Energy management system controller and method

Abstract

A technical adapter system operates to wirelessly, remotely control a conventional thermostat and/or components of an HVAC system, HVAC/R system or both, to which the conventional thermostat is connected, and optimizing energy efficiency of the HVAC system components. This effectively heats and/or cools a space or volume that the HVAC and/or HVAC/R system is configured to heat and/or cool. An adapter device includes a processor, a memory and an adapter application program component, the adapter device configured to connect to the conventional thermostat, the HVAC system or both. A hand-held electronic device including a smart device application program component that operates to enable a hand-held electronic device user to wirelessly connect to the adapter device, and remotely control and command the adapter device.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A wireless thermostat system for remotely controlling components of an HVAC and/or HVAC/R system, manually or automatically offsets temperature on a pre-programed, variable offset temperature scale to optimize energy efficiency of components of the HVAC and/or HVAC/R system and a space or volume that the components are arranged to heat and/or cool, the wireless thermostat system comprising:
 a thermostat device configured to wirelessly connect to the system components, wherein the thermostat device includes a thermostat application program component that is operated to control the system components;   a hand-held electronic device that includes a smart device application program component that is operated to enable a hand-held electronic device user to wirelessly connect to, communicate with and where necessary control the thermostat application program component operational; and   at least one sensor arranged in the space or volume and in communication with the thermostat application program component to detect conditions therein and provide sensor data to the thermostat application program component   wherein the thermostat application program component processes the sensor data or data available from an outside data source, including up to date weather data, the thermostat and/or user data input to the hand-held electronic device to effectively control the thermostat device and the and/or the HVAC and/or HVAC/R system components to manage and adjust optimal HVAC cycles, average hourly time cycling periods, and system component run times during occupied and unoccupied time periods.   
     
     
         19 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 18 , further comprising a central management system comprising a computer server, a printer and a management system application program component that is operated to communicate with the smart device application program component operational in the hand-held electronic device, and control the smart device application program component, the thermostat device application program component or both. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one sensor detects a closely approximated number of persons present in an area within the space or volume during occupied time periods. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 18 , wherein the outside data source provides external weather condition data that could affect the volume or space. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 18 , wherein the smart device application program allows a user to override the thermostat device application program component to manually control the HVAC and/or HVAC/R system components. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 23 , wherein the smart device controls the system components individually. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 18 , wherein the system components include a heat pump and fluid distribution system within some part of the volume or space. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the central management system is a hotel central management system, there are multiple volumes or spaces, and wherein a thermostat device and at least one sensor are arranged in each of the multiple volumes or spaces. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 26 , wherein the central management system responds to data supplied to it from the thermostat devices and at least one sensor, to automatically override the thermostats and manage and adjust optimal HVAC cycles, average hourly time cycling periods, and system component run times during occupied and unoccupied time periods. 
     
     
         28 . The wireless thermostat system of  claim 26 , wherein the central management system communicates to the respective room thermostat devices whether the rooms comprising the multiple volumes or spaces are occupied to manage and adjust optimal HVAC cycles, average hourly time cycling periods, and system component run times during occupied and unoccupied time periods.