Abstract: A modulating boiler system for heating a structure including a controller, a boiler operatively connected to the controller, and a thermostat operatively connected to the controller and boiler. The controller assesses a level of thermostat activity over a predetermined measuring period and adjusts the boiler in response to the level of activity to increase the boiler's efficiency.

Abstract: A power distribution network system is provided. The system includes a plurality of metering devices configured to generate load side data, a plurality of processing subsystems that is in operational communication with at least one of the plurality of metering devices and a central processing subsystem, wherein the plurality of processing subsystems is configured to receive a subset of the load side data from at least one of the plurality of metering devices, receive supervisory controls and supervisory conditions from the central processing subsystem, determine whether one or more of the supervisory conditions are satisfied based upon the received subset of the load side data, and execute one or more of the supervisory controls based upon the determination whether one or more of the supervisory conditions are satisfied, wherein each of the plurality of processing subsystems is located at a load bifurcation point in the power distribution network.

Abstract: A power charging station administration device administrates available time slot information and installation site information set by an administrator of an in-vehicle battery charger, that is, the available time slot information representing time slots at which the in-vehicle battery charger is available and the installation site information representing the installation site of the in-vehicle battery charger using an administration. An information publication unit publishes the available time slot information and the installation site information administrated by the administration unit on a homepage. An occupant of a vehicle A other than the administrator of the in-vehicle battery charger can use the in-vehicle battery charger by verifying the published information during time slots at which the in-vehicle battery charger is available.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to manage the power consumption at a user's electrical apparatuses, the user's activity schedule is registered in various patterns, and the operation schedule of the electrical apparatuses is stored in various patterns. The operation schedule of the electrical apparatuses is specified in accordance with the user's activity schedule registered. The electrical apparatuses are controlled in accordance with the operating schedule thus specified. The power consumption at the home appliances can thereby be appropriately managed in various conditions, to meet the user's activity schedule and preference.

Abstract: An energy management system identifies one or more energy-load components, and generates an energy-disutility graph for the identified components. The energy-disutility graph can include, for each of a sequence of discrete time instances, one or more vertices that each corresponds to an alternative operating state for a component. Further, an arc that couples two vertices indicates an energy-disutility model corresponding to energy and disutility costs for the component. The energy management system also communicates an energy-demand bid to the energy provider, such that the energy-demand bid includes the energy-disutility graph.

Abstract: An energy management device manages a plurality of monitored devices distributed in a plurality of monitored areas. The energy management device determines whether a current time of each monitored area is during a monitored time of the energy management device. The energy management device acquires an area identifier and a body presence information from each of the monitored areas, and determines whether one or more monitored areas are under control and without body presence. If one or more monitored areas are under control and without body presence, the energy management device transmits one or more power-off commands to turn off the monitored devices located in the one or more monitored areas.

Abstract: A controller for controlling energy consumption in a home includes a constraints engine to define variables for multiple appliances in the home corresponding to various home modes and persona of an occupant of the home. A modeling engine models multiple paths of energy utilization of the multiple appliances to place the home into a desired state from a current context. An optimal scheduler receives the multiple paths of energy utilization and generates a schedule as a function of the multiple paths and a selected persona to place the home in a desired state.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device. This power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on the primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on the primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of the primary part. The control circuit receives from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in the primary power path, the power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“Power-down” mode) when the first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied anymore.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. During operation, the system obtains one or more control actions that control energy transitions of a plurality of components, receives transitional characteristics associated with the components, and schedules the energy transitions by generating a set of offsets. A respective offset results in a delay of at least one energy transition.

Abstract: Monitoring and optimizing a state of an electrical grid are provided. An approach for synchronizing state information and context information, associated with one or more electrical devices on an electrical grid, with time information is provided. The state information is from one or more phasor measurement units (PMUs) associated with the one or more electrical devices, and the context information is from one or more third party servers. The approach further includes notifying one or more subscribing devices of the synchronized state information and the synchronized context information such that the one or more subscribing devices monitors and controls the one or more electrical devices based on the synchronized state information and the synchronized context information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multichannel power controller for limiting the number of channels with outputs therefrom simultaneously turned on and enabling power conditioning that makes the ratio of the “ON time” to the “ON+OFF time” for the output proportional to the input value, thus allowing the power capacity of the power plant to be set to the minimum required value, when a plurality of channels are subjected to time-sharing output control.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator. The method includes determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator and then determining the total load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads. The method further includes determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load L that is being supplied by the generator. The method further includes determining an amount of time T in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator.

