Decarbonize digitalization: Circular economy meets building automation

AI Quick Summary

This project explores reusing discarded smartphones to connect the end-of-life of e-waste with the start-of-life of smart buildings. Previous proof-of-concept experiments indicate the technical feasibility and applicability to typical tasks with satisfactory performance. As smartphones' capabilities improve over time, higher computing performance and lower communication latency can be expected, which enhances the prospect of the proposed reuse concept. We contribute to decarbonizing digitalization. Description:We aim to demonstrate on a large scale the repurposing of discarded smartphones for energy management in smart buildings. This approach addresses environmental concerns of electronic waste and the need for efficient building automation. By utilizing smartphones' computing capabilities, this approach contributes to sustainability and energy optimization, presenting a novel solution for smart building operators.Problem:Smart buildings require efficient energy management but face challenges in sustainable and cost-effective automation solutions, compounded by the environmental issue of electronic waste. Energy consumption and carbon footprint in buildings contribute to more than one-third globally. Without conscious use of resources, equipping buildings with digitalized and automated solutions risks shifting the problem to other parts of the world.Solution:Discarded smartphones are repurposed for building automation, leveraging their computing capabilities for energy management. This approach offers a sustainable solution to electronic waste and enhances energy efficiency in smart buildings. We have previously demonstrated this approach in several proof-of-concept experiments. The effectiveness has been validated using one building, and the results have been published. We aim to extend the small scale experiment to include further use cases for rigorous validation.Cai, H., 2023, November. Circular economy meets building automation. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 2600, No. 19, p. 192011). IOP Publishing.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Decarbonize digitalization: Circular economy meets building automation
Date: 6/7/2024 10:16:59 AM
Administrators:
- Hanmin Cai

Project Idea Description

Description:

We aim to demonstrate on a large scale the repurposing of discarded smartphones for energy management in smart buildings. This approach addresses environmental concerns of electronic waste and the need for efficient building automation. By utilizing smartphones' computing capabilities, this approach contributes to sustainability and energy optimization, presenting a novel solution for smart building operators.

Problem:

Smart buildings require efficient energy management but face challenges in sustainable and cost-effective automation solutions, compounded by the environmental issue of electronic waste. Energy consumption and carbon footprint in buildings contribute to more than one-third globally. Without conscious use of resources, equipping buildings with digitalized and automated solutions risks shifting the problem to other parts of the world.

Solution:

Discarded smartphones are repurposed for building automation, leveraging their computing capabilities for energy management. This approach offers a sustainable solution to electronic waste and enhances energy efficiency in smart buildings. We have previously demonstrated this approach in several proof-of-concept experiments. The effectiveness has been validated using one building, and the results have been published. We aim to extend the small scale experiment to include further use cases for rigorous validation.

Cai, H., 2023, November. Circular economy meets building automation. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 2600, No. 19, p. 192011). IOP Publishing.