METHODS FOR ENCOURAGING ENERGY-EFFICIENT BEHAVIORS BASED ON A NETWORK CONNECTED THERMOSTAT-CENTRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLATFORM
First Claim
1. A method for encouraging a user to adopt energy-efficient settings on a network-connected thermostat installed in an enclosure, the method comprising:
- calculating a current value for a stand alone performance metric measuring energy efficiency associated with the enclosure, the metric being based on information gathered from the thermostat;
comparing the calculated current value with a historical value for the stand alone performance metric, the historical value being based on information gathered corresponding to previous thermostat settings; and
awarding an incentive reward to the user if the calculated current value is better than the historical value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A home energy efficiency platform is described having as its fundamental component a network-connected, multi-sensing learning thermostat that leverages a visually pleasing interactive display associated therewith to encourage energy-saving behavior by a competitive gamesmanship modality, either in terms of self-competition in which a users energy-saving performance is measured against themselves over time, or in terms of community competition in which a users energy-saving behavior is measured against a relevant community.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for encouraging a user to adopt energy-efficient settings on a network-connected thermostat installed in an enclosure, the method comprising:
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calculating a current value for a stand alone performance metric measuring energy efficiency associated with the enclosure, the metric being based on information gathered from the thermostat; comparing the calculated current value with a historical value for the stand alone performance metric, the historical value being based on information gathered corresponding to previous thermostat settings; and awarding an incentive reward to the user if the calculated current value is better than the historical value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for encouraging a user to adopt energy-efficient settings on a network-connected thermostat, the method comprising:
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receiving a first value for a performance metric measuring energy efficiency associated with a first enclosure having a first network-connected thermostat controlling a first HVAC system installed therein, and a second value for the performance metric measuring energy efficiency associated with a second enclosure having a second network-connected thermostat controlling a second HVAC system installed therein; comparing the first value with the second value; and awarding an incentive reward to either a first user associated with the first thermostat or a second user associated with the second thermostat, the awarding being based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for encouraging a user to adopt energy-efficient settings on a network-connected thermostat, the method comprising:
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calculating a value for a performance metric measuring energy efficiency associated with an enclosure having an HVAC system which is controlled by the network-connected thermostat; and awarding a video-game based incentive reward to the user based on the calculated value for the performance metric. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for encouraging a user to adopt energy-efficient settings on a network-connected thermostat installed in an enclosure, the method comprising:
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receiving from a first user a first set of thermostat settings for use on a network-connected thermostat installed in a first enclosure; receiving a request from a second user to obtain the first set of thermostat settings to use in a second network-connected thermostat installed in a second enclosure; and in response to the request, sending the first set of thermostat settings for use with the second network-connected thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification