SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING RAMPED SETPOINT TEMPERATURE VARIATION WITH NETWORKED THERMOSTATS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a thermostat for energy savings comprising:
- measuring the temperature inside a conditioned space;
comparing said inside temperature to the desired setpoint for such conditioned space;
evaluating the schedule for setpoint changes;
determining whether the scheduled setpoint has been changed;
setting the actual setpoint to the desired setpoint;
determining the number of phases for actual setpoints;
setting actual setpoints to increments away from the desired setpoint as additional phases, where each successive setpoint is further from said desired setpoint than the previous setpoint;
returning to the desired setpoint after said determined number of setpoints has been reached.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a thermostat for energy savings comprising:
-
measuring the temperature inside a conditioned space; comparing said inside temperature to the desired setpoint for such conditioned space; evaluating the schedule for setpoint changes; determining whether the scheduled setpoint has been changed; setting the actual setpoint to the desired setpoint; determining the number of phases for actual setpoints; setting actual setpoints to increments away from the desired setpoint as additional phases, where each successive setpoint is further from said desired setpoint than the previous setpoint; returning to the desired setpoint after said determined number of setpoints has been reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for automatically varying temperature setpoints for an HVAC system comprising:
-
evaluating the temperature inside a conditioned environment; evaluating weather conditions outside the conditioned environment; setting a first target inside temperature for a specified time interval; setting at least a second target inside temperature for a specified time interval, where said second target temperature differs from said first target temperature by a specified amount; determining whether said variation of temperature setpoints is appropriate given said outside weather conditions; and cycling through said two or more target temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. (canceled)
-
22. (canceled)
-
23. (canceled)
Specification