Ideas

I don't see any reason why this couldn't be done with existing systems. I'd skip battery-power on the vent controllers because who wants to be changing all those batteries, but it's easy enough to run low-voltage wiring along the ductwork. Any good HVAC technician could probably wire one up pretty quickly.

What can the CH community do to help?

Actually every office where I worked has this system. The only reason why I don't have in my house is that I don't live in Calgary ;-).
If have in my bathrooms though.
Tommy

If have them in my bathrooms though.
Tommy

vanhees do you have to manually move the vents or does it happen automatically?

micco, i thought about that, but i think low volt wires are ugly. you have batteries in your thermostat, why not other places.

vanhees, i know offices have them, but I have yet to find one for consumers.

DividedEye: I don't have batteries in my thermostat. Even if I did, they'd last a lot longer (because they're just running some small electronics) than they would in a vent that has to move mechanical parts.

Low voltage wires are ugly, which is why you put them in the walls/ceiling/crawlspace with all the other wires and ductwork. Surely you don't have all the wires in your house exposed to view.

Micco true,

I was imagining a consumer installed item that they could buy at walmart or home depot with out using an installation.

Though I agree a hardwired unit would be more powerful, but would (could) require professional installation.

They do have this for consumers. It just costs more money. They also have it so not only can you change the temp in each room, you can have an optimal setting for each person. That setting follows each person around the house. you can set up tunes for it as well.

I have seen similar systems used before except not battery powered.

This type of option exists for various types of heating system. I have it in a few of my homes. It is normally offered as an option when installing new heating systems, it just costs more to install, however it saves a lot of money on heating bills long term in addition to comfort.

Not having home-based central heating (not too common in AU) I can't comment on the home- based case, BUT from working extensively with HVAC techs (and grumpy customers!!) in commercial premises, my first though was would these extra vents cause an issue with the original system's air load balancing (which for one thing throws out the amount air being pumped through a system causing noise, air pressure issues etc) ?

Also wondering if this has any power consumption/environmental issues (e.g. does the heater/cooler have to work harder therefore cost more/use more power?)

Acckkk.. sorry all.... after re-reading the ideaI see you don't want to add vents just therm controllers....
but still my previous comment has a (little!) relevance. You'd have to know your system could handle the more frequent pressure alterations than it was originally intended for...

http://www.jeffersonvalves.com

I use Jefferson Valves in order to control air flow and tempretures in sophisticated machinery. These valves are controlled by an electronic signal and can be hooked up to an individual thermostat.

If you contact them, I am sure that they can find a quick solution for your problem.

Well, thats very cool!

Lose the batteries

Q:Why can't every room have a thermostat?

A: Kids break it and make experiments on the mercury (gasp).

bigger systems have this.