Privacy protection of occupant behavior data and using blockchain for securely transferring temperature records in HVAC systems

TL;DR

This paper explores privacy issues in occupant behavior data for building energy management and proposes blockchain-based methods for secure data transfer, evaluating their advantages and limitations.

Contribution

It introduces blockchain technology as a novel approach to protect occupant data privacy in HVAC systems, including methods for transaction-based and file storage solutions.

Findings

Blockchain can enhance data privacy in occupant behavior data

Transaction-based transfer is suitable for sensor-to-management communication

File storage on blockchain supports multi-system collaboration

Abstract

The proportion of Energy consumption in the building industry is great, as well as the amount of cooling and heating system. Scholars have been working on energy conservation of Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning and other systems in buildings. The application of occupant behavior data for building energy optimization has started gaining attention from scholars. However, occupant behavior data concerns many aspects of occupants' privacy. Different types of occupant behavior data contain occupants' private information to different levels. It is crucial to conduct privacy protection of occupant behavior data when using occupant behavior for energy conservation. This paper presents the aspects of privacy issue when using occupant behavior data, and methods to protect data privacy with blockchain technology. Both two options of using blockchain for privacy protection, sending data records as transactions and storing files on the blockchain, are explained and evaluated with temperature records from an open access paper. Sending data as transactions can be used between sensors and local building management system. While storing files on blockchain can be used for collaboration of different building management systems. Advantages, drawbacks, and potentials of using blockchain for data and file transfer are discussed. The results should be helpful for using occupant behavior data for building energy optimization.