Conservation device, system and method

• US 10,169,834 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2012
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan Guido Hassin
• Original Assignee: Bryan Guido Hassin
• Inventors: Hassin, Bryan Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Saavedra, Emilio J
• Application Number:
  US14/239,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 700286, 700289
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/125 Utility meter reading systems specially adapted for determining the environmental impact of user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A system includes a processor that is connected with a communication network A smart circuit monitor is connected with a power line. The smart circuit monitor is in communication with the processor by way of the network. A first smart socket is connected with a power line. The first smart socket is in communication with the processor by way of the network. The first smart socket is associated with a first user.

Claims

1. An energy monitoring and conservation system for a building, comprising:

a support network for encouraging energy saving habits, comprising;

a processor that is connected with a communication network;

a plurality of smart circuit monitors that are connected with power lines wherein each measures power usage through the respective power line, and each is communicatively connected to the processor by way of the communication network;

a plurality of first smart sockets connected with the power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connected with the building, the plurality of first smart sockets in communication with the processor by way of the communication network, the plurality of first smart sockets associated with a first user group;

a plurality of second smart sockets connected with the power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connected with the building, the plurality of second smart sockets in communication with the processor by way of the communication network, the plurality of second smart sockets associated with a second user group;

a first display associated with the first user group, the first display being connected with the processor by way of the network; and

a second display associated with the second user group, the second display being connected with the processor by way of the network;

wherein each smart socket has a male portion that plugs into the respective wall outlet, and has plural female portions that accept male portions of power consumption devices, and the smart socket measures power consumption of the power consumption devices in congregate or individually;

wherein the plurality of first smart sockets transmits information relating to power consumption of the power consumption devices plugged into the plurality of first smart sockets to the processor by way of the network;

wherein the first display is a computer monitor that is connected with a computer, the computer connecting with the processor by way of the network;

wherein the second display is a computer monitor that is connected with a computer, the computer connecting with the processor by way of the network;

wherein the first user group comprises at least two users forming a first team of users, wherein a first user who is selected because they are identified as using a first amount of energy and a second user who is selected because they are identified as using a second amount of energy that is lower than the first amount of energy, and the second group comprises at least two users forming a second team of users, wherein a third user who is selected because they are identified as using a third amount of energy and a fourth user who is selected because they are identified as using a fourth amount of energy that is lower than the third amount of energy;

the first display showing data relating to consumption of the first user compared to consumption of the second user within the first user group, and the first user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the second user group'"'"'s consumption, to effect change in the first user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the first user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

the second display showing data relating to consumption of the third user compared to consumption of the fourth user within the second user group, and the second user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the first user group'"'"'s consumption to effect change in the second user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the second user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

and

a reward scheme coupled with a deterrent scheme within the support network, wherein the reward scheme provides a reward to individual users and teams using reduced amounts of energy, and the deterrent scheme removes a reward and allows removal of users from teams when if they are not using reduced amounts of energy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first sockets transmits the information by way of at least one selected from a list comprising:

an Ethernet cable, a phone line, a wireless signal, a wi-fi signal, and the power line.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a smart circuit monitor connected with a power line, the smart circuit monitor being in communication with the processor by way of the network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is a computer connected to the network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is web based.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a server.

7. A method of power consumption conservation in a building, comprising:

establishing a support network for encouraging energy saving habits, comprising;

connecting a plurality of first smart sockets to power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connect with the building and registering the plurality of smart sockets to a first user group with a processor, the plurality of first smart sockets being connected with the processor by way of a network;

connecting a plurality of second smart sockets to the power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connect with the building and registering the plurality of second smart sockets to a second user group with the processor, the plurality of second smart sockets being connected with the processor by way of the network;

connecting a plurality of smart circuit monitors to the power lines and with each smart circuit monitor measuring power usage through the respective power line, and transmitting that information to the processor by way of the network;

detecting power consumption of power consumption devices connected to the plurality of first smart sockets and transmitting that information to the processor by way of the network;

processing the information with the processor;

