Northern Illinois University
Department of Engineering Technology
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Buildings are no longer merely shelters but are now equipped with modern amenities such as heating, cooling, air-quality maintenance, telecommunication, security, fire protection, and access control.  A significant portion of energy in these modern buildings is used to regulate air temperature and humidity.  Since buildings are slow to respond to environmental changes, energy savings can be achieved by proactively controlling air temperature and humidity.

To this end, Professor Azad has developed effective computer models that predict indoor temperature and humidity, allowing for proactive adjustments to maintain set levels with minimal energy use.  He is also involved in the implementation, monitoring, and control of building energy consumption via the Internet.

System diagram of a multi-zone office block

Model structure for multivariable modeling

Experimental system of multi-zone air-conditioned block

Internet-based energy data collection

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