ENERGY SMART SYSTEM

• US 20140052303A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan, Nolan, Kevin Farrelly, Bingham, David C., Najewicz, David Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Apparatus and method for managing energy of a home or other structure are disclosed. An energy management system for a home network comprises a central device controller configured to communicate with energy consuming devices, energy generation devices and storage devices at a home. Power/energy measuring devices provide consumption measurements for the home and each device to the controller. A user interface has a client application configured to provide information to a user/consumer and to an energy provider/utility about energy consumption, energy generation and storage. An energy profile and a carbon footprint of an individual'"'"'s home are generated along with recommendations for energy savings and/or possible addition of on site generation or energy storage.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for an energy smart management system for providing advice and recommendations to an energy consumer regarding energy use in a home that has a controller with at least one processor, transceiver, and memory for storing data including executable instructions for the method comprising:

upon retrieving home data about the home, storing the data in a home database;

determining an energy profile and carbon footprint of the home based on the home data;

compiling the home database into an aggregate home database having home data for multiple homes respectively;

making a comparison with the home data of the home in relation to the multiple homes; and

presenting the comparison of the home in a web browser for the consumer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the energy profile has a carbon footprint scheme presented to provide a current carbon footprint of the home and a comparison to a carbon footprint of the multiple homes that are similar to the home to provide a recommendation to reduce the carbon footprint of the home that comprises at least one of a cost, a benefit, and an efficiency for upgrading the home for on-site energy generation and/or storage means.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

updating the home database with consumer inputted home data including demographic information regarding the number, age, and income of residents as well as information regarding occupancy patterns; and

presenting recommendations to the consumer comprising cost savings, financing options, information about suppliers of home energy saving products, and on site home generation methods and/or devices for reducing cost, and pollution associated with the home.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the recommendations are based on the comparison performed with other homes similar to the home and the recommendations comprise home construction tips, appliance saving tips and/or upgrades, on-site generation methods, and storage methods for improving cost, efficiency and/or carbon offsetting.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the recommendations comprise providing suggestions for creating a net zero energy consumption including power generation/storage at the home based on at least one of the comparison, age, geographical location, cost, home construction efficiency, past utility billing information, total power/energy consumption of the home, residents demographic information, power/energy consumption of individual energy consuming devices at the home, generation products available, storage products available.

16. An energy smart management system for a home network comprising managed energy consuming devices respectively drawing different amounts of power in a home comprising:

a central controller with a memory in communication with managed energy consuming devices;

a plurality of power/energy measuring devices in communication with the controller and the managed energy consuming devices configured to provide consumption data for each managed energy consuming device; and

a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller for providing user information and receiving user commands thereat;

wherein the controller has a memory, a processor and at least one transceiver, and is configured to receive and store home data in a home database, and compile the home data with similar home data in an aggregate home database.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller generates an energy profile and a carbon footprint from the home data.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the user interface is configured to present the energy profile, carbon footprint, and recommendations to the consumer.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein an energy profile comprises cost and CO2 savings associated with the home, on-site power generation, on-site storage device, and recommendations.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the user interface comprises a web browser on a networked computing device.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the recommendations comprise at least one of a optimal device usage schedule, on site generation and storage options, appliance upgrade options, lighting upgrade options, building shell improvements, cost savings, payback benefits, financing options, local supplier information, and energy audit services currently available based on the energy profile of the home, public, and private residential data.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the energy consuming devices comprise a demand response appliance configured to manage power consumption by responding to communication commands from the controller, and wherein the plurality of energy consuming devices are configured to operate at power levels detected by a power/energy measuring device.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein home data comprises at least one of construction specification data, private residence data, utility data, and meteorological data.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein construction specification data comprises at least one of geographical location, home age, home size, insulation information, appliance count within the home, number of rooms, and orientation of the house.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein private residence data comprises at least one of past utility bill, HVAC/appliance usage and specifications, home expansion data, window orientation, number of floors in home, and number of residents in home.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein meteorological data comprises at least one of temperature data, solar insolation data, precipitation data, geographical weather data, and wind pattern data.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein utility data comprises at least one of a utility usage/cost history and a generation of CO2 by utility generation mix and emissions caused by the home.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to proving recommendations for reducing overall net energy consumption based on comparisons between the home data and the aggregate home data.

