Profile based method for deriving a temperature setpoint using a ‘delta’ based on cross-indexing a received price-point level signal
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more envirornmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing communication with the environmental control system from a utility remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building; and
sending one or more setpoint commands from the utility, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system.
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Abstract
A method for adjusting a plurality of controlled subsystems in a building or plant that facilitates cooperative energy usage with a utility provider. By referring to a single profile of adjustments that correspond to changes in the value of a utility signal and distributing this to each relevant controller for each subsystem, a single setback delta can be applied to each subsystem for each change in utility signal value (i.e., pricing information). Alternatively, multiple profiles can be used to provide for firmer control and thereby allow for different zones to respond differently to a single change signal sent by the utility provider.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more envirornmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing communication with the environmental control system from a utility remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building; and
sending one or more setpoint commands from the utility, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A controller for an environmental control system serviced by a utility having a load that includes a higher load period and a lower load period, wherein the controller accesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more setpoints, the controller comprising:
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a communications unit adapted to receive one or more setpoint commands from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining one or more new setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system, wherein the one or more setpoint commands are selected to help reduce the load on the utility during a higher load period; and
a controller for accessing the one or more setpoint indicators and for controlling the environmental control system such that the one or more environmental conditions of the inside space of the user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more new setpoints during a higher load period of the utility. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building using one or more setpoints and one or more offsets, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing communication with the environmental control system from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building;
sending one or more energy price related signals to the environmental control system; and
sending one or more offset commands to the environmental control system, the one or more offset commands providing one or more offsets to the environmental control system, the environmental control system using the one or more offsets to calculate new setpoints in response to the one or more energy price related signals. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A controller for an environmental control system, wherein the controller accesses one or more setpoints and controls the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building are maintained in accordance with the one or more setpoints, the environmental control system further receiving one or more energy price related signals from a utility, the controller comprising:
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a communications unit adapted to receive one or more offset commands from a location that is remote from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the one or more offset commands providing one or more setpoint offsets, each corresponding to a energy price related signal; and
a controller for receiving the one or more setpoint offsets, and for calculating one or more setpoints for the environmental control system using the one or more setpoint offsets and the one or more energy price related signals provided by the utility. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for controlling an environmental control system for a user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing one or more setpoint indicators at a location that is remote and separate from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building, establishing communications with the environmental control system and providing at least selected setpoint indicators to the environmental control system; and
operating the environmental control system to control one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of the user'"'"'s facility/home/building in accordance with one or more setpoints, wherein the one or more setpoints are based on the selected setpoint indicators. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for controlling an environmental control system, wherein the environmental control system controls one or more environmental conditions of an inside space of a user'"'"'s facility/home/building having two or more zones in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing communication with the environmental control system from a location that is remote and separate from the user'"'"'s facility/home/building; and
sending one or more setpoint commands from the remote location, the one or more setpoint commands providing one or more setpoint indicators for use in determining the one or more setpoints that are to be used by the environmental control system in each of the zones of the inside space. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A controller for an environmental control system that has two or more zones, the controller comprising:
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a communications unit adapted to receive one or more energy price related signals provided by a utility designating one or more energy price related levels; and
a controller for controlling the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions in each zone are maintained in accordance with one or more setpoints, wherein the one or more setpoints correspond to a designated energy price related level. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A controller for an environmental control system that has two or more zones, the controller comprising:
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a communications unit adapted to receive one or more energy price related signals provided by a utility designating one or more energy price related levels;
a memory for storing one or more setpoint profiles for each zone, at least one setpoint profile for two or more zones including at least one offset for each of at least two energy price related levels; and
a controller for controlling the environmental control system such that one or more environmental conditions in each zone are maintained in accordance with the corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as the corresponding at least one offset for the designated energy price related level.
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32. A controller for controlling two or more appliances in a user'"'"'s facility/home/building, the controller receiving one or more energy price related signals from a utility that select one of at least two different energy price related levels, the controller comprising:
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a communications unit adapted to receive the one or more energy price related signals provided by the utility; and
a memory for storing one or more setpoint profiles for each appliance, at least one setpoint profile for selected appliances including at least one offset for each of at least two energy price related levels; and
a controller for controlling the two or more appliances such that each appliance is maintained in accordance with the corresponding one or more setpoints, as well as the corresponding at least one offset for the currently designated energy price related level. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method for controlling a control system, wherein the control system controls one or more conditions in accordance with one or more setpoints, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing one or more offsets, wherein each offset corresponds to a energy price related level designated by a utility;
selecting an offset that corresponds to a current energy price related level; and
changing the one or more setpoints used by the control system based on the selected offset. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification