Presented by Richard Szydlowski at the ASHRAE 2013 Winter Conference

1. 2013 Winter Conference | Dallas, TX
Seminar 59 - New Mobile Applications for
HVAC Field Work and Building Retrofits
Discussion of Mobile Apps for
Building Energy Retrofits
January 30, 2013
Richard Szydlowski
Director of Engineering and Business Development
Center for Energy and Environment
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 560
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Work: 612.335.5862 Mobile: 612.747.6726 email: rszydlowski@mncee.org

2. Learning Objectives
• Define what types of mobile apps exist for HVAC field work.
• Explain the advantages of using these types of applications out in the field
versus at the office.
• Explain the key features of mobile applications that collect field data on building
structures.
• Explain how one company is using a governmental-developed application
programming interface (API) to easily develop mobile tools for energy
audits.
• Explain why is there a need for standardized data from field surveys of building
assets.
• Explain some of the caveats of using mobile applications.
ASHRAE is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems.
Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to ASHRAE Records for AIA members. Certificates
of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.
This program is registered with the AIA/ASHRAE for continuing professional education. As such, it does not
include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or
product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of
this presentation.

3. New Smart Phones and Tablets: More Power and Lighter Weight

4. U.S. DOE’s Home Energy Score: Residential Asset Rating System

5. CEE’s Home Energy Improvement Index:
Residential Energy Retrofit Index
Page 5

6. Strategic Design
• Designed by Team with Field Experience
• For Qualified Assessor (Professional)
• 1,000 Home Visits a Year per Auditor (Large Scale)
• Integrated with Cloud Data Storage (Dropbox)
• Cross-Platform Software Development
• Most Popular Operating Systems
• Smart Phone and Tablet Mobile Devices

7. Key Design Elements
• No Internet Connection Required
• Finger Friendly Navigation
• Photo/Image Capture & Management
• Integrated with Mapping Apps or Web Sites
• Summary View (One-Page Data Review)
• Quick Navigation (One-Click from Anywhere)

8. Mobile App is Multiple Tools (Mashup)
• Clipboard & Paper Data Collection Forms
• Laptop Computer
• Appointment Calendar
Application
• GPS Navigation runs on smart
phone or tablet
• Digital Camera
• Tape Measure
• Calculator
• Compass
• Paperless Report Presentation

9. Visits (Home) Page
A list of Visits on the mobile
device (Name, Address, ID#s).
Click on Visit to display data
summary using business rules
Appointment Calendar:
Ordered by Scheduled
Date/Time for home visit
Visit Type Ordering:
- Scheduled
- Reschedule
- Cancel
- Completed
Manage cloud data storage
on Cloud Storage account
Page 9

10. Summary Page
A smart summary of all data
values, using business rules
and organized by data sections
Navigate to data entry forms
by clicking on section headers
or use left column Quick-Nav
list for One-Click navigation
Colored chevrons indicate
data completeness
- White (Not Started)
- Yellow (In Progress)
- Red (Data Entry Error)
- Green (Complete)
Page 10

11. Data Entry Page
List of questions using:
Yes/No, Radio Buttons,
Select Lists, Text, Numeric
(?) Links to help system
(^) Indicates an Area or
Insulation Calculator
Pictures or electronic
sketches can be attached
to each data entry section
Pictures are automatically
managed and saved with
each Visit’s data and Label
Page 11

12. Results (Label) Page
Submit the data set
collected on the
mobile device to the
Home Energy Score
web server API
Return the Home
Energy Score Label
and complete report
Display Energy Label
on smart phone
or larger tablet
Email the report to
home owner
Page 12

13. Cross-Platform: App Runs on Most Smart Phones and Tablets

14. Right Swipe
to Delete
Pending
Rescheduled
Appointments Cancelled
Completed
Page 14

15. Pending
Completed
Today’s Appointments
Rescheduled
Cancelled
Page 15

16. Left Swipe
to Display
QuickNav
QuickNav
Complete
White
Yellow
Green
Required
Page 16

17. QuickNav
Bottom of
Every Form
Comments
Pic / Sketch
Prev / Next
Cancel
Page 17

18. Collapsible
QuickNav Area Calculator
Required
Bottom of
Every Form
Comments
Pic / Sketch
Prev / Next
Page 18
Cancel

19. Summary View (All Data Elements)

20. Match Mobile App Data with Report

21. Match Mobile App Data with Report

22. Immediate Presentation of Home Energy Score Label to Homeowner

23. Automatic and Manual Scaling of Text and Controls in User Interface
Small
Normal
Large

24. Automatic and Manual Scaling of Text and Controls in User Interface
Small
Normal
Large

25. Mobile App Work Flow
• Start of Day: Upload Appointments for Day (Sync)
• Review Appointment List
• Map Driving Directions
• Collect Field Information
• Submit Information (API) to Web Server
• Present HEScore Label to Homeowner
• Email HEScore Label to Homeowner
• Next Appointment
• End of Day: Download to Data Repository (Sync)

26. Questions?
Richard Szydlowski
rszydlowski@mncee.org