ENERGY MANAGEMENT

• US 20150032277A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy B., Eyring, Matthew J., Nye, James Ellis, Hwang, Jungtaik, Lott, Tim, Langford, Luke, Shearer, Wade
• Granted Patent: US 9,958,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A method for energy management is described. In one embodiment, an aspect of a dwelling is monitored. The monitored aspect of the dwelling is compared to an energy policy to determine a deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from a setting of the energy policy. A notification is sent to an occupant, the notification comprising the deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from the setting of the energy policy.

Claims

1. A method for energy management, the method comprising:

monitoring an aspect of a dwelling;

comparing the monitored aspect of the dwelling to an energy policy to determine a deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from a setting of the energy policy;

sending a notification to an occupant, the notification comprising the deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from the setting of the energy policy; and

allowing the occupant to automatically post the monitored aspect of the dwelling according to the setting of the energy policy, wherein the monitored aspect is shared with occupants of other dwellings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the dwelling comprises at least one of a dwelling energy consumption, a current energy price, a peak energy price, a current status of an appliance, an energy consumption of the appliance, a start time of a product used in association with the appliance, an estimated remaining amount of the product associated with the appliance, a detected motion of the occupant in the dwelling, a proximity of the occupant to the dwelling, a time of day, a lighting schedule, a programmable scene, a cost efficiency goal, a position of a door, a position of a window, a temperature inside the dwelling, a temperature outside the dwelling, a weather forecast, and a temperature schedule.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

calculating an efficiency of the appliance based on the monitored energy consumption of the appliance and a detected value associated with the dwelling resulting from operating the appliance.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

calculating an efficiency of an air conditioning appliance of the dwelling based on both the monitored energy consumption of the air conditioning appliance and a temperature of the dwelling resulting from operating the air conditioning appliance.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

calculating a trend of energy consumption based on the energy consumption of the monitored appliance.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

calculating a dwelling energy efficiency score based on at least one of the monitored dwelling energy consumption and the energy consumption of the monitored appliance.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

including in the notification a comparison of a corresponding aspect of another dwelling with the monitored aspect of the dwelling posted by the occupant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the dwelling energy efficiency score is at least partially based on comparison of the corresponding aspect of the other dwelling with the monitored aspect of the dwelling posted by the occupant.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

including in the notification a reminder to replace the product used in association with the appliance, the reminder being at least partially based on the start time of the product used in association with the appliance.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

comparing the monitored energy consumption of the dwelling to an estimate of the energy consumption of the dwelling with solar power added to the dwelling; and

including in the notification an estimated power savings by adding solar power to the dwelling.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

adjusting a lighting element of the dwelling based at least partially on at least one of monitored aspects of the dwelling.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

adjusting a temperature element of the dwelling based at least partially on at least one of the monitored aspects of the dwelling.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a gaming user interface to allow the occupant of the dwelling to compete against at least one other occupant of another dwelling, each occupant competing to minimize energy consumption of their respective dwelling.

14. A computing device configured for energy management, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of;

monitoring an aspect of a dwelling;

comparing the monitored aspect of the dwelling to an energy policy to determine a deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from a setting of the energy policy;

sending a notification to an occupant, the notification comprising the deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from the setting of the energy policy; and

allowing the occupant to automatically post the monitored aspect of the dwelling according to the setting of the energy policy, wherein the monitored aspect is shared with occupants of other dwellings.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the aspect of the dwelling comprises at least one of a dwelling energy consumption, a current energy price, a peak energy price, a current status of an appliance, an energy consumption of the appliance, a start time of a product used in association with the appliance, an estimated remaining amount of the product associated with the appliance, a detected motion of the occupant in the dwelling, a proximity of the occupant to the dwelling, a time of day, a lighting schedule, a programmable scene, a cost efficiency goal, a position of a door, a position of a window, a temperature inside the dwelling, a temperature outside the dwelling, a weather forecast, and a temperature schedule.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating an efficiency of the appliance based on the energy consumption of the monitored appliance and a detected value associated with the dwelling resulting from operating the appliance.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating an efficiency of an air conditioning appliance of the dwelling based on both the monitored energy consumption of the air conditioning appliance and a temperature of the dwelling resulting from operating the air conditioning appliance.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating a trend of energy consumption based on the energy consumption of the monitored appliance.

19. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating a dwelling energy efficiency score based on at least one of the monitored dwelling energy consumption and the energy consumption of the monitored appliance; and

including in the notification a comparison of a corresponding aspect of another dwelling with the monitored aspect of the dwelling posted by the occupant, wherein the dwelling energy efficiency score is at least partially based on comparison of the corresponding aspect of another dwelling with the monitored aspect of the dwelling posted by the occupant.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring an aspect of a dwelling;

comparing the monitored aspect of the dwelling to an energy policy to determine a deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from a setting of the energy policy;

sending a notification to an occupant, the notification comprising the deviation of the monitored aspect of the dwelling from the setting of the energy policy; and

allowing the occupant to automatically post the monitored aspect of the dwelling according to the setting of the energy policy, wherein the monitored aspect is shared with occupants of other dwellings.