Method and system for tracking and budgeting energy usage
First Claim
1. A method of budgeting future energy consumption for a property, comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving, at a server, over a network, from a user computer, a selection of a budget period;
b) receiving, at the server, over the network, from the user computer, a selection of a starting month and starting year for the budget period;
c) retrieving, from a database stored on the server, historical consumption data for each month in the budget period, wherein the historical consumption data is from the same month and one year previous from the starting year;
wherein a processor performs the steps of;
i) calculating an average sum of at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days for each month of the budget period using the historical consumption data;
ii) calculating at least one of a heating factor and a cooling factor for the property using the historical consumption data;
iii) modifying the historical consumption data by at least one of the heating factor and the cooling factor;
iv) modifying the historical consumption data by a per-capita consumption;
v) modifying the historical consumption data by an efficiency factor; and
vi) calculating, for the property, using at least the modified historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget;
wherein, if historical consumption data for a selected month is unavailable, the retrieving historical consumption data step includes retrieving historical consumption data, from the database, from two years previous from the starting year, and comprises the processor performing the steps of;
i) extrapolating a target month historical consumption data from the historical consumption data of a previous month, comprising the steps of;
(1) summing an energy consumption for the months of the two years previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero;
(2) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption;
(3) summing an energy consumption for months of the one year previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero;
(4) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption; and
(5) calculating one of a heating consumption factor and a cooling consumption factor by 1+(((one of a non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year one)−
(one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two))/one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two);
ii) determining if the target month experiences at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days;
iii) modifying the target month historical consumption data by at least one of the heating consumption factor and the cooling consumption factor; and
iv) calculating for the property, using at least the modified target month historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An energy tracking and reporting system can receive data inputs from multiple sources regarding one or more properties. A central database receives the information and correlates the information for numerous outputs. Information received by the central database can include, for example, property location, property size, property type and property use. Also, occupancy information, energy sources, utilities servicing the property, weather, ISO, environmental guidelines, and the traded or other standard price for the utilities can be stored. The system can calculate a number of factors from the data and return values to the central database. The system can track data trends and store additional information for budgeting, user reporting and certification compliance reporting. Modules can analyze the market rates, calculate efficiency benchmarks, analyze the data stored on the central database and provide the user with multiple tables and charts analyzing all of the factors that tie into energy usage.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of budgeting future energy consumption for a property, comprising the steps of:
-
a) receiving, at a server, over a network, from a user computer, a selection of a budget period; b) receiving, at the server, over the network, from the user computer, a selection of a starting month and starting year for the budget period; c) retrieving, from a database stored on the server, historical consumption data for each month in the budget period, wherein the historical consumption data is from the same month and one year previous from the starting year; wherein a processor performs the steps of; i) calculating an average sum of at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days for each month of the budget period using the historical consumption data; ii) calculating at least one of a heating factor and a cooling factor for the property using the historical consumption data; iii) modifying the historical consumption data by at least one of the heating factor and the cooling factor; iv) modifying the historical consumption data by a per-capita consumption; v) modifying the historical consumption data by an efficiency factor; and vi) calculating, for the property, using at least the modified historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget; wherein, if historical consumption data for a selected month is unavailable, the retrieving historical consumption data step includes retrieving historical consumption data, from the database, from two years previous from the starting year, and comprises the processor performing the steps of; i) extrapolating a target month historical consumption data from the historical consumption data of a previous month, comprising the steps of; (1) summing an energy consumption for the months of the two years previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero; (2) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption; (3) summing an energy consumption for months of the one year previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero; (4) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption; and (5) calculating one of a heating consumption factor and a cooling consumption factor by 1+(((one of a non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year one)−
(one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two))/one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two);ii) determining if the target month experiences at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days; iii) modifying the target month historical consumption data by at least one of the heating consumption factor and the cooling consumption factor; and iv) calculating for the property, using at least the modified target month historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to perform the steps of:
-
a) receiving, at a server, over a network, from a user computer, a selection of a budget period; b) receiving, at the server, over the network, from the user computer, a selection of a starting month and starting year for the budget period; c) retrieving, from a database stored on the server, historical consumption data for each month in the budget period, wherein the historical consumption data is from the same month and one year previous from the starting year;
wherein a processor performs the steps of;i) calculating an average sum of at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days for each month of the budget period using the historical consumption data; ii) calculating at least one of a heating factor and a cooling factor for the property using the historical consumption data; iii) modifying the historical consumption data by at least one of the heating factor and the cooling factor; iv) modifying the historical consumption data by a per-capita consumption; v) modifying the historical consumption data by an efficiency factor; and vi) calculating, for the property, using at least the modified historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget; wherein, if historical consumption data for a selected month is unavailable, the retrieving historical consumption data step includes retrieving historical consumption data, from the database, from two years previous from the starting year, and comprises the processor performing the steps of; i) extrapolating a target month historical consumption data from the historical consumption data of a previous month, comprising the steps of; (1) summing an energy consumption for the months of the two years previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero; (2) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption; (3) summing an energy consumption for months of the one year previous where at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days equal zero; (4) dividing by selected months in the budget period to find at least one of a non-heating monthly consumption and a non-cooling monthly consumption; and (5) calculating one of a heating consumption factor and a cooling consumption factor by 1+(((one of a non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year one)−
(one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two))/one of non-heating monthly consumption and non-cooling monthly consumption, year two);ii) determining if the target month experiences at least one of heating degree days and cooling degree days; iii) modifying the target month historical consumption data by at least one of the heating consumption factor and the cooling consumption factor; and iv) calculating for the property, using at least the modified target month historical consumption data, a future energy consumption budget. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification