A system of sensors that simultaneously records temperature, humidity and energy use in the home could open the way for low-income households to save money while reducing health risks.

Harnessing IoT technology, "Chariot" generates data that can help energy suppliers, health authorities and housing associations tailor the energy advice they give to vulnerable people. The technology was developed by researchers at the universities of Southampton and Nottingham and the Centre for Sustainable Energy, in the UK.

Each kit includes three small wireless sensors that record the temperature and humidity of the room it is placed in, as well as wireless devices to monitor gas and electricity usage. Image credit: University of Southampton. Each kit includes three small wireless sensors that continuously record the temperature and humidity of the room it is placed in, as well as wireless devices that monitor gas and electricity consumption. Data is forwarded to and stored securely in the cloud and can later be analyzed via tablet or computer using a web-based interface. A user guide helps energy advisors make the most of the graphs and tables that the system generates and provides tips geared to individual households’ needs—including measures as simple as fitting thicker curtains or loft insulation, or improving air circulation.

As well as revealing under-heated or over-heated parts of a home, Chariot enables energy advisors to pinpoint, for example, where and why dampness or mold may pose a problem. They can then suggest ways of using heaters more efficiently and cost effectively, blocking drafts and eliminating dampness through better ventilation.

Researchers from the University of Southampton’s Agents, Interaction and Complexity (AIC) group developed the sensor boards, algorithms and user interfaces that were developed to create Chariot. Their challenge was to ensure the kit is cheap enough to deploy at scale and that the data visualization employed is intelligible to a non-expert.

“Chariot is the only system of its kind that collects data on temperature, humidity and energy use (and therefore CO2 emissions) all at the same time," says Dr. Enrico Costanza, who led the research while serving as a lecturer in electronics and computer science at the University of Southampton. "It makes it easy for advisors to understand what’s going on energy-wise in a house, to make the householder aware of what the problems are and ultimately to get their buy-in to make the necessary beneficial changes.”