System and method for monitoring lighting systems

Abstract

A method and system for charging a fee to an end user where a service company services a lighting system of the end user's facility. To determine the fee, an original power consumption of the facility is determined before the lighting system is retrofitted with at least one power savings device. Thereafter, the lighting system is retrofitted with the at least one power saving device. Then, a new power consumption is measured of the facility. Finally, the fee is charged to the end user, such that the fee is a function of a difference between the original power consumption and the new power consumption.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for charging a fee to an end user where a service company services a lighting system of the end user's facility, the method comprising: 
 a) determining an original power consumption of the facility before the lighting system is retrofitted with at least one power savings device;    b) retrofitting the lighting system with said at least one power saving device;    c) measuring a new power consumption of the facility after retrofitting the lighting system with said at least one power saving device; and    d) charging the fee to the end user, such that the fee is a function of a difference between said original power consumption and said new power consumption.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fee comprises the difference between said original power consumption and said new power consumption multiplied by actual hours of operation, multiplied by a power rate, and multiplied by an air conditioning reduction factor.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said power rate is determined through negotiation.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said air conditioning reduction factor is determined through negotiation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said charging of the fee occurs according to a periodic billing cycle.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said billing cycle occurs every 28 days.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said fee is determined at the end of each billing cycle according to actual power consumption.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a) includes preparing a pre-retrofit consumption report.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein c) includes preparing a post-retrofit consumption report.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein d) includes maintaining the lighting system at no fee.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 monitoring the lighting circuitry of at least one customer;    producing at least one alarm signal as a function of the occurrence of a system fault;    transferring said alarm signal via a data transfer line to a control center;    receiving said alarm signal at a server located at said control center; and    coordinating service to the lighting circuitry when said alarm signal indicates that a fault exists with the lighting system.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , said control center is located remote from the lighting system.  
     
     
         13 . A system for charging a fee to an end user where a service company services a lighting system of the end user's facility, comprising: 
 at least one power savings device;    at least one power meter such that said at least one meter measures a new power consumption of the facility after the lighting system is retrofitted with said at least one power savings device; and    a processor that receives original power consumption and said new power consumption as inputs and calculates the fee to be charged to the end user as a function of a difference between said original power consumption and said new power consumption.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said fee comprises the difference between said original power consumption and said new power consumption multiplied by actual hours of operation, multiplied by a power rate, and multiplied by an air conditioning reduction factor.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said charging of the fee occurs according to a periodic billing cycle.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said billing cycle occurs every 28 days.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said fee is determined at the end of each billing cycle according to actual power consumption.  
     
     
         18 . A method for monitoring energy consumption of a lighting system, the method comprising: 
 a) controlling power consumption of the lighting system with a lighting control unit connected with the lighting system;    b) producing power consumption data;    c) transferring said power consumption data via a data transfer line to a control center; and    d) receiving said power consumption data at a server located at said control center.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein c) comprises transferring via electronic-mail.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein c) comprises transferring via an Internet service provider.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 e) determining a total energy usage; and    f) calculating a fee as a function of said total energy usage.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising retrofitting the lighting system with a power savings device, such that said fee is calculated as a function of the difference between said total energy usage as measured before and after said power savings device is retrofitted to the lighting system.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein b) comprises producing at least one alarm signal as a function of the occurrence of a system fault, c) comprises transferring said alarm signal via a data transfer line to said control center, and d) comprises receiving said alarm signal at a server located at said control center.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein c) further comprises transferring data from said server to separate accounting processors for each of said first facility location and said second facility location.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 performing a) through c) at a first facility location; and    performing a) through c) at a second facility location, wherein d) comprises receiving said power consumption data at said server located at said control center for both said first facility location and said second facility location.    
     
     
         26 . A system for monitoring energy consumption of a lighting system, the system comprising: 
 a) a lighting control unit connected with the lighting system to control power consumption of the lighting system;    b) a power meter to produce power consumption data;    c) a data transfer line to transfer said power consumption data to said control center; and    d) at least one server located at said control center to receive said power consumption data.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein c) is performed via electronic-mail.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a processor, such that a total energy usage is determined and said processor calculates a fee charged by a service provider to an end user as a function of said total energy usage.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein said processor calculates said fee as a function of the difference between said total energy usage as measured before and after a power savings device is added to the lighting system.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said lighting control unit produces at least one alarm signal as a function of the occurrence of a system fault, c) transfers said alarm signal to said control center, and d) receives said power consumption data.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a) through c) located at a first facility location; and    a) through c) located at a second facility location, wherein d) receives said power consumption data at said control center for both said first facility location and said second facility location.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , furthering comprising separate accounting processors for each of said first facility location and said second facility location.  
     
     
         33 . A method for maintaining a lighting system which includes lighting circuitry, the method comprising: 
 monitoring the lighting circuitry of at least one customer;    producing at least one alarm signal as a function of the occurrence of a system fault;    transferring said alarm signal via a data transfer line to a control center;    receiving said alarm signal at a server located at said control center; and    coordinating service to the lighting circuitry when said alarm signal indicates that a fault exists with the lighting system.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said control center is located remote from said lighting circuits.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further including transferring said alarm signal to said control center via electronic-mail.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 determining a total energy usage of the lighting system; and    calculating a fee a function of said total energy usage.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising retrofitting the lighting system with a power savings device, such that said fee is calculated as a function of the difference between said total energy usage as measured before and after said power savings device is retrofitted to the lighting system.  
     
     
         38 . A system for maintaining a lighting system which includes lighting circuitry, the method comprising: 
 at least one monitor to monitor the lighting circuitry of at least one customer and to produce at least one alarm signal as a function of the occurrence of a system fault;    a data transfer line to transfer said alarm signal line to a control center;    a server to receive said alarm signal at said control center; and    at least one operator to coordinate service to the lighting circuitry when said alarm signal indicates that a fault exists with the lighting system.    
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein said control center is located remote from said lighting circuits.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said alarm signal is transferred to said control center via electronic-mail.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said alarm signal is transferred between said facility and said control center via an internet service provider.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising a processor to determine a total energy usage of the lighting system and calculate a fee a function of said total energy usage.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said processor calculates the fee as a function of the difference between said total energy usage as measured before and after said power savings device is retrofitted to the lighting system.