Abstract: Power utilized in a local power network may be managed. The local power network may include a power management system. The power management system may communicate with one or more of a circuit controller, a switch controller, and/or an outlet controller in order to manage power utilization.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes at least a location, a policy limitation, a participation history, and an enrollment status for each customer. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and programmed to select at least one participant from the plurality of customers, based on the customer data, to participate in at least one demand response event. The processor is further programmed to verify that the selected participant, based on the customer data, satisfies at least one precondition to receive at least one signal representative of the demand response event.

Abstract: A method for load control in an electrical distribution system using energy usage profiles based on temporal measurements. A load control unit (10) installed at a customer site profiles equipment (E1-En) directly connected to the load control unit and remotely located equipment (RE1-REn) wirelessly connected to the load control unit using measurements of time rather than energy usage. This reduces the cost and complexity of the load control unit. Profiling is done for individual pieces of load controlled equipment rather than for the site as a whole. This improves data resolution. The load control unit controls the load only when the equipment is powered, and adaptively synchronizes load shedding during this time, so to improve local load control performance. Termination of a load control event results in gradual reduction in load shedding so to control the inrush of demand seen by the distribution system.

Abstract: An electrical device for connecting to an electrical distribution network of a building. The electrical distribution network is connected to an electrical energy supply network. The electrical device has a switching device for switching on and off an electrical load. For the purpose of relatively simple demand control of the electrical load, the electrical device has a monitoring device for monitoring the voltage and/or frequency at the electrical device on the distribution network side and to generate a switch-on signal if the monitored voltage and/or frequency exceeds an upper threshold value and to generate a switch-off signal if the monitored voltage and/or frequency falls below a lower threshold value. The switching device establishes a current flow between the distribution network and the electrical load when a switch-on signal is present and interrupts a current flow between the distribution network and the electrical load if a switch-off signal is present.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein relate to enterprise energy automation. In one preferred embodiment, a method for enterprise energy automation is provided. In another preferred embodiment, a method for delivering ancillary services to an energy supply and delivery system by a group of buildings is provided. In yet another preferred embodiment, a method for integrating an energy automation system is provided. Other preferred embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for managing power consumption of a battery-powered device such as a fluid dispenser are disclosed. One method includes setting a duty cycle of a sensor used by the device to a first range and setting a timer upon detection of a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a triggering event and also setting the duty cycle to a second range. The method continues by checking for another triggering event during the second range. The checking step is repeated if the timer has not lapsed, but if the timer has lapsed the process returns to the setting step. Related methods may be used to adjust the duty cycle based upon a detected characteristic such as light, sound, motion or time.

Abstract: An energy management system is provided for an appliance comprising: an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode. A controller includes a memory for storing the schedule and firmware to determine whether there is any off-peak time segments and other time sub-segments between a current time and a deadline for completing the operation. Upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller is arranged to initiate the operation, including a reduction in power consumption to complete the operation, when an amount of time required to complete the operation maximizes the off-peak time segment and sub-segments between the current time and the deadline.

Abstract: A heater energization control apparatus. When an engine is stopped, a microcomputer of a GCU enters a power save mode. When the microcomputer returns to a normal mode in response to an interruption signal periodically generated from an interruption timer, the microcomputer supplies electricity to a heating resistor for a short time and obtains its resistance (S19). When the resistance is greater than a first reference value, the microcomputer determines that a glow plug is removed from the engine; that is, the glow plug is being exchanged (S29). The microcomputer sets an exchange flag to “1” (S30), and performs calibration for the heating resistor of a new glow plug after the engine is operated next time (S35). When the current resistance becomes smaller than the past resistance, the microcomputer determines that the glow plug has been exchanged.

