Abstract: A method includes (a) transmitting a power-saving request; (b) calculating a baseline; and (c) calculating a payment based on a difference between an actual amount of electric power consumed by an electric power load and the baseline, wherein in (b), a first baseline for a first power-saving period during which power is saved in accordance with a first power-saving request transmitted at an immediately preceding timing is calculated based on an average of amounts of electric power consumed during periods in the same time zone as the first power-saving period on previous days, and a second baseline for a second power-saving period during which power is saved in accordance with a second power-saving request transmitted at a different timing is calculated based on an average of amounts of electric power consumed during periods in the same time zone as the second power-saving period on previous days.

Abstract: An information terminal control method includes (a) accepting an instruction requesting for displaying of comparison between a power consumption of first electrical facilities provided in a first establishment and a power consumption of second electrical facilities provided in a second establishment, and (b) displaying, on a display, comparison data comparing between the power consumption of the first electrical facilities and the power consumption of the second electrical facilities, the comparison data being calculated with reduced influence of a difference between an environmental condition of the first electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the first electrical facilities and an environmental condition of the second electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the second electrical facilities.

Abstract: A method includes (a) transmitting a power-saving request; (b) calculating a baseline; and (c) calculating a payment based on a difference between an actual amount of electric power consumed by an electric power load and the baseline, wherein in (b), a first baseline for a first power-saving period during which power is saved in accordance with a first power-saving request transmitted at an immediately preceding timing is calculated based on an average of amounts of electric power consumed during periods in the same time zone as the first power-saving period on previous days, and a second baseline for a second power-saving period during which power is saved in accordance with a second power-saving request transmitted at a different timing is calculated based on an average of amounts of electric power consumed during periods in the same time zone as the second power-saving period on previous days.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system includes: obtaining, from a power supply source, information specifying an output modulation period during which power consumption by a heat pump unit is to be reduced; and controlling, based on the information obtained in the obtaining, an amount of heat generated by the heat pump unit. In the controlling, the heat pump unit is caused to generate a first amount of heat per unit time in a period other than the output modulation period, and generate a second amount of heat per unit time during the output modulation period, the second amount of heat being less than the first amount of heat.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, generated power, load power, surplus power, and an impact magnitude; and controlling operation of the heat pump to cause the heat pump to consume an amount of power for generating heat adjusted to follow the surplus power obtained on a per unit time basis. In the controlling, when the impact magnitude is greater than a predetermined first threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit consumption of the power supplied from an energy supplier and approximate a reverse flow of the surplus power to zero, and when the impact magnitude is less than or equal to a predetermined second threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit the reverse flow of the surplus power and approximate the consumption of power supplied from the energy supplier to zero.

Abstract: An information terminal control method includes (a) accepting an instruction requesting for displaying of comparison between a power consumption of first electrical facilities provided in a first establishment and a power consumption of second electrical facilities provided in a second establishment, and (b) displaying, on a display, comparison data comparing between the power consumption of the first electrical facilities and the power consumption of the second electrical facilities, the comparison data being calculated with reduced influence of a difference between an environmental condition of the first electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the first electrical facilities and an environmental condition of the second electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the second electrical facilities.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, an amount of the power generated by the power generation device, an amount of the power consumed by the electric load, and surplus power which is a difference between the generated power and the load power; and controlling operation of the heat pump to cause the heat pump to generate heat using power adjusted to follow a per time unit increase or decrease in the surplus power. In the controlling, when an amount of change in the surplus power remains greater than a predetermined threshold value for a given period of time extending back from a present time, an extent to which the power consumed by the heat pump follows the surplus power is reduced.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, generated power which is an amount of power generated by a power generation device, load power which is an amount of power consumed by an electric load, and surplus power which is a difference between the generated power and the load power; and controlling operation of the heat pump, wherein in the controlling, an amount of power consumed by the heat pump for generating heat is adjusted to follow a per unit time increase or decrease in the surplus power when a first condition is met, the first condition being that the surplus power remains greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value for a given period of time extending back from the present time.

Abstract: An operation planning method performed in a system including a power generation device, a first electric load operating using power generated by the power generation device, and a second electric load which generates heat using power generated by the power generation device. The operation planning method is performed to design an operation plan for the second electric load and includes: predicting, for individual unit time periods, a power generation amount by the power generation device and a power consumption amount by the first and second electric loads; and designing the operation plan for the second electric load to operate during an operation period including the time period with the largest amount of reverse power, calculated by subtracting the first and second power consumption amounts from the power generation amount.

Abstract: A storage hot water supplying apparatus provides heated water to a load circuit through which users uses water, and includes a water storage tank which stores water and has outlets for water to be heated at different heights, and an outlet selecting unit to select, from among the outlets, an outlet to take out the water, based on a provision temperature which is a temperature of water to be provided from the water storage tank to the load circuit and temperatures of the water to be taken out through the outlets. A heating unit heats the water taken out through the selected outlet and to be returned to the water storage tank.

