Systems and Methods for Conditioning Unoccupied Premises

Abstract

Climate control systems that are used to condition a facility that has been unoccupied for a while are disclosed. Embodiments may include a climate control system that determines that the climate control system has been idle for a first period of time and that the first period of time is greater than a pre-determined time threshold. Thereafter the system receives first data from a sensor from within the facility. The first data is indicative of an environmental parameter being outside a predetermined range. Based on the first data, the system causes an economizer to ingest air from outside the facility and remove the stagnant air from within the facility. Thereafter, the system determines a temperature set point associated with the facility and operates in the appropriate mode based the temperature set point.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a climate control system, that the climate control system has been non-operational for a first period of time;   determining, by the climate control system, that the first period of time exceeds a first threshold;   receiving, by the climate control system, first data from one or more environmental sensors within a facility;   determining, by the climate control system based on the first data, that one or more environmental parameters are outside their respective pre-determined range;   ingesting, by the climate control system based on the environmental parameters being outside their respective pre-determined range, air from outside the facility and mixing it with air that is present within the facility;   determining, by the climate control system, a first temperature set point associated with the facility; and   operating, by the climate control system based on the first temperature set point, in a first mode or a second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to ingesting the air from outside the facility:
 determining, by the climate control system, a first quality of the air outside the facility; and   determining, by the climate control system, that the first quality of the air outside the facility is better than a second quality of the air that is present within the facility.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature set point is associated with the facility being unoccupied. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental sensors include a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a volatile organic compounds sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, or an air quality sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein operating in the first mode or a second mode includes operating a cooling mode or a heating mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after starting to operate in the first mode or the second mode, receiving second data from the one or more environmental sensors; and   ceasing, based on the second data, ingesting the air from outside the facility.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second data indicates that the one or more environmental parameters are within their respective pre-determined range. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after starting to operate in the first mode or the second mode, receiving second data from the one or more environmental sensors; and   continuing, based on the second data, ingesting the air from outside the facility.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second data indicates that the one or more environmental parameters are outside their respective pre-determined range. 
     
     
         10 . A climate control system comprising:
 control unit including a real-time clock;   an economizer coupled to the control unit;   a fan coupled to the control unit;   one or more sensors coupled to the control unit;   a thermostat coupled to the control unit;   a heating subsystem coupled to the control unit; and   a cooling subsystem coupled to the control unit;   wherein the control unit:
 determines, based on the real-time clock, that the climate control system has been idle for a first period of time; 
 determines that the first period of time is greater than a pre-determined time threshold; 
 receives first data from the one or more sensors, the first data indicating that one or more environmental parameters within a facility associated with the climate control system are outside their respective predetermined range; 
 causes, using the economizer, ingestion of air from outside the facility and mix it with air present within the facility; 
 determines, using the thermostat, a temperature set point associated with the facility; 
 determines a current temperature within the facility; and 
 operates, based on the current temperature and the temperature set point, one of the heating subsystem or the cooling subsystem. 
   
     
     
         11 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit, prior to receiving the first data, operates the fan for a second period of time, wherein the second period of time is less than the first period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit, prior to causing ingestion of the air from outside the facility:
 determines a first air quality associated with the air from outside the facility; and   determines that first air quality meets or exceeds a quality threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors include a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a volatile organic compounds sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, or an air quality sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit further:
 receives second data from the one or more sensors after operating heating subsystem or the cooling subsystem for a second time period; and   stops, based on the second data, ingestion of the air from outside the facility.   
     
     
         15 . The climate control system of  claim 14 , wherein the second data indicates that the one or more environmental parameters are within their respective pre-determined range. 
     
     
         16 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit further:
 receives second data from the one or more sensors after operating heating subsystem or the cooling subsystem for a second time period; and   continues, based on the second data, ingestion of the air from outside the facility.   
     
     
         17 . The climate control system of  claim 16 , wherein the second data indicates that the one or more environmental parameters are outside their respective pre-determined range. 
     
     
         18 . The climate control system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit further:
 receives second data from an occupation sensor indicating predicted time of occupancy of the facility; and   operates, based on the second data, the climate control system prior to the predicted time of occupancy.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising, by a climate control system associated with a facility:
 determining expiration of a first time period;   determining, based on an environmental sensor data, that an environmental parameter associated with the facility is outside of a predetermined range;   causing, based on the expiration of the first time period and the environmental parameter being outside of the predetermined range, ingestion of air from outside the facility into the facility; and   operating, based on a first temperature setting associated with the facility, in a first mode or a second mode.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, prior to causing ingestion of the air from outside the facility:
 determining quality of the air from outside the facility; and   determining that the quality meets or exceeds a quality threshold.