Abstract: A demand supply management system for an appliance receives information related to cost of energy use and communicates data to the associated appliance in response thereto. A single chip, light emitting diode (LED) device is preferably associated with a module or portion of the home appliance. The LED device conveys information relating to at least two of cost of energy use, signal strength, and module status. The LED device is preferably a single chip, single color solid-state LED device that is selectively actuated between “illuminated” and “non-illuminated” states, steady on, slow flash, fast flash, varying duration, intermittent “illuminated” and “non-illuminated”, etc. to convey information to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an appliance comprising: profiling at least one appliance including one or more power consuming functions connected with a home energy management system (HEM); defining an energy event corresponding to each of the one or more power consuming functions; developing a home energy profile in the HEM of all the energy events including a calendar of energy events; manipulating the home energy profile by a user wherein the user cancels, delays, reschedules, or enables processing of the calendar of energy events; and, communicating through a translator board wireless communication between the HEM and the at least one appliance.

Abstract: The power flexibility of energy loads is maximized using a value function for each load and outputting optimal control parameters. Loads are aggregated into a virtual load by maximizing a global value function. The solution yields a dispatch function providing: a percentage of energy for each individual load, a time-varying power level for each load, and control parameters and values. An economic term represents the value of the power flexibility to different players. A user interface includes for each time interval upper and lower bounds representing respectively the maximum power that may be reduced to the virtual load and the maximum power that may be consumed. A trader modifies an energy level in a time interval relative to the reference curve for the virtual load. Automatically, energy compensation for other intervals and recalculation of upper and lower boundaries occurs. The energy schedule for the virtual load is distributed to the actual loads.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a zone based energy management system includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device which may be based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances. Each of the zones may be associated with a corresponding temperature set-point of the thermostat or other energy consuming device where the temperature set point corresponding to a zone may be different from the temperature set points corresponding with each of the other zones.

Abstract: A system to monitor and control energy usage includes at least one consumer system and a control center that communicates with the at least one consumer system via the interne. Each consumer system includes a private network, at least one smart device that is configured to provide usage data across the private network, and a console. The console creates the private network, receives the usage data across the private network, sends the usage data across a communication channel, and enables a local user to control the at least one smart device and monitor energy usage of the at least one smart device. The control center is configured to receive the usage data across the communication channel from each console for storage thereon and enables a user remote to the consumer systems to control the smart devices and monitor energy usage of the smart devices.

Abstract: A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having HIF lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the HIF lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of HIF lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the HIF lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the HIF lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the HIF lighting equipment.

Abstract: Computer based energy management including an adaptor having a server network interface and a control device interface. The adaptor transmitting the commands to the control device via a control device interface on the adaptor, and receiving energy usage data from the control device in response to a command including a request for energy usage. The adaptor transmitting the energy usage data to the energy management software in response to receiving the energy usage data from the control device, receiving sensor data from one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the adaptor, transmitting the sensor data to the energy management software in response to receiving the sensor data from the sensors, receiving control commands at the adaptor from the energy management host software and transmitting the control commands to the control device, the control commands altering the function of a device.

Abstract: An energy management system includes a controller receiving electrical pricing information from an electrical utility company, measuring electrical power usage of a customer, and providing the electrical power usage to the electrical utility company. The controller is suitable to receive information regarding energy storage of a customer's electrical power storage and receive power information regarding a power generation source of the customer. The controller modifies the power usage of the energy management system based upon the pricing information, the electrical power usage, the energy storage, the power information, wherein the pricing information includes a plurality of temporal pricing levels and a temporal peak pricing level.

Abstract: A method for managing power distribution constraints in a power distribution network can include identifying the constraints at least one of before and during a time the constraint arises, identifying meters that are supplied by a portion of the power distribution network affected by the constraints, confirming an availability of dispatchable devices accessible by the meters, sending messages to the dispatchable devices, monitoring responses generated by the dispatchable devices, determining a resolution of the constraints for a duration of the constraint and resetting each resolution at the end of each constraint.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention allow an energy consumption index to be generated from DR response data and influencer data. The energy consumption index may indicate the energy consumption of a consumer before receiving a DR signal, the change in the consumption after the consumer receives a DR signal, and the consumer's propensity to respond to a DR signal. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention also allow energy providers to monitor, forecast, and plan for changes in consumer demand for energy. Various energy planning tools may facilitate an energy provider's ability to monitor, forecast, and plan for such changes.

