Method and system for tracking and budgeting energy usage
First Claim
1. A method of calculating future energy consumption, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a selection of a time period;
calculating a historical energy consumption for the time period;
modifying the historical energy consumption, comprising the steps of;
optionally, receiving an input of a defined factor; and
optionally, receiving a selection of a calculated factor;
calculating the future energy consumption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy tracking and reporting system can receive data inputs from multiple sources regarding one or more properties. A central database receives the information and correlates the information for numerous outputs. Information received by the central database can include, for example, property location, property size, property type and property use. Also, occupancy information, energy sources, utilities servicing the property, weather, ISO, environmental guidelines, and the traded or other standard price for the utilities can be stored. The system can calculate a number of factors from the data and return values to the central database. The system can track data trends and store additional information for budgeting, user reporting and certification compliance reporting. Modules can analyze the market rates, calculate efficiency benchmarks, analyze the data stored on the central database and provide the user with multiple tables and charts analyzing all of the factors that tie into energy usage.
242 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of calculating future energy consumption, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a selection of a time period;
calculating a historical energy consumption for the time period;
modifying the historical energy consumption, comprising the steps of;
optionally, receiving an input of a defined factor; and
optionally, receiving a selection of a calculated factor;
calculating the future energy consumption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method to calculate a future cost basis for energy consumption, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a selection of a budget time period;
receiving a selection of an energy supplier from at least one of a supplier and a distributor; and
optionally, for the distributor;
calculating a distributor rolling average for the energy over a time period including one of a predefined period and a selected period; and
optionally, modifying the distributor rolling average by a cost modifier;
optionally, for the supplier;
calculating a supplier rolling average for handling charges from the distributor over a time period including one of a predefined period and a selected period; and
modifying the supplier rolling average with a contract supply cost;
calculating the future cost from at least one of the distributor and supplier rolling averages and the distributor and supplier modified rolling averages. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of budgeting future energy consumption for a property, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a selection of a budget period;
receiving a selection of a starting month and starting year for the budget period;
retrieving historical consumption data for each month in the budget period, wherein the historical consumption data is from the same month and one year previous from the starting year;
calculating an average sum of at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days for each month of the budget period using the historical consumption data;
calculating at least one of a heating factor and a cooling factor for the property using the historical consumption data;
modifying the historical consumption by at least one of the heating factor and the cooling factor;
modifying the historical consumption by a per-capita consumption; and
modifying the historical consumption data by an efficiency factor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification