System and method for reducing peak and off-peak electricity demand by monitoring, controlling and metering lighting in a facility

• US 9,215,780 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Potts, Michael J., Wang, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Darrin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/195,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the lighting equipment.

Claims

1. A method for metering energy use in a facility having a plurality of lighting fixtures, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an override signal from a first lighting fixture to a first group of lighting fixtures within a first transmission range;

receiving the override signal at the first group of lighting fixtures;

wirelessly retransmitting the override signal from one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures to a second group of lighting fixtures within a second transmission range, wherein the second transmission range is outside of the transmission range of the first lighting fixture;

receiving the retransmitted override signal at the second group of lighting fixtures and, in response to the retransmitted override signal;

(a) conducting an override at the second group of lighting fixtures and (b) reporting a status update from each of the second group of lighting fixtures to a master controller via at least one retransmission by one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures;

metering lighting system energy usage using at least the status information from the second group of lighting fixtures retransmitted to the master controller by the one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures;

evaluating an ambient light level near the first lighting fixture using a sensor coupled to control circuitry local to the first lighting fixture,

wherein the first lighting fixture wirelessly transmits the override signal based on the evaluated ambient light level, and

wherein at least one lighting fixture of the first group of lighting fixtures and the second group of lighting fixtures retransmits the override signal to the master controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein metering lighting system energy usage comprises:

monitoring the status of the plurality of lighting fixtures by recording one or more times that each lighting fixture transitions from on to off and from off to on.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein metering lighting system energy usage further comprises:

determining an amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the metering does not include using energy metering devices on power lines of the lighting system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein metering lighting system energy usage further comprises:

calculating the amount of energy saved based on each lighting fixture'"'"'s electrical power consumption rating applied over the amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

using the recorded times to controllably cause a time delay to elapse before a lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures is cycled on again after it has been turned off.

7. A system for metering energy use in a facility having a plurality of lighting fixtures, comprising:

a first group of lighting fixtures including a first lighting fixture;

a master controller configured to wirelessly transmit an override signal to the first group of lighting fixtures within a wireless transmission range of the master controller;

a second group of lighting fixtures outside the wireless transmission range of the master controller;

wherein one or more lighting fixtures of the first group of lighting fixtures are configured to retransmit the override signal received from the master controller to the second group of lighting fixtures;

wherein the second group of lighting fixtures are configured to, in response to receiving the retransmitted override signal, conduct an override of normal operation and report a status update to the master controller via at least one retransmission by one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures;

wherein the master controller is configured to meter lighting system energy usage using at least the status information from the second group of lighting fixtures retransmitted to the master controller by the one or more lighting fixtures of the first group of lighting fixtures

wherein the master controller is configured to evaluate an ambient light level near the first lighting fixture using a sensor coupled to control circuitry local to the first lighting fixture, and wherein the master controller wirelessly transmits the override signal based on the evaluated ambient light level.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the master controller meters lighting system energy without using energy metering devices on power lines of the lighting system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the master controller is configured to monitor the status of the plurality of lighting fixtures by recording the times that each lighting fixture transitions from on to off and from off to on.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the master controller is further configured to determine an amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the master controller is configured to calculate the amount of energy saved based on each lighting fixture'"'"'s electrical power consumption rating applied over the amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the master controller is further configured to use the recorded times to controllably cause a time delay to elapse before a lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures is cycled on again after it has been turned off.