Abstract: A device and method to automatically control timing of outside lighting are achieved. An ephemeris program and a calendar are loaded into memory on a timing device. Power is applied to the device wherein a GPS circuit on the device is energized, and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Current Day (CD), and physical location of the device are determined from satellite signals through an antenna or alternately from a repeater circuit or a key fob type device. GMT and CD that are retrieved are stored in memory. Lighting on and off times are calculated by the ephemeris program based on physical location, the calendar, GMT, CD, and the user selected distance of the sun below the horizon. Lights are turned on and off based on the calculated on and off times.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes one or more first receivers, a transmitter and a change module. The first receivers are configured to receive a command signal which instructs change of a power control state from another electronic apparatus. The transmitter is configured to transmit, to the another electronic apparatus, standby-capability information that includes a communication method adopted by the first receivers and a signal form specifying the command signal. The change module is configured to change the power control state when the first receivers receive the command signal.

Abstract: A power model that relates the settings of resource actuators to power consumption levels of the resource actuators and a condition model that relates the settings of the resource actuators to an environmental condition at the location of the at least one entity and a power consumption level of the at least one entity are developed. A constraint optimization problem having an objective function and at least one constraint is formulated, where the objective function computes at least a proportional quantity of a total power consumption level of the resource actuators and the at least one constraint comprises a setpoint environmental condition at a location of the at least entity. A solution to the constraint optimization problem is determined, where the solution provides optimal values for the resource actuator settings.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional energy control system is provided with an energy management software application that organizes the consumption of energy by a device as an n-dimensional energy space, where n is an integer greater than 2, and each axis in the energy space represents an energy consumption characteristic. The energy management application generates instructions for a device in response to calculating a compromise operating point in the energy space. A user interface (UI) connected to the energy management application has a display to receive a graphical representation of the energy space and compromise operating point, and an input to receive user commands for moving the represented compromise operating point in the represented energy space. The energy management application calculates the compromise operating point in the energy space to match the displayed compromise operating point.

Abstract: A technique is provided for automatically controlling configuration of a power grid, which includes one or more stand-alone sub-grids. Each stand-alone sub-grid includes a power generator, and a load is associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s). The technique includes: monitoring the power grid by monitoring power demand of a load associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s) and the power generated by the power generator within each stand-alone sub-grid; automatically determining that a grid configuration change is required for the power grid based on the monitoring; and dynamically reconfiguring the power grid by automatically modifying a number of stand-alone sub-grids in the power grid without interrupting power to the load associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s) of the power grid. In one implementation, the power grid is a mobile power grid, and the power generator of each stand-alone sub-grid is a portable power generator.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system, a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for aggregating an energy service from a group of loads with time-varying operating cycles are described. This aggregation may be performed by an aggregator, which provides the energy service to a power-system operator. In particular, for a desired demand response, a demand-response mechanism may modify a demand response of a given load by mapping an initial operating cycle of the load before a demand-response event to a final operating cycle. In addition, the demand-response mechanism may transition the given load to a new operating cycle associated with the demand-response event using a temporal set-point trajectory. This aggregation technique may ensure that a distribution of phases of the group of loads is, on average, uncorrelated with each other, either by preserving or modifying the distribution of phases prior to the demand-response event.

Abstract: An electrical system having a plurality of devices is supplied with power by a common power supply line. One of the devices has a circuit that slows or delays device startup or activation in response to a signal indicative of power demand, draw or use by another of the plurality of devices supplied with power by the common power supply line.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that determines a sleep schedule for reduced function devices on a home network. The devices have various sleep schedules in which to operate in an active state or a reduced function state. The controller determines the different schedules by sending communication messages to each device via a communication module. A timer is used to determine a sleep schedule for reduced function devices (RFDs) on the network. The sleep schedule is used to monitor when the devices are communicating on the network and are no longer able to communicate with the controller.

Abstract: A household appliance configured to communicate with a second household appliance, a network of household appliances that can communication with each other, and method of controlling an operation of a primary function unit of a first household appliance based on one of a priority scheme and synchronized duty cycles of the first household appliance and the second household appliance, wherein the first household appliance is configured to communicate with the second household appliance. The household appliance includes a primary function unit, a controller that controls an operation of the primary function unit, a two-way communication module that transmits and receives signals between the controller and the second household appliance.

