Abstract: Predictive controllers are disclosed which provide, among other things, efficient strategics for controlling heat transfer to or from a liquid. A method and system are disclosed that includes receiving input information including any or all of user preferences, energy price information, solar information, and GHG intensity information, determining with the predictive controller settings information to provide one or both of fluid temperature set points and compressor settings of a heat pump system and heating the fluid in response to the settings information to provide hot fluid according to the user preferences and to achieve the economic efficiencies.

Abstract: A water heating system including a tank at least one of an electric heating element and/or a heat pump assembly for heating the water in the tank and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one of an electric resistance heating element and/or a heat pump assembly configured to control operation of the water heating system is disclosed. The controller is configured to gather information comprising at least one of user preferences for the system, specifications for energy-related systems of a home in which the water heating system is installed, specifications for how the water heating system is physically configured within the home, environmental parameters for a location in which the water heating system is installed, and is configured to process this information to control the water heater system to operate according to the information. The heat pump system is disposed in an enclosed space proximate the tank with a casing enclosing the heat pump system to provide the enclosed space.

Abstract: A water heating system including a tank at least one of an electric heating element and/or a heat pump assembly for heating the water in the tank and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one of an electric resistance heating element and/or a heat pump assembly configured to control operation of the water heating system is disclosed. The controller is configured to gather information comprising at least one of user preferences for the system, specifications for energy related systems of a home in which the water heating system is installed, specifications for how the water heating system is physically configured within the home, environmental parameters for a location in which the water heating system is installed, and is configured to process this information to control the water heater system to operate according to the information.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a fast payment is described. A request to execute a payout to a payee account is received, where the request includes information about the payout. At least one payment rail available for the requested payout is determined from a plurality of payment rails based on the included information. Rules associated with each of the at least one payment rail are identified. A fastest payment rail is determined from the at least one payment rail for executing the payout based on the identified rules and the information about the payout. The payout is then executed over the determined fastest payment rail.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a fast payment is described. A request to execute a payout to a payee account is received, where the request includes information about the payout. At least one payment rail available for the requested payout is determined from a plurality of payment rails based on the included information. Rules associated with each of the at least one payment rail are identified. A fastest payment rail is determined from the at least one payment rail for executing the payout based on the identified rules and the information about the payout. The payout is then executed over the determined fastest payment rail.

Abstract: A releasable locking mechanism comprising a lock mode, and an unlock mode; a handle and at least one resilient member mountable between the handle and a shaft, wherein the resilient member biases the mechanism to the lock mode when the mechanism is at rest; and actuation of the handle by a user releases the mechanism from the lock mode to the unlock mode, allowing rotation of the handle and the at least one resilient member about the shaft.

Abstract: An energy efficiency data collection system architecture may be configured to enable efficient and accurate collection of energy efficiency data associated with users and/or sites associated with users and generation of profiles associated with the users based on the energy efficiency data. An energy efficiency data collection service may receive location information, image data, and user-input data from an application operating on a mobile device associated with a user. The energy efficiency data collection service may generate profiles based on the information received from the application and may provide incentives to the users in response to participating in an energy efficiency data collection survey.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a container of a food processing system includes a body positionable within a base of the food processing system, said body having a first side and a second side, an opening formed in said body, a member configurable with said opening to selectively seal said opening, said member being arranged at said second side of said body, a vacuum sealing assembly for sealing a chamber of the container, and a release mechanism operable to selectively fluidly couple said chamber to an ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A water heating system including a tank at least one of an electric heating element and/or a heat pump assembly for heating the water in the tank and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one of an electric resistance heating element and/or a heat pump assembly configured to control operation of the water heating system is disclosed. The controller is configured to gather information comprising at least one of user preferences for the system, specifications for energy related systems of a home in which the water heating system is installed, specifications for how the water heating system is physically configured within the home, environmental parameters for a location in which the water heating system is installed, and is configured to process this information to control the water heater system to operate according to the information.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a fast payment is described. A request to execute a payout to a payee account is received, where the request includes information about the payout. At least one payment rail available for the requested payout is determined from a plurality of payment rails based on the included information. Rules associated with each of the at least one payment rail are identified. A fastest payment rail is determined from the at least one payment rail for executing the payout based on the identified rules and the information about the payout. The payout is then executed over the determined fastest payment rail.

Abstract: An energy efficiency data collection system architecture may be configured to enable efficient and accurate collection of energy efficiency data associated with users and/or sites associated with users and generation of profiles associated with the users based on the energy efficiency data. An energy efficiency data collection service may receive location information, image data, and user-input data from an application operating on a mobile device associated with a user. The energy efficiency data collection service may generate profiles based on the information received from the application and may provide incentives to the users in response to participating in an energy efficiency data collection survey.

Abstract: A method and system for managing electric vehicle (EV) distributed energy resource(s) (DER) are disclosed. A DER analytics engine may receive electricity consumption data of a plurality of sites from corresponding electricity meters of the plurality of sites, detect EV charging information based at least in part on the electricity consumption data, obtain EV telematics data of EVs associated with the EV charging information, reconcile the EV charging information and the EV telematics data, and generate, based on the reconciled EV charging information and the EV telematics data, models for at least one of continuous EV load prediction, electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE detection), and/or optimization for at least one of aggregated load, load per feeder, or maximum revenue for time-of-use tiers.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a fast payment is described. A request to execute a payout to a payee account is received, where the request includes information about the payout. At least one payment rail available for the requested payout is determined from a plurality of payment rails based on the included information. Rules associated with each of the at least one payment rail are identified. A fastest payment rail is determined from the at least one payment rail for executing the payout based on the identified rules and the information about the payout. The payout is then executed over the determined fastest payment rail.

Abstract: An accessory for use in a food processing system having a processing chamber in a container with an interior surface and a rotatable blade assembly, the accessory including an accessory body receivable within the processing chamber of the attachment. The accessory body has an upper end, a lower end, and at least one sidewall extending between the first end and the second end to define an accessory interior. An opening to the accessory interior is arranged at the upper end and a filtering body extends from the accessory body. The filtering body is associable with the interior surface of the container to create an exit channel from the processing chamber.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a container of a food processing system includes a body positionable within a base of the food processing system, said body having a first side and a second side, an opening formed in said body, a member configurable with said opening to selectively seal said opening, said member being arranged at said second side of said body, a vacuum sealing assembly for sealing a chamber of the container, and a release mechanism operable to selectively fluidly couple said chamber to an ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a container of a food processing system includes a body positionable within a base of the food processing system, said body having a first side and a second side, an opening formed in said body, a member configurable with said opening to selectively seal said opening, said member being arranged at said second side of said body, a vacuum sealing assembly for sealing a chamber of the container, and a release mechanism operable to selectively fluidly couple said chamber to an ambient atmosphere.