System and method for using a network of thermostats as tool to verify peak demand reduction

• US 7,908,116 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Hublou, Scott Douglas, Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundu; Sujoy K
• Application Number:
  US12/183,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 702/176, 702182-184, 700/276, 700/278, 236/1.C, 236/46.A, 236/46.R, 165238-239
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/08 giving differences of values using thermoelectric elements G01K7/02; giving differentiated values
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/048 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1923 using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for estimating the rate of change in temperature inside a structure. At least one thermostat located is inside the structure and is used to control an climate control system in the structure. At least one remote processor is in communication with said thermostat and at least one database stores data reported by the thermostat. At least one processor compares the outside temperature at least one location and at least one point in time to information reported to the remote processor from the thermostat. The processor uses the relationship between the inside temperature and the outside temperature over time to derive a first estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature assuming that the operating status of the climate control system is “on”. The processor also uses the relationship between the inside temperature and the outside temperature over time to derive a second estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature assuming that the operating status of the climate control system is “off”. The compares at least one of the first estimation and the second estimation to the actual inside temperature recorded inside the structure to determine whether the actual rate of change in inside temperature is closer to the first estimation or the second estimation.

Claims

1. A system for verifying operational status of an HVAC system by estimating the rate of change in temperature inside a first structure comprising:

at least a first thermostat located inside a first structure and controlling a first HVAC system in said first structure, wherein said first thermostat obtains an inside temperature of said first structure;

at least a second thermostat located inside a second structure and controlling a second HVAC system in said second structure, wherein said second thermostat obtains an inside temperature of said second structure and wherein said second structure is separate from said first structure;

at least one remote processor that is in communication with said first and second thermostats where said remote processor is not located at said first location or said second location;

at least one database for storing data reported by said first and second thermostats, wherein said database is not stored at said first location or said second location;

at least one remote processor that is located at a different location than said first structure and said second structure, said remote processor configured to receive one or more measurements of one or more outside temperatures from sources other than said first and second HVAC systems and compares the outside temperature at at least one location multiple times in a 24 hour period to information reported to said remote processor from said first and second thermostats;

wherein said remote processor uses at least the relationship between the inside temperature of said first structure and the outside temperature over time to derive a first estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature of said first structure assuming that the operating status of the first HVAC system is “

on”

;

wherein said remote processor uses at least the relationship between the inside temperature of said first structure and the outside temperature over time to derive a second estimation for the rate of change in inside temperature of said first structure assuming that the operating status of the first HVAC system is “

off”

; and

wherein said remote processor compares at least one of the first estimation and the second estimation to the actual inside temperature recorded inside the first structure to determine whether the actual rate of change in inside temperature of said first structure is closer to the first estimation or the second estimation to remotely determine whether the first HVAC system is on or off.

2. A system as in claim 1 in which said one or more measurements of one or more temperatures are of outside temperatures from sources other than said first HVAC system.

3. A system as in claim 1 in which said remote processor receive measurements of outside temperatures for geographic regions such as ZIP codes from sources other than said first HVAC system.

4. A system as in claim 1 in which said comparison relates to calculated rate of change predictions for temperature over time as measured by said first HVAC system.

5. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system is located within a habitable structure.

6. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system is located within a single family dwelling.

7. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system includes a programmable thermostat.

8. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system includes a programmable thermostat that communicates with said system using a mesh networking protocol.

9. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system includes a programmable thermostat that communicates with said system using the Internet.

10. A system as in claim 1 in which the status of said first HVAC system includes whether said system is “

on”

or “

off”

.

11. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system is connected to an air conditioner.

12. A system as in claim 1 in which said first HVAC system is connected to a forced-air furnace.

13. A system as in claim 1 in which said remote processor communicates with said first HVAC system using a network that includes an electricity meter.

14. A system as in claim 1 in which said estimations are predictions about the future rate of change in temperature inside said first structure.