Abstract: In accordance with particular embodiments, a method for managing power consumption includes receiving from a plurality of electricity relays an indication of a current state associated with each of the plurality of electricity relays. The method also includes receiving a power rate associated with a cost of power. The method further includes determining a threshold state based on the power rate and the current state associated with each of the plurality of electricity relays. The method additionally includes transmitting one or more control requests to one or more of the plurality of electricity relays. A first control request transmitted to a first electricity relay is based on the threshold state and a first current state associated with the first electricity relay.

Abstract: Electrical load spreading arrangements reduce peak power demand. An enclosure houses an electronic circuit board, which receives at a first input terminal a first thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a first air conditioning unit and at a second input terminal a second thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a second AC unit. A controller on the circuit board is programmed with instructions stored in a memory coupled to the controller causing the controller to monitor the first and second input terminals to determine the timing and duration of the thermostat control signals passed to the output terminals for activating or deactivating the AC units such that overlapping operation of the AC units is reduced particularly during peak demand periods. A similar arrangement may be applied to a broader class of HVAC equipment, including water heaters, for example.

Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC system including programming a thermostat of the HVAC system to define a temperature set point, a temperature differential around the temperature set point, and a number of cycles per hour for a temperature control source of the HVAC system. The method also includes sensing a temperature, executing a cycling control algorithm that includes the temperature, the temperature set point, and the number of cycles per hour as inputs to determine a duty cycle, and running the temperature control source according to the duty cycle when the temperature is within the temperature differential. The method further includes executing a deadband algorithm to turn on the temperature control source when the temperature is outside of the temperature differential at one extreme and to turn off the temperature control source when the temperature is outside the temperature differential at the opposite extreme.

Abstract: An energy management system. The energy management system includes at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices, and a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event. The security system is configured to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device and to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.

Abstract: An energy management device providing a series of user interface enhancements that enable the creation and modification of energy management schedules. The energy management device may provide these user interface enhancements in connection with a touch screen interface, as the user interface receives and processes a variety of touch screen gestures from users intended to create and manipulate the energy management schedules. Specific embodiments described herein include calendar views with customizable periods of interest, calendar views with overlays of scheduling and pricing information, and clocks providing runtime indications of specific energy consuming systems.

Abstract: An occupancy sensing system includes a vacate input to cause the system to turn lights on without substantial delay when a monitored space becomes occupied after turning the load off in response to the vacate input. A special vacate input may be eliminated by determining, in response to a manual-off input, if the space has been vacated. A dead time may be included to prevent the lights from being turned back on by movement that is detected as occupants vacate the monitored space after pressing a vacate or manual-OFF button.

Abstract: An adaptive, user-centric system and network for controlling power consumption by an appliance is described. The appliance may be any type of powered apparatus, such as A/C units, heaters, computers, lights, kitchen appliances, home media centers, and so on. The power to these appliances is based on an estimated arrival time of the user to the destination where the appliance is located. It may also be based on previous performance data for the particular appliance, that is, given the current conditions (e.g., various environment temperature readings), how long has it taken in the past for the appliance to reach a certain level of operation. The location of the user is determined by a device that has some location-based services and is able to transmit this location/position data in a message to a power-control server. The server applies rules contained in the message to derive an estimated arrival time for the user which is used to power appliances at the user's destination.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory.

Abstract: The method of controlling a power generator generating electric power using renewable energy and a battery storing electric power generated by the power generator, comprising: acquiring data on an amount of electric power generated by the power generator at predetermined time intervals over a sampling period, the data being acquired as electric signals; computing a target output value for the electric power to be supplied to an electric power transmission system based on the data on the amount of electric power generated by the power generator; supplying to the electric power transmission system electric power equal to the target output value from at least one of the power generator and the battery; determining a fading condition of the battery; and varying the sampling period in accordance with the fading condition of the battery.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes an input configured to receive a first control signal and an output module configured to generate an output signal based at least on the first control signal and a second control signal generated based at least on a measured temperature of the IC. The output signal is configured to control a cooling device.

Abstract: An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode.