Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for detecting the use of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one networked electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Abstract: Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.

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”.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.

Abstract: Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC 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 remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC 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 remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.

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”.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.

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”.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for verifying the occurrence of a change in operational status for climate control systems. The climate control system measures temperature at least a first location conditioned by the climate control system. One or more processors also receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the climate control system, and compares the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by the climate control system and the outside temperature measurements. A server transmits changes in programming to the climate control system based at least in part on the comparison of the temperature measurements with the expected temperature measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems can receive from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature. In addition, the system acquires the temperature inside the structure and the temperature outside the structure at a time prior to said target time. The systems use a thermal characteristic of the structure and a performance characteristic of the climate control system, to determine the appropriate time prior to the target time at which the climate control system should turn on based at least in part on the structure, the climate control system, the inside temperature and the outside temperature. The systems then set a setpoint on a thermostatic controller to control the climate control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating manual changes to the setpoint for a thermostatic controller into long-term programming of the thermostatic controller. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems compares the actual setpoint at a given time for the thermostatic controller to an expected setpoint for the thermostatic controller in light of the scheduled programming. A determination is then made as to whether the actual setpoint and the expected setpoint are the same or different. Furthermore, a manual change to the actual setpoint for the thermostatic controller is compared to previously recorded setpoint data for the thermostatic controller. At least one rule is then applied for the interpretation of the manual change in light of the previously recorded setpoint data.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing the usage of a ventilation system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems comprise a thermostatic controller that has at least two settings for the delay occurring between turning the ventilation system off and then turning the system back on. One setting being for a first interval and at least a second setting for a second interval that is longer than the first interval. A processor is in communication with the thermostatic controller and is configured to evaluate one or more parameters including at least the temperature outside the structure conditioned by the ventilation system. The processor is further configured to determine whether to adopt the first interval or the second interval based upon the values of the parameters.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for detecting the use of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one networked electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for ramping setpoints on thermostats controlling HVAC systems. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC 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 remote processor ramps the setpoint on the thermostat so as to reduce the average spread between inside temperature and outside temperature in order to reduce energy consumption with affecting comfort. The remote processor takes into account the effect of weather conditions and occupant preferences in determining whether and when to ramp setpoints.