Methods and systems for managing energy usage in buildings

Abstract

A method and system for managing energy usage in a building is provided. The method includes collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period. Information relating to the energy consumption is displayed to a user on one or more devices. The information includes (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing energy usage in a building, comprising the steps of:
 collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period; and   transmitting information relating to the energy consumption to be displayed to a user on one or more devices, said information comprising (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calculating and displaying device or equipment level energy consumption and costs in the building. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising creating a savings plan for the user, and wherein the progress report data compares the data collected on energy consumption to the savings plan. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising enabling the user to select the cohort or group of cohorts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising collecting energy usage data from multiple other users who can be used as a cohort or group of cohorts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying data on energy consumption in a unit selected from a set of possible units deemed to affect user behavior. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more devices includes a display in the building that provides persistent feedback to the user on energy usage in the building for encouraging user behavior reducing or changing energy usage in the building. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the display comprises an ambient device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the information is displayed in a color coded format on the ambient device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the information is displayed in a bar graph format on the ambient device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more devices includes a client device that retrieves the information from a Web server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the information is displayed on a dashboard accessible from a Web portal hosted by the Web server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile communication device operated by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data on energy consumption is displayed in a graphical format. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing an audio output indicating energy consumption in the building. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein collecting data comprises performing plug level or circuit level monitoring of electricity usage in the building. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising controlling an appliance in the building based on a specified user preference. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the desired consumption level is based on historical energy usage data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the information further includes a snapshot of energy consumption for the building for a given period of time. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A system for managing energy usage in a building, comprising:
 an apparatus for collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period;   a gateway communicating with the apparatus for receiving data on energy consumption in the building, said gateway transmitting the data on energy consumption in the building to a remote server computer system; and   one or more devices communicating with the gateway or the server for receiving information relating to the energy consumption to be displayed to a user, said information comprising (a) the data collected on energy consumption displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.   
     
     
         23 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, if executed by a computing system having a processor, cause the computing system to perform a method of managing energy usage in a building, the method comprising:
 collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period; and   transmitting information relating to the energy consumption to be displayed to a user on one or more devices, said information comprising (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.