Method and system for fully automated enterprise control of local power usage

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for controlling power consumption of an HVAC device configured to adjust a climate of a room in a fully automated manner in real time or near real time. For example, an apparatus according to various embodiments comprises a receiver, for receiving via a radiofrequency (RF) channel a control signal associated with a demand response event; a comfort determining mechanism, for determining whether air within the room exhibits a temperature level within a temperature range, a relative humidity level within a relative humidity range and whether the room is occupied or not; and a control mechanism, for generating a HVAC control signal configured to reduce power consumption of the HVAC device in response to receiving the demand response event control signal and the room air temperature level being within the temperature range and the relative humidity level being within the relative humidity range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for controlling power consumption of an HVAC device configured to adjust a climate of a room, the apparatus comprising:
 a receiver, for receiving via a radio frequency (RF) channel a control signal associated with a demand response event;   a comfort determining mechanism, for determining whether air within the room exhibits a temperature level within a temperature range; and   a control mechanism, for generating a HVAC control signal configured to reduce power consumption of said HVAC device in response to receiving said demand response event control signal and said room air temperature level being within said temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said RF channel comprises a broadcast radio or television channel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said RF channel comprises a satellite communication channel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is configured to receive in-band data transmitted via said RF channel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is configured to receive out-of-band data transmitted by said RF channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said comfort determining mechanism further determines whether air within the room exhibits a relative humidity level within a relative humidity range;   said control mechanism generating said HVAC control signal further in response to said relative humidity level being within said relative humidity range.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said comfort determining mechanism further determines whether the room is unoccupied or occupied; and   said temperature range being selected as one of an occupied temperature range and an unoccupied temperature range in response to, respectively, said room being occupied and said room being unoccupied.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said control signal includes identification data associated with at least one HVAC control class; and   said control mechanism reducing power consumption of said HVAC device if said at least one HVAC control class matches a control class of said apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said HVAC device comprises an air conditioning device and wherein reducing power consumption comprises generating a signal configured to turn off one or both of a compressor and a fan of said air conditioner. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said HVAC device comprises a heating unit and wherein reducing power consumption comprises generating a signal configured to turn off one or both of a heat pump compressor and/or an electric heating element of said heating unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmitter, for transmitting a measurement and verification signal via a back channel, said measurement of verification signal being configured to identify whether said HVAC device is operating as commanded.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said measurement and verification being further configured to identify a comfort range utilized by said comfort determining mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said measurement and verification being further configured to identify occupied or unoccupied status utilized by said comfort determining mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said measurement and verification being further configured to report an amount of power being drawn by said HVAC device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said measurement and verification being further configured to identify a level of compliance of said HVAC device to determine a financial incentive. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling power consumption of an HVAC device configured to adjust a climate of a room, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a radiofrequency (RF) channel, a control signal associated with a demand response event;   determining whether air within the room exhibits a temperature level within a temperature range; and   generating a HVAC control signal configured to reduce power consumption of said HVAC device in response to receiving said demand response event control signal and said room air temperature level being within said temperature range.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said RF channel comprises a commercial broadcast radio or television channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said comfort determining mechanism further determines whether air within the room exhibits a relative humidity level within a relative humidity range; and   said control mechanism generating said HVAC control signal further in response to said relative humidity level being within said relative humidity range.   
     
     
         19 . System for controlling power consumption of HVAC devices configured to adjust a climate of a room, the system comprising:
 a power manager, for causing a control signal associated with a demand response event to be broadcast via an RF signal toward a plurality power consumption control devices, said control signal configured to cause one or more of said power consumption control devices to reduce a power level of a corresponding HVAC device if the air associated with a respective room exhibits a temperature level within a temperature range.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said power manager receives measurement and verification data associated with said power consumption control devices to determine thereby whether said HVAC device power levels have been changed per said control signal.