Systems and methods for acclimatization-based variable thermostat settings

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to incorporate manual changes to the setpoint for a thermostatic controller into the programming of the thermostatic controller to take into account the occupants acclimatization to humidity and temperature for comfort and energy efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to adjust variable thermostats to reduce energy usage and to maintain comfort levels for occupants of a house, the method comprising:
 receiving, at one or more server computers comprising computer hardware, measurements of temperature inside of the house over time from a thermostat, the one or more servers communicating with the thermostat via a network, the thermostat configured to control at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that conditions the house;   recording, with the one or more server computers, manual inputs to the thermostat from the occupants of the house to determine acclimatization to temperature of the occupants;   calculating, with the one or more server computers, a perceived setpoint adjustment based on the inside temperature measurements, outside humidity measurements, and the acclimatization of the occupants; and   sending, with the one or more server computers, data to the thermostat to adjust one or more of a setpoint of the thermostat and a run time of the HVAC system in response to the perceived setpoint adjustment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, at the one or more server computers, measurements of humidity inside of the house over time, wherein the perceived setpoint adjustment is further based on the inside humidity measurements. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the adjusted setpoint and the adjusted run time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the setpoint without the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the setpoint with some the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the perceived temperature is further based on an acclimatization of a peer group to which the occupants belong. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the peer group is based on demographics of the occupants. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the peer group is based on characteristics of the house. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the perceived temperature is further based on a regional acclimatization. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the HVAC system is programmable, the method further comprising sending, with the one or more server computers, the data to a programmable HVAC system to adjust a setpoint of the programmable HVAC system in response to the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
     
     
         11 . A system to adjust variable thermostats to reduce energy usage and to maintain comfort levels for occupants of a house, the system comprising:
 a thermostat operatively connected to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that conditions the house;   an electronic storage medium comprising stored data of a plurality of inside temperature measurements taken within the house over time; and   computer hardware configured to communicate with the electronic storage medium and the thermostat, the computer hardware further configured to:
 record manual inputs to the thermostat from the occupants of the house to determine acclimatization to temperature of the occupants; 
 calculate a perceived setpoint adjustment based on the inside temperature measurements, outside humidity measurements, and the acclimatization of the occupants; and 
 send data to the thermostat to adjust one or more of a setpoint of the thermostat and a run time of the HVAC system in response to the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity over time inside of the house, wherein the perceived setpoint adjustment is further based on the inside humidity measurements. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer hardware is further configured to display the adjusted setpoint and the adjusted run time. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer hardware is further configured to display the setpoint without the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the computer hardware is further configured to display the setpoint with some of the perceived setpoint adjustment. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the perceived temperature is further based on an acclimatization of a peer group to which the occupants belong. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the peer group is based on demographics of the occupants. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the peer group is based on characteristics of the house. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the perceived temperature is further based on a regional acclimatization. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the HVAC system is programmable and wherein the computer hardware is further configured to send the data to the programmable HVAC system to adjust a setpoint of the programmable HVAC system in response to the perceived setpoint adjustment.