29. An energy smart management system for a home network comprising managed energy consuming devices respectively drawing different amounts of power in a home, comprising:

a central controller with a memory in communication with managed energy consuming devices;

a plurality of power/energy measuring devices in communication with the controller and the managed energy consuming devices configured to provide consumption data for each managed energy consuming device; and

a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller for providing user information and receiving user commands thereat;

wherein the controller has a memory, a processor and at least one transceiver, and is configured to receive and store home data in a home database and provide recommendations for reducing overall net energy consumption.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to compile the home data with a similar home data in an aggregate home database.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the controller is configured to provide recommendations for reducing overall net energy consumption based on comparisons between the home data and the aggregate home data.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein home data comprises at least one of construction specification data, private residence data, utility data, and meteorological data.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein construction specification data comprises at least one of geographical location, home age, home size, insulation information, appliance count within the home, number of rooms, and orientation of the house.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein private residence data comprises at least one of past utility bill, HVAC/appliance usage and specifications, home expansion data, window orientation, number of floors in home, and number of residents in home.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein meteorological data comprises at least one of temperature, solar insolation data, precipitation data, geographical weather data, and wind pattern data.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein utility data comprises at least one of a utility usage/cost history and a generation of CO2 by utility generation mix and emissions caused by the home.

37. A method for an energy smart management system for providing advice and recommendations to an energy consumer regarding energy use in a home that has a controller with at least one memory for storing data and executable instructions comprising:

retrieving and storing physical and demographic data of the home, past energy consumption characteristics, utility generation mix characteristics, and on-site generation/storage data in a home database;

determining an energy profile and a carbon footprint of the home based on the physical and demographic data of the home;

compiling the energy profile and the carbon footprint into an aggregate home database having home data for multiple homes respectively;

comparing the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in relation to the multiple homes to form comparison results; and

presenting the comparison results of the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in a web browser for the consumer via an IP connection;

wherein the home data includes meteorological data and construction data.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the meteorological data includes local temperature data, solar insolation data, and wind trends.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the construction data includes geographical location and home specifications.

40. A method for an energy smart management system for providing advice and recommendations to an energy consumer regarding energy use in a home that has a controller with at least one memory for storing data and executable instructions comprising:

retrieving and storing physical and demographic data of the home, past energy consumption characteristics, utility generation mix characteristics, and on-site generation/storage data in a home database;

determining an energy profile and a carbon footprint of the home based on the physical and demographic data of the home;

compiling the energy profile and the carbon footprint into an aggregate home database having home data for multiple homes respectively;

comparing the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in relation to the multiple homes to form comparison results; and

presenting the comparison results of the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in a web browser for the consumer via an IP connection;

updating the home database with consumer inputted home data including an occupant demographic information; and

providing recommendations to the consumer to efficiently reduce home energy consumption, pollution, and costs.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the occupant demographic information include quantity, age, sex, and income of residents as well as information regarding occupancy patterns.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the recommendations include cost savings, payback benefits, financing options, local suppliers, and on site home generation methods and/or devices for reducing cost and pollution associated with the home.

43. A method for an energy smart management system for providing advice and recommendations to an energy consumer regarding energy use in a home that has a controller with at least one memory for storing data and executable instructions comprising:

retrieving and storing physical and demographic data of the home, past energy consumption characteristics, utility generation mix characteristics, and on-site generation/storage data in a home database;

determining an energy profile and a carbon footprint of the home based on the physical and demographic data of the home;

compiling the energy profile and the carbon footprint into an aggregate home database having home data for multiple homes respectively;

comparing the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in relation to the multiple homes to form comparison results; and

presenting the comparison results of the energy profile and the carbon footprint of the home in a web browser for the consumer via an IP connection;

wherein the energy profile and the carbon footprint provide recommendations for creating a net zero energy consumption.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the recommendations include at least one of power/energy consumption of individual energy consuming devices at the home, generation products available, and storage products available.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the recommendations include energy reduction and additional power generation/storage at the home based on at least one of the comparison, geographical location, home construction efficiency, past utility billing information, and total power/energy consumption of the home.