Energy alert power system and method

• US 9,141,182 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Inventors: Simon, Timothy M., Smith, Blaine M., Fisher, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US13/937,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 700/276, 700/278, 307/62, 340/870.16, 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/62 The condition being non-electrical, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

An energy control system, helping to reduce energy consumption from an energy grid, includes a power meter which receives first power-save signal and generates a second power-save signal for receipt by a control device. The target temperature of a thermostat is changed for a period of time in response to the second power-save signal. The control device can create a third power-save signal for receipt by a power-save adapter for an associated energy-consuming unit to permit only limited operation of the energy-consuming unit.

Claims

1. A method for temporarily reducing energy demand on an energy grid comprising:

receiving, from a power company, a first power-save signal by a power meter of a user, the power meter being a remotely accessible power meter through which power is supplied to the user;

transmitting a second power-save signal from the power meter to a control device, the control device associated with a thermostat;

changing a target temperature of the thermostat to a power-save target temperature in response to the second power-save signal;

determining, by the power company, a start time for said target temperature changing step;

the first power save signal being received before the start time and

the target temperature being changed to the power-save target temperature for a period of time chosen by the power company.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first power-save signal being a price event power-save signal;

and

optionally overriding the first power-save signal by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first power-save signal is an emergency event power-save signal;

and

preventing the user from overriding the first power-save signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first power-save signal is received at least 1 hour before the start time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first power-save signal receiving step and the second power-save signal transmitting step are wireless signal receiving and transmitting steps.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second power-save signal transmitting step is carried out with the control device and the thermostat within a common housing.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a user indication that a power-save condition exists by at least one of the thermostat, the control device, and the energy-consuming unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time chosen by the power company is a fixed period of time.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period of time chosen by the power company is a variable period of time.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after receiving the first power-save signal;

transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;

the supplemental first power-save signal changing one of the power-save target temperature and the start time.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after receiving the first power-save signal and before the start time;

transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;

the supplemental first power-save signal changing the start time.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter after the start time;

transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;

the supplemental first power-save signal changing the target temperature.

13. A method for temporarily reducing energy demand on an energy grid comprising:

receiving, from a power company, a first power-save signal by a power meter of a user, the power meter being a remotely accessible power meter through which power is supplied to the user;

the first power-save signal being a price event power-save signal;

and either;

overriding the first power-save signal by the user;

or

transmitting a second power-save signal from the power meter to a control device, the control device associated with a thermostat, and changing a target temperature of the thermostat to a power-save target temperature in response to the second power-save signal for a period of time chosen by the power company;

receiving a supplemental first power-save signal by the power meter, the supplemental first power-save signal being an emergency event power-save signal;

transmitting a supplemental second power-save signal from the power meter to the control device;

temporarily changing the target temperature of the thermostat to a supplemental power-save target temperature in response to the supplemental second power-save signal; and

preventing the user from overriding the supplemental first power-save signal.