Online systems and methods for measuring and controlling water, waste and energy usage

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for allowing hotels (or any other organizations having one or more physical locations requiring various resources) to (1) measure their energy, water, waste and carbon emissions, (2) manage and control the elements of the hotel that impact the environment the most, and (3) report on the progress of the measurement, management and control, to the hotel owners, franchisors, franchisees and guests.

1 . A system for controlling energy usage within a selected hotel, comprising:
 (a) a hotel operating system including at least one controller, each controller capable of controlling the provision of a selected utility service to the selected hotel;   (b) a sensor for measuring a usage of the selected utility service;   (c) a processor for:
 (i) receiving from the sensor data associated with the measured usage of the selected utility service; 
 (ii) comparing the received data to a benchmark; 
 (iii) sending a signal to the hotel operating system, causing the controller associated with the selected utility service to adjust the provision of the selected utility service based upon the result of the comparison step. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the selected utility service is a water utility. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a water meter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the selected utility service is an electricity utility. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor is an electricity meter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a utility company billing feed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a thermostat. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark is an average consumption value of the selected utility service for target hotels, with similar characteristics to the selected hotel. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling energy usage within a hotel, wherein the hotel includes a hotel operating system including at least one controller, each controller capable of controlling the provision of a selected utility service to the hotel, and a sensor for measuring a usage of the selected utility service, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving from the sensor data associated with the measured usage of the selected utility service;   (b) comparing the received data to a benchmark;   (c) sending a signal to the hotel operating system, causing the controller associated with the selected utility service to adjust the provision of the selected utility service based upon the result of the comparison step.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected utility service is a water utility. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a water meter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected utility service is an electricity utility. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is an electricity meter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a utility company billing feed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a thermostat. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the benchmark is an average consumption value of the selected utility service for target hotels, with similar characteristics to the selected hotel.