedback of energy usage of electrical appliances via GUI in halls in order for students to reduce their energy.