Automatic energy management and energy consumption reduction, especially in commercial and multi-building systems

Abstract

Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and / or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time. Advantageously, the responses from queried energy users with energy curtailment possibilities may be automatically processed into a round-robin curtailment rotation which may be implemented by a computer-based control system. Thus, impact on occupants is minimized, and energy use and energy cost may be beneficially reduced in an intelligent, real-time manner. The invention also provides for early-recognition of impending adverse energy events, optimal response to a particular energy situation, real-time analysis of energy-related data, etc.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to systems and methods for managing use of energy, and especially to systems and methods for managing energy use in a complex multi-building context. [0002] A number of factors have combined in recent years to create an electrical energy crisis in many regions of the United States. These include: a shortage of generating capacity; lack of capital investment in new transmission capacity; fuel volatility; and increased demand. The result is a power shortage and difficulties in the energy infrastructure. [0003] Multiple-building systems, such as commonly owned systems of 30, 60 or more buildings, exist throughout the world today. Examples of such building systems include, e.g., university systems. Multiple building systems may be geographically dispersed. Controlling energy consumption, and costs of energy consumption, in such wide-spread building systems presents challenges. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,362 issued i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an energy management system that uses artificial intelligence to monitor and control energy usage in a building system. The system can automatically determine energy-relevant events and offer energy curtailment opportunities to energy users in real-time, with minimal impact on occupants of the building. The system can also automatically process energy curtailment offers and responses from energy users, and can even predict new energy peaks. The invention provides a computer-based round-robin rotation system for energy users, which can be managed by an autonomous system and can even include a combination of multiple energy users within a single building or multi-building system. The invention also provides a data analysis method for reviewing energy-related data and determining whether to repair or replace an individual energy user. Overall, the invention allows for maximum energy curtailment with minimal impact on occupants of the building system."

Problems solved by technology

A number of factors have combined in recent years to create an electrical energy crisis in many regions of the United States.

These include: a shortage of generating capacity; lack of capital investment in new transmission capacity; fuel volatility; and increased demand.

The result is a power shortage and difficulties in the energy infrastructure.

Controlling energy consumption, and costs of energy consumption, in such wide-spread building systems presents challenges.

Thus, the question of how to accomplish a specified energy consumption reduction has been heavily human-dependent.

A human operator may fail to recognize one or more energy-relevant events (such as the threat of a new maximum peak).

The diligence, accuracy, speed, and foresight of a human operator necessarily may be limited, contributing to likely missed recognition of such energy relevant events.

Human operators may review data yet fail to appreciate its significance.

Human operators tasked with recognizing surges towards new peaks tend to have other tasks, such that they cannot provide a sufficient level of attention and monitoring to recognize every surge towards a new peak.

The human operator is essentially incapable in a limited amount of time of consulting or studying the many different energy users (such as energy-using devices or apparatuses such as air-conditioners, etc.) to ascertain the status of each.

And because many factors affect energy consumption at any given moment—the weather outside, the number of people inside, etc.—it has never been possible to accurately and precisely adjust energy consumption in real time.

The energy management systems in place and the people who monitor them on a daily basis were simply not capable of analyzing all of the potential alternative for reducing energy consumption and doing so quickly.

Power outages, even planned power outages, have highly disruptive effects, such as disrupting telephone and computer network equipment, data inaccessibility, etc.

Governments face social and political consequences of chronic energy shortages.

Power suppliers cannot meet the demand for electricity in their areas, without building large power-generating reserves, which is not an optimal solution.

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