Connecting Dwellers to Building Performance and Weather Data through Sustainable Automation Systems

The paper presents a prototype for a Home Automation and Information Systems (HAIS) applied to an existing dwelling, the Florianopolis House, with the potential to address building performance and user behavior towards a more sustainable way of living. Home information and automation systems based on a great variety of sensors, associated with local weather stations and climate forecast databases can significantly impact the construction of more sustainable habits in home dwellers. Monitoring the weather variations, building’s performance and the impact each resident’s activity in energy and water consumption is a powerful tool for the dwellers’ awareness and can provide a significant impact on residents’ reconnection with the natural cycles. The development of the graphic interface is highlighted as a critical issue for the communication of building performance, weather data and actuators control.