Historical utility consumption disaggregation

• US 8,719,186 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ennovationz Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ennovationz Inc.
• Inventors: Amram, Martha, Sauder, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/109,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 705/412, 705/413
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for itemizing energy consumption to generate and present a utility consumption profile based on disaggregated historical utility consumption data is disclosed. The computer-implemented method comprises obtaining data indicating historical utility consumption of a dwelling over a time period. A non-seasonal portion of the historical utility consumption data is then determined by first computing an average utility consumption based on one or more predetermined intervals within the time period, and then computing the non-seasonal portion by applying the average to the time period. The non-seasonal portion is then subtracted from the historical utility consumption data to obtain a seasonal portion of the historical utility consumption data. The seasonal and/or non-seasonal portion may be further disaggregated by end-use methods, and presented to the user in the utility consumption profile.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for itemizing water consumption, comprising:

obtaining data indicating historical water consumption of a dwelling over a time period;

determining a non-seasonal portion of the historical water consumption data by (a) computing an average water consumption based on one or more predetermined intervals within the time period, and (b) computing the non-seasonal portion by applying the average to the time period;

subtracting the non-seasonal portion from the historical water consumption data to obtain a seasonal portion of the historical water consumption data;

generating a water consumption profile for the dwelling indicating non-seasonal consumption and seasonal consumption;

indicating the non-seasonal portion as attributable to indoor water consumption in the water consumption profile;

computing at least one water consumption level corresponding to at least one indoor dwelling feature;

indicating a level of confidence in the computed indoor dwelling feature consumption level by comparing a sum of the computed consumption level to the non-seasonal portion attributed to indoor water consumption; and

presenting, via a display, the indoor dwelling feature and the corresponding consumption level in the water consumption profile to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the water consumption profile for the dwelling with another water consumption benchmark.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing an average of the historical water consumption data corresponding to a billing cycle used by a water provider serving the dwelling, and indicating a billing tier applicable to the computed average consumption.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined intervals are determined based on a geographical region of the dwelling.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising normalizing the indoor water consumption based on the number of occupants in the dwelling, and presenting the normalized indoor water consumption to the user in the water consumption profile.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the historical water consumption data from a water bill.

7. A computer-implemented method for itemizing energy consumption, comprising:

obtaining data indicating historical electricity consumption of a dwelling over a time period;

determining a non-seasonal portion of the historical electricity consumption data by (a) computing an average electricity consumption based on one or more predetermined intervals within the time period, and (b) computing the non-seasonal portion by applying the average to the time period;

subtracting the non-seasonal portion from the historical electricity consumption data to obtain a seasonal portion of the historical electricity consumption data;

generating an electricity consumption profile for the dwelling indicating non-seasonal consumption and seasonal consumption;

computing at least one non-seasonal electricity consumption level corresponding to at least one dwelling feature;

computing at least one always-on electricity consumption level corresponding to the dwelling feature, wherein computing the always-on consumption level comprises obtaining at least one parameter of the dwelling feature and using the parameter to determine the non-seasonal electricity consumption level and wherein the always-on consumption level comprises electricity consumption of dwelling feature that substantially constantly consumes electricity; and

presenting, via a display, the dwelling feature and the corresponding consumption level to a user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising subtracting a sum of the always-on electricity consumption levels from a residual portion of the historical electricity consumption data to obtain a portion indicating a level of confidence in the computation of the dwelling feature electricity consumption levels.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising computing at least one seasonal electricity consumption level corresponding to at least one seasonally operated dwelling feature, and presenting the at least one dwelling feature and the corresponding seasonal electricity consumption level in the electricity consumption profile to the user.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising obtaining the historical electricity consumption data from an electricity bill.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the electricity consumption profile for the dwelling with another electricity consumption benchmark.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising computing an average of the historical electricity consumption data corresponding to a billing cycle used by an electricity provider serving the dwelling, and indicating a billing tier applicable to the computed average consumption.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more predetermined intervals are determined based on a geographical region of the dwelling.