Systems and methods for controlling energy consumption

• US 8,793,029 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Demi Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Fausak, Andrew T., Ybarra, Darren, Sun, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US13/564,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 700/297, 700/286, 700/295, 700/296, 700/276, 236/870.02, 340/870.02, 705/412, 709/224
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/28 Processes or tasks scheduled according to the power required, the power available or the power price
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

In particular embodiments, an energy gateway is described that is configured to receive power usage information from one or more power meters, transmit the power usage information to an energy management server, receive control signals from the energy management server, transmit the control signals to the one or more power switches and execute localized pre-programmed rules.

Claims

1. A system for the control and reporting of energy consumption, the system comprising:

a communication network;

a plurality of power meters, the power meters including;

a first power meter operable to measure power usage of a household;

a second power meter operable to measure power usage of a household appliance; and

a third power meter operable to measure power usage of a HVAC unit;

a plurality of power switches, the plurality of power switches including a first power switch connected to the HVAC unit; and

a demand response system, the demand response system being connected to the plurality of power meters through the communication network, the demand response system operable to send control signals to the plurality of power switches based on predetermined parameters, wherein;

the demand response system includes a user interface operable to display power management information for the household, the power management information associated with the plurality of power meters, the user interface further operable to receive one or more inputs for managing energy consumption associated with the plurality of power meters;

the demand response system includes a plurality of customer permission-based profiles that each provide a different level of access to the user interface operable to display power management information for the household, wherein each different level of access to the user interface provides a different level of display of the power management information for the household and a different level of input ability for managing energy consumption of the household, wherein the plurality of customer permission-based profiles comprise a profile for a household owner and comprise a profile for a user other than the household owner or an energy provider employee, the profile for the user providing a lower level of access to the user interface than the profile for the household owner.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to display power usage and cost based information from the plurality of power meters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to receive an alternative energy type selection that is selected from a group consisting of:

hydroelectric power;

wind power; and

solar power.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is operable to receive a temperature setting selection.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a thermometer and a proximity sensor that are connected to the demand response system.

6. A system, comprising:

a communication network;

a power meter operable to measure power usage at a household;

a power switch connected to the power meter and further connected to a power usage point at the household; and

a demand response system connected to the power meter through the communication network, the demand response system operable to send one or more control signals to the power switch in order to adjust power usage of the power usage point, the demand response system further operable to provide, for display, a user interface that includes power management information associated with the household, wherein;

the user interface is operable to receive one or more inputs for managing energy consumption at the household;

the demand response system includes a plurality of customer permission-based profiles that each provide a different level of access to the user interface operable to display power management information for the household, wherein each different level of access to the user interface provides a different level of display of the power management information for the household and a different level of input ability for managing energy consumption of the household, wherein the plurality of customer permission-based profiles comprise a profile for a household owner and comprise a profile for a user other than the household owner or an energy provider employee.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second power meter connecting the power switch to the power meter, the second power meter measuring power usage of the power usage point.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

one or more additional power switches, each of the additional power switches connected to one or more additional power usage points at the household; and

one or more additional power meters, each of the additional power meters connected to the power meter and operable to measure power usage at one or more of the additional power usage points.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only a single floor of the household.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only a single room of the household.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only the power usage point.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the power management information includes a projected monthly bill for the household.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is operable to receive an alternative energy type selection that is selected from a group consisting of:

hydroelectric power;

wind power; and

solar power.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is operable to receive a temperature setting selection for the power usage point.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the profile for the user provides a lower level of access to the user interface than the profile for the household owner.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a demand response system, a measure of power usage at a household from a power meter;

providing, for display, a user interface that includes power management information associated with the household, the user interface operable to receive one or more inputs for managing energy consumption at the household, the user interface_including a plurality of different access levels each associated with one of a plurality of customer permission-based profile for the household, wherein each different level of access to the user interface provides a different level of display of the power management information for the household and a different level of input ability for managing energy consumption of the household, wherein the plurality of customer permission-based profiles comprise a profile for a household owner and comprise a profile for a user other than the household owner or an energy provider employee; and

in response to the one or more inputs for managing energy consumption at the household, sending one or more control signals to a power switch of the household in order to adjust power usage of a power usage point of the household.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only a single floor of the household.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only a single room of the household.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the power management information includes power usage information associated with only the power usage point.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the power management information includes a projected monthly bill for the household.