Automated fresh air cooling system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an automated fresh air cooling system. The automated fresh air cooling system can include a whole house fan, an air intake, an air conditioner, and at least one controller. The controller can adjust the usage of the different components of the fresh air cooling system in order to reduce overall energy consumption as well as cost to a consumer. The system can be completely automated and no user input is required.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A automated fresh air cooling system for a building structure comprising:
 an air intake comprising one or more actuatable vents and a motor, wherein the air intake is in communication with an exterior of the building structure and an interior of the building structure;   at least one whole house fan having at least one vent, wherein the at least one whole house fan is in communication with the exterior of the building structure through the at least one vent;   at least one external temperature sensor located on the exterior of the building structure and configured to provide a temperature signal; and   a programmable controller configured to automatically operate the air intake and the at least one whole house fan based on the temperature signal.   
     
     
         2 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor opens and closes the vents in response to a command from the programmable controller. 
     
     
         3 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable controller is a thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one internal temperature sensor located on the interior of the building structure. 
     
     
         5 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the programmable controller is configured to automatically open the air intake and turn on the whole house fan system in response to a first temperature measurement by the external temperature sensor that is less than or equal to a second temperature measurement by the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the programmable controller is configured to automatically close the air intake and turn off the whole house fan system in response to a first temperature measurement by the external temperature sensor that is less than or equal to a second temperature measurement by the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one air conditioning system, wherein the programmable controller is configured to automatically operate the at least one air conditioning system based on the temperature signal. 
     
     
         8 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the programmable controller is configured to automatically turn off the air conditioning system in response to a first temperature measurement by the external temperature sensor that is less than or equal to a second temperature measurement by the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the programmable controller is configured to automatically turn on the air conditioning system in response to a first temperature measurement by the external temperature sensor that is greater than to a second temperature measurement by the internal temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the air conditioning system is configured to operate only when the whole house fan is off, and the whole house fan is configured to operate only when the air conditioning system is off. 
     
     
         11 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein upon operation of the whole house fan by the programmable controller, external air is drawn into the building structure through the air intake and internal air is forced out of the building structure through the vent. 
     
     
         12 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the whole house fan is configured to be operated without any user input. 
     
     
         13 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable vents form an airtight seal against the building structure. 
     
     
         14 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one external temperature sensor is configured to provide a humidity signal. 
     
     
         15 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated fresh air cooling system is configured to be retrofitted onto a building structure. 
     
     
         16 . The automated fresh air cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the air intake comprises a filter. 
     
     
         17 . A method for automatically providing fresh air cooling to a building structure comprising:
 determining a temperature on an exterior of the building structure;   determining a temperature on an interior of the building structure;   automatically turning on a whole house fan system and opening an air intake if the temperature on the exterior of the building structure is less than or equal to the temperature on the interior of the building structure; and   automatically turning off the whole house fan system and closing the air intake if the temperature on the exterior of the building structure is greater than the temperature on the interior of the building structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 automatically turning on an air conditioning system if the temperature on the exterior of the building structure is greater than the temperature on the interior of the building structure; and   automatically turning off the air conditioning system if the temperature on the exterior of the building structure is less than or equal to the temperature on the interior of the building structure;   wherein only one of the air conditioning system or the whole house fan system operates at a time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining the temperature is performed by a thermostat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the air intake comprises one or more actuatable vents and a motor, and wherein the air intake is in communication with the exterior and interior of the building structure.