Abstract: An operation planning method performed in a system including a power generation device, a first electric load operating using power generated by the power generation device, and a second electric load which generates heat using power generated by the power generation device. The operation planning method is performed to design an operation plan for the second electric load and includes: predicting, for individual unit time periods, an amount of power to be generated by the power generation device and an amount of power to be consumed by the first electric load; and designing the operation plan for the second electric load to operate during an operation period including the time period with the largest amount of reverse power, calculated by subtracting the amount of power to be consumed from the amount of power to be generated.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system includes: obtaining, from a power supply source, information specifying an output modulation period during which power consumption by a heat pump unit is to be reduced; and controlling, based on the information obtained in the obtaining, an amount of heat generated by the heat pump unit. In the controlling, the heat pump unit is caused to generate a first amount of heat per unit time in a period other than the output modulation period, and generate a second amount of heat per unit time during the output modulation period, the second amount of heat being less than the first amount of heat.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, generated power which is an amount of power generated by a power generation device, load power which is an amount of power consumed by an electric load, and surplus power which is a difference between the generated power and the load power; and controlling operation of the heat pump, wherein in the controlling, an amount of power consumed by the heat pump for generating heat is adjusted to follow a per unit time increase or decrease in the surplus power when a first condition is met, the first condition being that the surplus power remains greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value for a given period of time extending back from the present time.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, generated power, load power, surplus power, and an impact magnitude; and controlling operation of the heat pump to cause the heat pump to consume an amount of power for generating heat adjusted to follow the surplus power obtained on a per unit time basis. In the controlling, when the impact magnitude is greater than a predetermined first threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit consumption of the power supplied from an energy supplier and approximate a reverse flow of the surplus power to zero, and when the impact magnitude is less than or equal to a predetermined second threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit the reverse flow of the surplus power and approximate the consumption of power supplied from the energy supplier to zero.

Abstract: A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, an amount of the power generated by the power generation device, an amount of the power consumed by the electric load, and surplus power which is a difference between the generated power and the load power; and controlling operation of the heat pump to cause the heat pump to generate heat using power adjusted to follow a per time unit increase or decrease in the surplus power. In the controlling, when an amount of change in the surplus power remains greater than a predetermined threshold value for a given period of time extending back from a present time, an extent to which the power consumed by the heat pump follows the surplus power is reduced.

Abstract: A hot water storage type hot water supply system includes a storage battery unit, a heat pump cycle, a water storage tank, a water circulation path, first and second paths, first and second temperature sensors, and a controller. The heat pump cycle circulates a first refrigerant. The first and second paths circulate a second refrigerant. The first and second sensors sense temperatures of the storage battery unit and water stored in the tank, respectively. The controller controls the second refrigerant to flow in the first or the second path when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is higher or lower than a first or a second predetermined temperature, respectively. The controller controls to close the first and second paths when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is not lower than the second predetermined temperature and not higher than the first predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An operation planning method performed in a system including a power generation device, a first electric load operating using power generated by the power generation device, and a second electric load which generates heat using power generated by the power generation device. The operation planning method is performed to design an operation plan for the second electric load and includes: predicting, for individual unit time periods, a power generation amount by the power generation device and a power consumption amount by the first and second electric loads; and designing the operation plan for the second electric load to operate during an operation period including the time period with the largest amount of reverse power, calculated by subtracting the first and second power consumption amounts from the power generation amount.

Abstract: An operation planning method performed in a system including a power generation device, a first electric load operating using power generated by the power generation device, and a second electric load which generates heat using power generated by the power generation device. The operation planning method is performed to design an operation plan for the second electric load and includes: predicting, for individual unit time periods, an amount of power to be generated by the power generation device and an amount of power to be consumed by the first electric load; and designing the operation plan for the second electric load to operate during an operation period including the time period with the largest amount of reverse power, calculated by subtracting the amount of power to be consumed from the amount of power to be generated.

Abstract: A hot water storage type hot water supply system includes a storage battery unit, a heat pump cycle, a water storage tank, a water circulation path, first and second paths, first and second temperature sensors, and a controller. The heat pump cycle circulates a first refrigerant. The first and second paths circulate a second refrigerant. The first and second sensors sense temperatures of the storage battery unit and water stored in the tank, respectively. The controller controls the second refrigerant to flow in the first or the second path when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is higher or lower than a first or a second predetermined temperature, respectively. The controller controls to close the first and second paths when the temperature of the storage battery unit sensed by the first sensor is not lower than the second predetermined temperature and not higher than the first predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A storage hot water supplying apparatus which efficiently operates with largely increased available heat in a water storage tank is provided. The storage hot water supplying apparatus (1) provides heated water to a load circuit (300) through which users uses water, and includes: a water storage tank (210) which stores water and has outlets for water to be heated (231 to 233) at different heights, an outlet selecting unit (430) to select, from among the outlets (231 to 233), an outlet to take out the water, based on a provision temperature which is a temperature of water to be provided from the water storage tank (210) to the load circuit (300) and temperatures of the water to be taken out through the outlets (231 to 233); and a heating unit (100) to heat the water taken out through the selected outlet and to be returned to the water storage tank (210).