For the BTE Hackathon project, my team and I aimed to create a responsive window system, adjusting its transparency based on the detection of ultraviolet (UV) rays and motion. Our goal was to help reduce the amount of electricity used in NYU's dorms in order to help them reach their sustainability goals. Our prototype involved connecting a Microbit capable of detecting both UV rays and motion to a sheet of electrochromic (EC) film. This system was designed for energy efficiency and enhanced user experience in various settings such as dorms and offices. The system's operation depended on two critical conditions: UV ray detection and motion detection. In the presence of UV rays and the absence of motion, the EC film transitioned to an opaque state, blocking sunlight and reducing heat. Alternatively, in scenarios without UV rays or with detected motion, the EC film remained transparent, allowing natural light to pass through. We used a UV flashlight to simulate UV rays, and motion was tested by waving a hand over the sensor.
As a developer, my journey, albeit challenging, was enriching. Despite my initial minimal experience in circuitry and coding, my eagerness to learn propelled me forward. Throughout the development phase, I encountered numerous obstacles, particularly in coding synchronization with the Microbit. A notable challenge was integrating the UV sensor and LED light with the relay - a task that demanded considerable time and effort in code refinement and functional testing. These experiences, although demanding, significantly contributed to my growth and understanding as a project developer.
Our proposal revolved around installing electrochromic film on NYU dorm windows to decrease cooling costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This concept was based on findings from NYU’s 2021 Climate Action Plan. Notably, 99.4% of NYU’s GHG emissions originate from buildings, with electricity constituting 27% of the emissions from buildings. Cooling contributes to 5.4% of these emissions. Our research showed that electrochromic films could cut energy used for cooling by 35% when opaque, potentially saving almost 2% of total energy consumption, equating to 557,491 kWh per year or $105,000 annually in savings for NYU.
During the project, we made several changes based on feedback and discussions. A significant decision was to switch from electrochromic windows to film after analyzing costs and effectiveness. This move reduced material and installation costs. Additionally, based on advice from our mentor Noel, we modified our presentation slides to include a virtual demonstration, enhancing the audience's understanding of our prototype’s functionality.
In the testing phase, we faced a challenge with our initial relay setup, which wasn’t powerful enough for the electrochromic film. As a workaround, we used an LED light to simulate the film’s opacity change. This temporary solution allowed us to continue testing, but future iterations will require a more robust relay or alternative power source.
Collecting and analyzing data was a crucial step in our project as it informed our decision on which technological solution to pursue. We began by examining NYU's sustainability report, which highlighted that a significant amount of the university's emissions stemmed from building operations, particularly from electrical usage. To delve deeper, we turned to publicly accessible databases, discovering that the electricity consumption in NYU dormitories was notably high. By comparing this data to average electricity usage statistics for residential buildings from the International Energy Association, we could estimate the proportion of electricity used for heating and cooling in these dorms. Identifying this as a substantial energy expense, we focused on developing a prototype that could effectively reduce these costs.
The prototype we designed comprised several key components: a Microbit, a Microbit shield, a relay, and sensors for both UV light and motion detection. To simulate a real-life application, we constructed a model dorm room using a box, cutting out a section to fit the electrochromic film, symbolizing a window. Due to limitations in our available resources, specifically a lack of a sufficiently powerful battery or relay, we incorporated an LED light in our final prototype to represent the opacity change of the film (LED on indicating an opaque state).
The most challenging aspect of our prototype involved getting the circuitry to function correctly. Initially, our goal was to program an LED light to toggle on and off via a button on the Microbit. We started by establishing the circuit's architecture, followed by coding and iterative testing until the Microbit responded as intended.
VIDEO 1 - This video shows how the LED light turns on/off depending on the button pressed on the Microbit.
Next, we focused on integrating the sensors into our setup. The first sensor we added was for UV light detection, controlling the LED light. We modified our code to activate the LED when UV levels exceeded a threshold of 0 and continued refining the system until it operated seamlessly with the Microbit.
VIDEO 2 - This video shows how the LED light turns on/off depending on UV levels
The final sensor to be integrated was the motion sensor. We further refined our code to include additional conditions for activating the LED light. Ultimately, we configured the system so that the LED would illuminate only under two conditions: absence of detected motion and UV levels above 0.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find a video of the final product working. The video would’ve shown how the LED light turns on/off depending on UV levels and motion
The last phase involved integrating the circuit into our mock-up dorm room. Our original plan was to connect the circuit directly to the electrochromic film. However, we faced a voltage mismatch – the film required 50V, but our available battery only supplied up to 5V. Despite this limitation, we managed to demonstrate the concept effectively: the LED light's activation represented the electrochromic window turning opaque in our final demonstration.
During our final presentation, we provided an in-depth explanation of our chosen strategy to aid NYU in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Striving for an engaging experience, we focused less on textual content and more on interactive elements and visual aids. We began by detailing the rationale behind our solution, followed by displaying images of a dorm room with our prototype in action. These visuals illustrated the window's appearance when opaque and then transitioned to show a clear window activated by movement. Utilizing our prototype, we effectively demonstrated these scenarios, with the electrochromic film changing from opaque to clear based on sensor input. We concluded our presentation by delving deeper into the benefits of electrochromic film, outlining the potential cost savings for NYU, and discussing the subsequent steps for our project.
Link to our final presentation
Looking ahead, while our solution seems comprehensive, several critical actions are necessary before we can persuade NYU to fully adopt this system. Despite an initial cost estimate of $5.5 million, we plan to solicit detailed quotes from various city contractors to refine the total implementation cost. We also aim to set a timeline for implementation before January 2024 to qualify for potential tax incentives. The next phase involves conducting a feasibility study with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). With a budget of $5,000, we will install and test the effectiveness of the EC glass film in the Tandon dormitories in Brooklyn. Should this pilot prove successful and financially feasible, we plan to further develop the MVP for broader application across NYU dorms, aiming to boost efficiency and significantly reduce the university's carbon footprint.
