Building Energy Analysis with Exception Ranking and Balance Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy monitoring systems fail to provide accurate and focused analysis of building energy expenditures and performance, lacking the ability to determine specific data for further review and optimize energy consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
An energy analysis system that includes a processor, communication interface, and memory with energy analysis logic to establish data connections, obtain energy data, perform analyses, and produce results such as baseline data comparison, actual consumption data determination, and exception ranking, enabling optimized energy management and control of building systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If energy monitoring systems obtain data from individual pieces of equipment, then data collection is comprehensive, but analysis accuracy for building energy expenditures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines energy data from multiple individual equipment sources into a unified building-level analysis system. The energy management system aggregates data from various equipment (HVAC, lighting, appliances) and performs holistic analysis to determine overall building energy expenditures, achieving accurate building-level insights without requiring complex equipment-level analysis for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an energy management system as an intermediary layer between individual equipment and the user. This intermediary system collects, processes, and analyzes energy data from multiple sources, then presents synthesized building-level energy expenditure information, simplifying the complexity while maintaining analysis accuracy.
2Loss of information
If energy analysis provides detailed consumption data, then energy expenditure understanding is improved, but identification of specific data for review becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and highlights specific energy consumption data that deviates from normal patterns or exceeds thresholds. The system identifies anomalous energy usage, equipment inefficiencies, and unusual consumption patterns, presenting only these critical data points for review rather than requiring analysis of all detailed consumption data, thus improving both information focus and analysis efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators (such as color-coded alerts, exception rankings, and highlighted anomalies) to draw attention to specific energy data that requires review. By visually distinguishing normal from abnormal energy consumption patterns, the system enables quick identification of critical issues without overwhelming users with detailed data.
3Loss of energy
If energy optimization requires major capital purchases, then energy reduction effectiveness is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables buildings to self-optimize energy consumption through automated monitoring and analysis systems. The energy management system continuously monitors energy usage, identifies inefficiencies, and provides recommendations or automated adjustments without requiring major capital investments in new equipment. The system leverages existing infrastructure and intelligence to achieve energy reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves energy optimization by adjusting operational parameters of existing equipment rather than replacing equipment. The system modifies control settings, schedules, and operational parameters to improve energy efficiency, eliminating the need for major capital purchases while maintaining effective energy reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy analysis system provides valuable input into building energy expenditures. The system assists with obtaining a detailed view of how energy consumption occurs in a building, what steps may be taken to lower the energy footprint, and executing detailed energy consumption analysis. The analysis may include, as examples, a balance point pair analysis to determine either or both of a heating balance point and a cooling balance point, an exception rank analysis to identify specific data (e.g., energy consumption data) in specific time intervals for further review, or other analysis. The system may display the analysis results on a user interface.