Optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a first computing device, one or more measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, wherein the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics;
generating, by the first computing device, a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors and weather data associated with the location of the building;
predicting, by the first computing device, an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building;
determining, by the first computing device, a series of energy control points for each of a plurality of comfort devices in the building based on the energy response, wherein the series of energy control points are operable to adjust one or more operational settings of the comfort devices in the building;
optimizing, by the first computing device, the series of energy control points based upon an estimated energy cost for each of a plurality of predetermined time periods so that the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume less energy during time periods that have a high estimated energy cost and the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume more energy during time periods that have a low estimated energy cost;
transmitting, by the first computing device, the energy control points to one or more comfort devices in the building;
detecting, by the first computing device for each of the plurality of predetermined time periods, temperature readings from one or more sensors each inside different rooms of the building, temperature readings from each of one or more sensors outside the building, and temperature readings provided by a thermostat inside the building;
determining, by the first computing device, whether the temperature readings from any of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; and
if at least one of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat;
adjusting, by the first computing device, the series of energy control points for one or more comfort devices associated with the room of the diverging sensor to account for the divergence in temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling a building'"'"'s energy consumption and comfort. A computing device receives measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, where the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics. The computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors, and weather data associated with the building'"'"'s location. The computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather. The computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building and determines energy control points based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The computing device transmits the energy control points to comfort devices in the building.
32 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a first computing device, one or more measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, wherein the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics; generating, by the first computing device, a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors and weather data associated with the location of the building; predicting, by the first computing device, an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building; determining, by the first computing device, a series of energy control points for each of a plurality of comfort devices in the building based on the energy response, wherein the series of energy control points are operable to adjust one or more operational settings of the comfort devices in the building; optimizing, by the first computing device, the series of energy control points based upon an estimated energy cost for each of a plurality of predetermined time periods so that the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume less energy during time periods that have a high estimated energy cost and the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume more energy during time periods that have a low estimated energy cost; transmitting, by the first computing device, the energy control points to one or more comfort devices in the building; detecting, by the first computing device for each of the plurality of predetermined time periods, temperature readings from one or more sensors each inside different rooms of the building, temperature readings from each of one or more sensors outside the building, and temperature readings provided by a thermostat inside the building; determining, by the first computing device, whether the temperature readings from any of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; and if at least one of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; adjusting, by the first computing device, the series of energy control points for one or more comfort devices associated with the room of the diverging sensor to account for the divergence in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computerized system for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building, the system comprising a first computing device configured to:
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receive one or more measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, wherein the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics; generate a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors, and weather data associated with the location of the building; predict an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building; determine a series of energy control points for each of a plurality of comfort devices in the building based on the energy response, wherein the series of energy control points are operable to adjust one or more operational settings of comfort devices in the building; optimize the series of energy control points based upon an estimated energy cost for each of a plurality of predetermined time periods so that the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume less energy during time periods that have a high estimated energy cost and the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume more energy during time periods that have a low estimated energy cost; transmit the energy control points to one or more comfort devices in the building; detect, for each of the plurality of predetermined time periods, temperature readings from one or more sensors each inside different rooms of the building, temperature readings from each of one or more sensors outside the building, and temperature readings provided by a thermostat inside the building; determine whether the temperature readings from any of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; and if at least one of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; adjust the series of energy control points for one or more comfort devices associated with the room of the diverging sensor to account for the divergence in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:
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receive one or more measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, wherein the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics; generate a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors, and weather data associated with the location of the building; predict an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building; determine a series of energy control points for each of a plurality of comfort devices in the building based on the energy response, wherein the series of energy control points are operable to adjust one or more operational settings of comfort devices in the building; optimize the series of energy control points based upon an estimated energy cost for each of a plurality of predetermined time periods so that the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume less energy during time periods that have a high estimated energy cost and the corresponding comfort devices operate to consume more energy during time periods that have a low estimated energy cost; transmit the energy control points to one or more comfort devices in the building; detect, for each of the plurality of predetermined time periods, temperature readings from one or more sensors each inside different rooms of the building, temperature readings from each of one or more sensors outside the building, and temperature readings provided by a thermostat inside the building; determine whether the temperature readings from any of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; and if at least one of the one or more sensors inside different rooms of the building diverge over time from the temperature readings from the one or more sensors outside the building and from the temperature readings from the thermostat; adjust the series of energy control points for one or more comfort devices associated with the room of the diverging sensor to account for the divergence in temperature.
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Specification