wherein each smart socket has a male portion that plugs into the wall outlet, and has plural female portions that accept male portions of the power consumption devices, and the smart socket measures power consumption of the power consumption devices in congregate or individually;

wherein the plurality of first smart sockets transmits information relating to the power consumption of the power consumption devices plugged into the plurality of first smart sockets to the processor by way of the network;

wherein the first display is a computer monitor that is connected with a computer, the computer connecting with the processor by way of the network;

wherein the second display is a computer monitor that is connected with a computer, the computer connecting with the processor by way of the network;

selecting a first user group that comprises at least two users forming a first team of users, wherein a first user who is selected because they are identified as using a first amount of energy and a second user who is selected because they are identified as using a second amount of energy that is lower than the first amount, and selecting a second group that comprises at least two users forming a second team of users, wherein a third user who is selected because they are identified as using a third amount of energy and a fourth user who is selected because they are identified as using a fourth amount of energy that is lower than the third amount of energy;

the first display showing data relating to consumption of the first user compared to consumption of the second user within the first user group, and the first user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the second user group'"'"'s consumption to effect change in the first user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the first user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

the second display showing data relating to consumption of the third user compared to consumption of the fourth user within the second user group, and the second user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the first user group'"'"'s consumption to effect change in the second user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the second user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

and within the support network, establishing a reward scheme coupled with a deterrent scheme, wherein the reward scheme provides a reward to individual users and teams using reduced amounts of energy, and the deterrent scheme removes a reward and allows removal of users from teams when they are not using reduced amounts of energy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a classification is assigned to the first user group by the processor depending on the usage detected by the first smart socket.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user group and the second user group are ranked with respect to one another.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user group is grouped based on individual user consumption, so that users with different consumption profiles are grouped together to encourage behavior of modification.

11. A method of energy conservation in a building, comprising:

establishing a support network for encouraging energy saving habits, comprising;

measuring usage of a first user group with a plurality of smart sockets that are connected with power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connect with the building;

measuring usage of a second user group with a plurality of smart sockets that are connected with the power lines in the building via wall outlets that are permanently connect with the building;

measuring usage of the first user group and the second user group with a plurality of smart circuit monitors that are connected with the power lines and each measures power usage through the respective power line, and each are communicatively connected to the communication network and therefore the processor;

transmitting usage data of the first user group to a processor via a network and transmitting usage data of the second user group to the processor via a network;

processing the usage data and returning information relating to the first user group'"'"'s energy usage and the second user group'"'"'s energy usage to a visual display associated with the first user group and a visual display associated with the second user group;

wherein each smart socket has a male portion that plugs into the wall outlet, and has plural female portions that accept male portions of power consumption devices, and the smart socket measures power consumption of the power consumption;

wherein the second display is a computer monitor that is connected with a computer, the computer connecting with the processor by way of the network;

wherein the first user group comprises at least two users forming a first team of users, wherein a first user who is selected because they are identified as using a first amount of energy and a second user who is selected because they are identified as using a second amount of energy that is lower than the first amount of energy, and the second group comprises at least two users forming a second team of users, wherein a third user who is selected because they are identified as using a third amount of energy and a fourth user who is selected because they are identified as using a fourth amount of energy that is lower than the third amount of energy;

the first display showing data relating to consumption of the first user compared to consumption of the second user within the first user group, and the first user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the second user group'"'"'s consumption to effect change in the first user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the first user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

and the second display showing data relating to consumption of the third user compared to consumption of the fourth user within the second user group, and the second user group'"'"'s consumption with respect to the first user group'"'"'s consumption to effect change in the second user group'"'"'s behavior and reduce the second user group'"'"'s consumption by fostering competition and accountability;

and

within the support network, establishing a reward scheme coupled with a deterrent scheme, wherein the reward scheme provides a reward to individual users and teams using reduced amounts of energy, and the deterrent scheme removes a reward and allows for the removal of users from teams when they are not using reduced amounts of energy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the usage is of hydrocarbons.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the usage is of electricity.