Systems and methods for reducing energy usage

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for improving energy efficiency by determining a home composite load signature and energy saving based on predetermined weather factors and a prior success history of the message with predetermined group members; capturing feedback on messages to consumers to see if at least a change has occurred since a communication, wherein the feedback includes a user action taken with respect to the message; and presenting to the user cost savings between the user's existing appliance and a substitute appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of improving energy efficiency, comprising:
 determining a home composite load signature and energy saving based on predetermined weather factors and a prior success history of the message with predetermined group members;   capturing feedback on messages to consumers to see if at least a change has occurred since a communication, wherein the feedback includes a user action taken with respect to the message; and   presenting to the user cost savings between the user's existing appliance and a substitute appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating an incentive for the user based at least in part on the difference in energy usage and difference in costs between the user's existing appliance and the substitute appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying heat usage and air conditioning usage from a thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising suggesting actions to take to reduce energy consumption. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising recommending changes to air conditioning or heating appliances based on the disaggregated energy consumption to save energy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising mailing users to engage in energy saving and motivating action from users. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising deriving from utility meter readings energy usage for air conditioning, air heating, refrigerating, lighting, or water heating. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising predicting energy usage and performing demand response in accordance with the predicted energy usage. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising recommending a substitute appliance for an existing appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising performing operations selected from a group consisting of: segmenting consumers into different subsets based upon a plurality of demographic variables; segmenting consumers into different subsets based upon energy usage normalized to relevant peer groups; prioritizing messages based upon a historical rate of uptake multiplied by expected energy savings value; offering resource efficient products discounted by private industry through rebates, coupons, and discounts for government subsidies of efficient products; integrating with an Internet website for online and offline viewing of reports; integrating with resource and/or utility databases. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising clustering energy usage to identify a series of recurring patterns across energy usage data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising storing meter readings to provide customer attributes, behavior, and trends. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing usage disaggregation, load curve identification, bill forecasts, and meter health. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing usage segmentation to tailor content, and trigger messages specific to each individual customer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising communicating with customers using one or more channels including email, direct mail, text, web, mobile interfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising communicating with a customer on how to adjust energy use before an end of a billing period. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising communicating main drivers of customer energy use and providing utility call center representatives with data to increase customer satisfaction and lower average call times. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising clustering usage patterns around predetermined distinct hourly electric load patterns. 
     
     
         19 . A system for saving energy, comprising:
 an electric meter to capture building composite load profile;   an analyzer to determine predetermined weather factors and a prior success history of the message with predetermined group members and to capture feedback on messages to consumers to see if at least a change has occurred since a communication, wherein the feedback includes a user action taken with respect to the message; and   a text or email module to present to the user cost savings between the user's existing appliance and a substitute appliance.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising one or more of: segmenting consumers into different subsets based upon a plurality of demographic variables; segmenting consumers into different subsets based upon energy usage normalized to relevant peer groups; prioritizing messages based upon a historical rate of uptake multiplied by expected energy savings value; offering resource efficient products discounted by private industry through rebates, coupons, and discounts for government subsidies of efficient products; integrating with an Internet website for online and offline viewing of reports; integrating with resource and/or utility databases; clustering usage patterns around predetermined distinct hourly electric load patterns.