ONLINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING WATER, WASTE AND ENERGY USAGE

• US 20100131118A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Six Continents Hotels Incorporated (InterContinental Hotels Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Six Continents Hotels Incorporated (InterContinental Hotels Group PLC)
• Inventors: Jerome, David Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/565,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/125 Utility meter reading systems specially adapted for determining the environmental impact of user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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

The present invention provides systems and methods for allowing hotels (or any other organizations having one or more physical locations requiring various resources) to (1) measure their energy, water, waste and carbon emissions, (2) manage and control the elements of the hotel that impact the environment the most, and (3) report on the progress of the measurement, management and control, to the hotel owners, franchisors, franchisees and guests.

Claims

1. A system for controlling energy usage within a selected hotel, comprising:

(a) a hotel operating system including at least one controller, each controller capable of controlling the provision of a selected utility service to the selected hotel;

(b) a sensor for measuring a usage of the selected utility service;

(c) a processor for;

(i) receiving from the sensor data associated with the measured usage of the selected utility service;

(ii) comparing the received data to a benchmark;

(iii) sending a signal to the hotel operating system, causing the controller associated with the selected utility service to adjust the provision of the selected utility service based upon the result of the comparison step.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected utility service is a water utility.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a water meter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected utility service is an electricity utility.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is an electricity meter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a utility company billing feed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a thermostat.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the benchmark is an average consumption value of the selected utility service for target hotels, with similar characteristics to the selected hotel.

9. A method for controlling energy usage within a hotel, wherein the hotel includes a hotel operating system including at least one controller, each controller capable of controlling the provision of a selected utility service to the hotel, and a sensor for measuring a usage of the selected utility service, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from the sensor data associated with the measured usage of the selected utility service;

(b) comparing the received data to a benchmark;

(c) sending a signal to the hotel operating system, causing the controller associated with the selected utility service to adjust the provision of the selected utility service based upon the result of the comparison step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected utility service is a water utility.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a water meter.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected utility service is an electricity utility.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is an electricity meter.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a utility company billing feed.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a thermostat.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the benchmark is an average consumption value of the selected utility service for target hotels, with similar characteristics to the selected hotel.