METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING ENERGY USAGE IN BUILDINGS

• US 20110022242A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uplight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GroundedPower, Inc. (Uplight, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faludi, Robert, Bukhin, Michael, Cole, Paul, Tyler, Demetrie
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A method and system for managing energy usage in a building is provided. The method includes collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period. Information relating to the energy consumption is displayed to a user on one or more devices. The information includes (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.

Claims

1. A method of managing energy usage in a building, comprising the steps of:

collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period; and

transmitting information relating to the energy consumption to be displayed to a user on one or more devices, said information comprising (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating and displaying device or equipment level energy consumption and costs in the building.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a savings plan for the user, and wherein the progress report data compares the data collected on energy consumption to the savings plan.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the user to select the cohort or group of cohorts.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising collecting energy usage data from multiple other users who can be used as a cohort or group of cohorts.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying data on energy consumption in a unit selected from a set of possible units deemed to affect user behavior.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more devices includes a display in the building that provides persistent feedback to the user on energy usage in the building for encouraging user behavior reducing or changing energy usage in the building.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the display comprises an ambient device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the information is displayed in a color coded format on the ambient device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the information is displayed in a bar graph format on the ambient device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more devices includes a client device that retrieves the information from a Web server.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the information is displayed on a dashboard accessible from a Web portal hosted by the Web server.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile communication device operated by the user.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on energy consumption is displayed in a graphical format.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an audio output indicating energy consumption in the building.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting data comprises performing plug level or circuit level monitoring of electricity usage in the building.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising controlling an appliance in the building based on a specified user preference.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired consumption level is based on historical energy usage data.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the information further includes a snapshot of energy consumption for the building for a given period of time.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the information further includes data on incentives provided to the user for meeting energy savings goals.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the recommendations are based on an energy audit of the building.

22. A system for managing energy usage in a building, comprising:

an apparatus for collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period;

a gateway communicating with the apparatus for receiving data on energy consumption in the building, said gateway transmitting the data on energy consumption in the building to a remote server computer system; and

one or more devices communicating with the gateway or the server for receiving information relating to the energy consumption to be displayed to a user, said information comprising (a) the data collected on energy consumption displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the apparatus comprises an electricity meter.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the apparatus comprises a current transformer that measures current in a circuit.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the apparatus includes a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting current measurement data to the gateway.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the information further includes data on device or equipment level energy consumption and costs in the building.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the server creates a savings plan for the user, and wherein the progress report data compares the data collected on energy consumption to the savings plan.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the server enables the user to select the cohort or group of cohorts.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the server collects energy usage data from multiple other users who can be used as a cohort or group of cohorts.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the one or more devices displays data on energy consumption in a unit selected from a set of possible units deemed to affect user behavior.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the one or more devices includes a display in the building that provides persistent feedback to the user on energy usage in the building for encouraging user behavior reducing or changing energy usage in the building.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the display comprises an ambient device.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the information is displayed in a color coded format on the ambient device.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the information is displayed in a bar graph format on the ambient device.

35. The system of claim 22 wherein the server comprises a Web server, and the one or more devices includes a client device that retrieves the information from the Web server.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the information is displayed on a dashboard accessible from a Web portal hosted by the Web server.

37. The system of claim 22 wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile communication device operated by the user.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein the one or more devices further provides an audio output indicating energy consumption in the building.

39. The system of claim 22 wherein the apparatus performs plug level or circuit level monitoring of electricity usage in the building.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the server controls an appliance in the building based on a specified user preference.

41. The system of claim 22 wherein the desired consumption level is based on historical energy usage data.

42. The system of claim 22 wherein the information further includes a snapshot of energy consumption for the building for a given period of time.

43. The system of claim 22 wherein the information further includes data on incentives provided to the user for meeting energy savings goals.

44. The system of claim 22 wherein the incentives include social recognition points or rewards tied to third parties that can be redeemed via a mobile device operated by the user.

45. The system of claim 22 wherein the recommendations are based on an energy audit of the building.