Building Energy Management Platform for Multi-Facility Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial establishments face challenges in effectively managing and controlling energy usage across multiple facilities, especially in geographically diverse locations, due to fragmented energy efficiency solutions and lack of integrated systems for real-time measurement and control, leading to inefficient energy savings and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing third-party energy usage by a first-party energy management company, which involves pre-billing energy usage based on historical consumption patterns, applying discounts, and using analytics and machine learning to optimize energy usage, while integrating data from various sensors and systems for holistic control and savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If piecemeal installation of energy efficient upgrades or smart energy control devices is performed, then energy efficiency can be improved, but management and control difficulty increases due to fragmented solutions and lack of integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple energy management functions (monitoring, control, measurement, billing) into a single integrated platform that can manage diverse energy-efficient devices from multiple suppliers through a unified interface, eliminating the need for separate management systems for each device or supplier
Solution Approach 2:
The energy management platform is designed to be universal, capable of managing various types of energy-efficient devices (lighting, HVAC, appliances) from different suppliers through standardized protocols, making the system adaptable to fragmented installations without requiring separate specialized systems
2Measurement precision
If real-time measurement capability is implemented, then energy usage performance can be measured accurately, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an energy management platform as an intermediary that aggregates data from multiple sources (meters, sensors, utility providers) and presents unified, standardized measurements to users, simplifying the complexity of real-time measurement while maintaining precision through centralized data processing
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple energy efficiency suppliers are engaged, then more energy solutions can be provided, but integration and management burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy management system into modular components that can independently manage devices from different suppliers, allowing each supplier's devices to be managed as separate modules while maintaining overall system integration through a common platform interface
4Loss of energy
If demand charge management is implemented, then energy cost optimization can be achieved, but control complexity increases due to peak usage rate considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor energy usage patterns and provide real-time information about peak demand charges, enabling automated control decisions that optimize costs while simplifying user interaction through centralized management of complex control logic
Data Source
AI summary
A system of modules which evaluate, control and measure energy usage and signatures at a building that are in communication with software executing on a computer controlled by a third-party. Software executes on the computer to compare energy usage and signatures of equipment at the facility with information in a database accessible by the computer and is adapted to adjust a Building Management System to modify the operation of at least one piece of equipment at the facility based on the comparison third-party. The database including information and filters for dynamic system adaptation to changing environmental factors.