Open Source

This page covers the governance of our open source project, a well as the goals.

The Bacon Method

Mission Statement

The project aims to provide open source industrial grade control and monitoring to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and plumbing in general, with a defined targets of

• saving carbon
• increasing efficiency
• reducing running costs
• increasing reliability

Method Statement

• Establish working systems, in the field, to prove the technology at all points in a heat network (the largest of all plumbing systems), running both services and equipment control [DONE]
• Create a general purpose industrial grade IO board to connect IoT control platforms to HVAC equipment, capable of working with both a Raspberry Pi and an ESP32 [Almost Done]
• Field trials to work out gremlins in the architecture, hardware and software. Debugging.
• Establish an initial community of users who are actively saving carbon and money using the system. [Field Trials]
• Grow the community to include others that with to replicate the savings made in field trials.
• Extend the community to include experts from the open software community who can help drive the project
• Create a central point of performance data sharing, where the results (and code) from energy saving projects can be shared, and where live performance dashboards can be seen. Show, tell, boast, embarrass,
• Create industry wide collaboration on standard control functions, that can then feed into official CIBSE guidance.

User A

Commercial energy provider with inefficiencies in the field that need addressing. On our project we are partnered with Equans (Engie) who are one of the world's largest heat network operators. They are interested in the systems because they offer a route to obtaining valuable performance data that helps optimise heat networks. These users are experts in all current HVAC technologies, understand the problems, and manage large energy flows where there are large carbon savings to be made.

User B

Local authorities. Need to be freed from the shackles of commercial BMS and incompetency. They would benefit greatly from the added value of community drive control systems into tenders, saving significant costs, improving transparency and their ability to manage outcomes.

User C

Private individuals upgrading their own home to include renewables. Project may be of varying complexity, including devices such as wood burners or heat pumps, and they would like to understand more in order to ensure a positive outcome. Technically clued up, just not in plumbing. We have been designing systems like this for 30 years and there are thousands of people with renewables systems designed around thermal stores, for example Dick Strawbridge in Escape to the Chateau. With gas prices soaring, more and more people are looking to understand renewables better. From this group comes our most valued collaborators - people who are experts in IoT, Influx, Grafana, Embedded Controllers, Linux - who, with a little guidance come to understand the principles of designing renewables systems and can use our technologies to deliver their dream, and can contribute back.

User D

Experts in HVAC control. Generally work for an OEM. (Me) . Engineers who have been waiting a long time for a robust IoT controller they can use in equipment control. E.g. HIU manufacturers (like us).

User E

Ofgem & BEIS. Heat network and RHI oversight.

User F

Lives on a heat network and knows they are paying too much. Requires hard evidence to be used in actions against energy providers. No technical knowledge. Would benefit greatly from a simple means to share basic performance data with a community of experts and peers. People power.

User G

Existing Node-RED enthusiasts. Valuable and experienced hobbyists that will hopefully understand precisely what we are trying to achieve and want to be a part of it.

User H

The consulting engineer, responsible for optimising existing installations. To this user we are providing the tools they need to do their job. A number of respected consultants have already used the kit on previous funded projects for data collection and control.