SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING UTILITY CONSUMPTION
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- at least one sensor arranged to monitor any of an operating condition and utility consumption of at least one utility-consuming segment or appliance associated with a first facility;
a memory including stored information indicative at least one of the following items;
(a) historical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption;
(b) utility consumption of at least one segment or appliance associated with a second facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption;
(c) hypothetical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility and operated according to optimized conditions; and
(d) hypothetical utility consumption of a proposed replacement at least one segment or appliance that may be substituted for said at least one segment or associated with the first facility;
a processor operatively arranged (i) to receive information derived from the at least one sensor, and (ii) to compare the monitored information with the stored information so as to generate comparison information; and
an output medium arranged to store and/or display said comparison information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring and managing utility consumption includes use of (A) one or more sensors arranged to monitor an operating condition and/or utility consumption of at least one segment or appliance of a first facility; (B) a memory including at least one of (i) stored utility consumption information correlated or normalized to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption or (ii) hypothetical utility consumption; (C) a processor to compare the monitored information with the stored information, and (D) an output medium to store and/or display the comparison information. Stored consumption information may relate to the first facility or a second facility. Hypothetical utility consumption information may relate to a segment or appliance of the first facility operated according to optimized conditions, or an upgraded segment or appliance.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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at least one sensor arranged to monitor any of an operating condition and utility consumption of at least one utility-consuming segment or appliance associated with a first facility; a memory including stored information indicative at least one of the following items; (a) historical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption; (b) utility consumption of at least one segment or appliance associated with a second facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption; (c) hypothetical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility and operated according to optimized conditions; and (d) hypothetical utility consumption of a proposed replacement at least one segment or appliance that may be substituted for said at least one segment or associated with the first facility; a processor operatively arranged (i) to receive information derived from the at least one sensor, and (ii) to compare the monitored information with the stored information so as to generate comparison information; and an output medium arranged to store and/or display said comparison information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24)
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8. (canceled)
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10-13. -13. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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19-21. -21. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
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26. A method for performing at least one of utility consumption monitoring and management, the method comprising:
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monitoring, with at least one sensor, any of an operating condition and utility consumption of at least one utility-consuming segment or appliance associated with a first facility; storing information indicative of at least one of the following; (a) historical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption; (b) utility consumption of at least one segment or appliance associated with a second facility, correlated to at least one designated parameter affecting utility consumption; (c) hypothetical utility consumption of said at least one segment or appliance associated with the first facility and operated according to optimized conditions; and (d) hypothetical utility consumption of a proposed replacement at least one segment or appliance that may be substituted for said at least one segment or associated with the first facility; comparing information derived from the at least one sensor with stored information indicative of at least one of (a), (b), (c), and (d) to generate comparison information; and performing at least one of storing and displaying said comparison information. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 39, 42, 48, 49)
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33-36. -36. (canceled)
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38. (canceled)
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40-41. -41. (canceled)
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43-47. -47. (canceled)
Specification