1) SoftUPS is a system that allows homes to operate at a lower power state directly from the grid during periods of scheduled load shedding, without needing battery backups. 2) It works by having a smart meter send a load shedding signal to power controllers in a home that enforce a lower overall power budget by controlling connected devices. 3) RetroHVAC is a system that retrofits old building HVAC systems with sensor nodes and a base station to allow centralized control and enforcement of energy efficiency policies like only running AC during occupancy hours.

1. s/Challenges/Opportunities in Building-level Power
Management for Developing Economies
Affan A. Syed
Associate Professor
Systems and Networking (SysNet) Research Lab,
Department of Electrical Engineering,
FAST-NUCES, Islamabad Campus
Acknowledgements: Zohaib Sharani, Noman Bashir, Khusboo Qayyum, Naveed Bhatti, and Aftab Rashid

2. What happens at SysNet … shouldn’t stay at SysNet!
2
Broad spectrum of systems research
Botnets
Underwater
networks Energy harvesting
and transference
Distributed Systems
Electrical EngineeringComputer Science
Smart-home &
Smart-Grid
Funded by &
SDN for ISP
networksSigcomm CCR
DSN, *S&P, *CCS
WUWNet
IPSN
*e-Energy
*= poster or demo

3. What I plan to do today
3

4. The problems of here: Loss of connectivity
4
http://www.utexas.edu/know/2011/04/08/strover_sharon_yonder/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cp-Gurnani/the-role-of-connectivity-in-reshaping-the-world_b_4665180.html
http://google.com/loon.

5. The problems of there: Another loss of (power) connectivity
5
www.thenewstrack.com
http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Load-Shedding-to-
Continue-Across-Maharashtra/842950

6. Last summer (2013) it got really bad in Pakistan!
6
Src: POWER SYSTEM STATISTICS, NTDC 2012
Domestic/Residential sector largest consumer

7. Agenda
7
Both using an IoT inspired, LoT enabled instrumented home

8. SoftUPS: Softening the
impact of UPS backups

9. Local energy backups: managing load-shedding
9
UPSLoad shedding
In effect we move to our homes,
voluntarily to a low power state

10. Problems of a UPS+battery backup
10
– Cost (initial $300, recurring $100*)
– Limited capacity
– Rigid selection of appliances (hard-wired)
– Increased total load on grid (inefficient)
“Hidden Costs of Power Cuts and Battery
Backups” in e-Energy’13, May 21–24, 2013
ConsumerGrid/Govt
Src: askmohsin.com
Increased
demand

11. UPS
Key Idea for SoftUPS
11
 When demands need to be shed, why not emulate low power mode
of a UPS-based soln?
– Something enforces homes to operate at a lower power state
– But operate directly off the grid!
Load Shedding
Zohaib Sharani, Khushboo Qayyum, Noman Bashir, Affan A. Syed. "SoftUPS: Eliminating the need and
cost of battery backups in the developing world", ACM e-Energy conference, 2014, Cambridge, UK

12. SoftUPS: Architectural Overview using HomeOS/LoT
12
Consumption< 2 Kw Load Shedding signal
or simply schedule based
15
3 Off
2 Soft signal to Front-
end
Smart
Meter
SoftUPS application
3 Off
3 off
Power Controller

13. Benefits of SoftUPS
13
 One time cost
 No efficiency losses
 No resource exhaustion
 Dynamic reallocation of power budget
Bonus: implement cost-saving and green policies within home

14. Challenges
 Deployment and practical concerns
– Worrying about power dissipation and consumption
 Device and system cost
– Keep the cost of entire solution under $300
 Power theft and accidental misuse
– Detection and response
 Application interface for usability
– Motivation and incentives for its usability
14

15. Wiring and Deployment
15
Rooms and High
Power Appliances
Load Shedding
Signal
Smart
Meter
Main Distribution
Board
Appliances
in the Room
From Main Distribution
Board
Distribution Box
Total Cost = $ 28.07
Power = 3.5W
Switch Box
5x Relays
Cost = $10
Amplifier
Cost=$0.25
MSP430
Cost=$2.52
Regulator
Cost=$0.05
Transceiver
Cost=$3.95
Total Cost = $18.07
Power = 2.5W
Switch Box
4x High Power Relays
Cost = $ 20
Controlling Circuit
Cost = $ 8.07
Distribution Box

16. A demo video
 A virtual home with standard wiring
 We show
– Device control
– Load-shedding configuration and its emulation
– Overage/misuse response
16
Home

17. A demo video
17

18. Research Enabled: The road ahead
 Power “congestion control” algorithms with an automated demand
control implemented at home
– Fully distributed, coordinated, peer-based etc
 Optimal load shedding schedules
– With different penetration of SoftUPS vs traditional UPS
18

19. RetroHVAC: HVAC for old
buildings

20. Old buildings have distributed HVAC elements
20
http://hvacmariettaco.com/ductless-mini-split-air-
conditioning-systems.html/
http://www.wahid-industries.com/
A Khan, S Arif, M Mushtaq, et al. Electricity consumption for energy conservation in
office buildings in Lahore-Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Science, 65(2), 2013

21. Scenarios of misuse/waste
21
Load Shedding
Leaving AC on,
inadvertently or
laziness

22. Scenarios of misuse/waste
22
Temp set
point = 18°C
Setting very low
threshold;
Lack of concern

23. Why not use HVAC to solve these problems?
23
http://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.Mo
rehouseImprovements.13337746.html
http://yashenterprises.apnaghar.c
o.in/services.aspx
http://hvacmariettaco.com/duc
tless-mini-split-air-
conditioning-systems.html/
http://www.wahid-industries.com/

24. Retrofit elements for centralized control
24

25.  Three components of RetroHVAC
– Control nodes
• Occupancy and temp detection
• Actuation of AC
• Communication
– Base station
– Application
• Policy enforcement
25
Architecture and Implementation Overview
PIR, light, ultrasound,
and temp sensors
Interface with
remote
cc2500

26.  Three policies
– Static time based
– Temp Control (+Static)
– Occupancy based (+Temp+static)
 Base day consumption for a faculty office
 Comparison with savings for different policies under real evaluation
26
Evaluation of savings

27. Energy Savings
27
Base Day
67.1% savings from base (AC on) day, 33.7% for a normal day

28.  Connected buildings can provide an alternate (shorter?) path to
radically improve living standards in developing economies
– Novel application for this context
 Maturing technologies and bleed back
 IoT frameworks allow focus on impactful applications
28
What are the wider implication of such work?

29. Questions
For more information
http://sysnet.org.pk/
email: affan.syed@nu.edu.pk
29
Thinking smartly, “Smart”-ness can be a
life-changer for some!