Building Optimization Platform And Web-Based Invoicing System

Abstract

A building management and optimization system and method are disclosed. Building services data obtained at the building is received by a building optimization platform through a first communication network. The building optimization platform includes at least one server system for generating an electronic invoice based on the building services use data. A representation of the electronic invoice is transmitted to a user interface through a second communication network for web-based review, editing and approval by a property manager associated with the building.

1 . A building control computer system comprising:
 an electrical demand control implemented by a computer to monitor an electrical load of the building to determine a peak periodic energy consumption of the building, and to impose a limit on consumption of energy services for a tenant occupying at least part of the building in accordance with a lease covering at least some energy services used by the tenant as part of standard tenant services;   a tenant metering system to measure metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant; and   an electronic invoice generator implemented by the computer for generating an electronic invoice for the tenant, the electronic invoice comprising a first line item reflecting a tenant-realized savings associated with the limit on consumption of energy services, the tenant-realized savings being determined based on the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant in the at least part of the building below the limit on consumption of energy services.   
     
     
         2 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises a second line item reflecting an instance of above standard tenant services use, the above standard services comprising metered usage of energy services in the at least part of the building in excess of that covered by the lease or in excess of the limit on consumption of energy services. 
     
     
         3 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises an interactive control providing options that allow the tenant or a manager of the building to adjust, approve or delete the first or second line items of the electronic invoice. 
     
     
         4 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an energy management system driver server that communicates with control systems of the building to monitor the electrical load of the building and to control the consumption of energy services by the tenant. 
     
     
         5 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising a database storing information about the tenant, and a template for the electronic invoice that is populated by data collected by the energy management system driver server. 
     
     
         6 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising a web services computer configured to receive requests from the tenant for the above standard services, and to receive approval or denial of the requests by an administrator of the web services computer. 
     
     
         7 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the electronic invoice comprises an electronic mail message containing a hypertext transport protocol link to a web page stored by the building control computer system, the web page containing the electronic invoice. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 monitoring an electrical load of a building to determine a peak periodic energy consumption of the building, and to impose a limit on consumption of energy services for a tenant occupying at least part of the building in accordance with a lease covering at least some energy services used by the tenant as part of standard tenant services;   measuring metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant; and   generating an electronic invoice for the tenant, the electronic invoice comprising a first line item reflecting a tenant-realized savings associated with the limit on consumption of energy services, the tenant-realized savings being determined based on the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant in the at least part of the building below the limit on consumption of energy services.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises a second line item reflecting an instance of above standard tenant services use, the above standard services comprising metered usage of energy services in the at least part of the building in excess of that covered by the lease or in excess of the limit on consumption of energy services. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises an interactive control providing options that allow the tenant or a manager of the building to adjust, approve or delete the first or second line items of the electronic invoice. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 monitoring an electrical load of a building to determine a peak periodic energy consumption of the building, and to impose a limit on consumption of energy services for a tenant occupying at least part of the building in accordance with a lease covering at least some energy services used by the tenant as part of standard tenant services;   measuring metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant; and   generating an electronic report, the electronic report reflecting the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant, and a tenant-realized savings or cost associated with the limit on consumption of energy services, the tenant-realized savings or cost being determined based on the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant in the at least part of the building below or above, respectively, the limit on consumption of energy services.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the electronic report from a web server to one or more client computers over a communications network, in response to a request for the electronic report from at least one of the one or more client computers. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the electronic report includes interactive controls to enable a user of a computer to modify the metered usage data using a user input device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising generating an electronic invoice for the tenant based on the electronic report, the electronic invoice comprising a first line item reflecting the tenant-realized savings associated with the limit on consumption of energy services. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises a second line item reflecting an instance of above standard tenant services use, the above standard services comprising metered usage of energy services in the at least part of the building in excess of that covered by the lease or in excess of the limit on consumption of energy services. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the electronic invoice further comprises an interactive control providing options that allow the tenant or a manager of the building to adjust, approve or delete the first or second line items of the electronic invoice. 
     
     
         17 . A building control computer system comprising:
 an electrical demand control implemented by a computer to monitor an electrical load of the building to determine a peak periodic energy consumption of the building, and to impose a limit on consumption of energy services for a tenant occupying at least part of the building in accordance with a lease covering at least some energy services used by the tenant as part of standard tenant services;   a tenant metering system to measure metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant; and   an electronic report generator implemented by the computer for generating an electronic report, the electronic report reflecting the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant, and a tenant-realized savings or cost associated with the limit on consumption of energy services, the tenant-realized savings or cost being determined based on the metered usage data for energy services used by the tenant in the at least part of the building below or above, respectively, the limit on consumption of energy services.   
     
     
         18 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the electronic report includes interactive controls to enable a user of a computer to modify the metered usage data using a user input device. 
     
     
         19 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising a web server for transmitting the electronic report to one or more client computers over a communications network, in response to a request for the electronic report from at least one of the one or more client computers. 
     
     
         20 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising an electronic invoice generator implemented by the computer for generating an electronic invoice for the tenant, the electronic invoice comprising a first line item reflecting the tenant-realized savings or costs associated with the limit on consumption of energy services. 
     
     
         21 . The building control computer system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the metered energy usage data includes one or more of lighting, plugload, and HVAC use in the at least part of the building.