System and method for reducing energy consumption by controlling a water heater and HVAC system via a thermostat and thermostat for use therewith

• US 7,744,008 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Wallaert, Timothy E., Chapman, John Gilman Jr., Burt, Robert, Ashworth, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang; Chen-Wen
• Application Number:
  US11/031,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 62/22, 623/31, 621/57, 622/31, 236/94, 236/51, 236/46.R, 236/46.C, 236/22
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/104 Inspection; Diagnosis; Trial operation
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/172 Scheduling based on user demand, e.g. determining starting point of heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/174 Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/269 Time, e.g. hour or date
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

The system of the present invention provides energy saving control for a water heater via an intelligent thermostat. This intelligent thermostat provides programmatic control over the HVAC system as is conventional, and provides coordinated control over the water heater temperature set point. This control over the water heater is accomplished via a communications network between the intelligent thermostat and the water heater. In one embodiment the communications are wireless, although wired and network bus communications may also be utilized. Enhanced and coordinated control is also provided so that different operational temperature cycles can be provided to coordinate with the intelligent thermostat'"'"'s programmatic control of the HVAC system. Separate programmatic control of the water heater is also provided whereby different operational temperature modes may be commanded, e.g. Wake, Sleep, and Demand modes of operation.

Claims

1. A system for reducing energy consumption, comprising:

a hot water heater having a storage tank, a heating element and an electronic controller operable to regulate a temperature of water within the storage tank; and

an intelligent thermostat remotely located from the hot water heater for controlling a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the intelligent thermostat operably coupled to the electronic controller of the hot water heater for communications therewith to control a temperature set point thereof;

wherein the intelligent thermostat is configured to provide a user selectable HVAC vacation mode setting for the HVAC system, and wherein the intelligent thermostat transmits a hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater when the user selectable HVAC vacation mode has been selected to initiate a hot water heater vacation mode within the electronic controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent thermostat transmits a cancel hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater when the user selectable HVAC vacation mode has been deselected to cancel the hot water heater vacation mode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent thermostat is operably coupled to the electronic controller of the hot water heater for communications via a wired communications channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent thermostat is operably coupled to the electronic controller of the hot water heater for communications via a wireless communications channel.

5. A system for reducing energy consumption, comprising:

a hot water heater having a storage tank, a heating element and an electronic controller operable to regulate a temperature of water within the storage tank;

an intelligent thermostat remotely located from the hot water heater for controlling a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the intelligent thermostat operably coupled to the electronic controller of the hot water heater for communications therewith to control a temperature set point thereof; and

wherein the intelligent thermostat includes a user display screen, and wherein the intelligent thermostat is configured to display a hot water heater set mode menu on the user display screen, the hot water heater set mode menu including a user selectable programming setting and a user selectable hot water heater vacation mode setting.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the intelligent thermostat transmits a hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater when the user selectable hot water heater vacation mode has been selected from the hot water heater set mode menu to initiate a hot water heater vacation mode within the electronic controller.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the intelligent thermostat displays a hot water heater programming menu when the user selectable programming setting is selected by a user to allow a user to program different operating modes for the hot water heater.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operating modes provided by the intelligent thermostat comprise a wake mode, a sleep mode, and a demand mode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the intelligent thermostat provides programmability of at least one of temperature set point, time of day, tolerance band, and temperature differential for each of the operating modes.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the intelligent thermostat is configured to transmit a control signal to the electronic controller to adjust hot water heater control parameters therein for each of the operating modes.

11. A thermostat for controlling a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the dwelling having installed therein a hot water heater having an electronic controller operable to control a temperature of water held therein, the thermostat comprising:

a user interface display; and

a means for communicating with the electronic controller of the hot water heater;

wherein the thermostat is configured to transmit temperature control information to the electronic controller of the hot water heater to override a temperature setpoint thereof; and

wherein the thermostat is configured to transmit a hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater to initiate a hot water heater vacation mode within the electronic controller.

12. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the thermostat is configured to display a set mode screen having a user selectable hot water heater vacation mode entry, and wherein the thermostat transmits the hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater when the user selectable hot water heater vacation mode has been selected.

13. The thermostat of claim 11, wherein the thermostat is configured to display a hot water heater programming menu to allow a user to program different operating modes for the hot water heater.

14. The thermostat of claim 13, wherein the operating modes provided by the thermostat comprise a wake mode, a sleep mode, and a demand mode.

15. The thermostat of claim 14, wherein the thermostat provides programmability of at least one of temperature set point, time of day, tolerance band, and temperature differential for each of the operating modes.

16. The thermostat of claim 14, wherein the thermostat is configured to transmit a control signal to the electronic controller to adjust hot water heater control parameters therein for each of the operating modes.

17. A thermostat for controlling a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the dwelling having installed therein a hot water heater having an electronic controller operable to control a temperature of water held therein, the thermostat comprising:

a user interface display; and

a means for communicating with the electronic controller of the hot water heater; and

wherein the thermostat is configured to transmit temperature control information to the electronic controller of the hot water heater to override a temperature setpoint thereof;

wherein the thermostat is configured to transmit a hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater;

wherein the thermostat is configured to provide a user selectable HVAC vacation mode setting for the HVAC system; and

wherein the thermostat transmits the hot water heater vacation mode control signal to the electronic controller of the hot water heater when the user selectable HVAC vacation mode has been selected.

18. A method of reducing energy consumption of a hot water heater, comprising the steps of:

receiving by a thermostat a user input selecting a vacation mode of operation for a dwelling'"'"'s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

transmitting by the thermostat a hot water heater vacation mode control signal to an electronic controller of a hot water heater to initiate a hot water heater vacation mode of operation controlled by the electronic controller of the hot water heater.