Distributed Energy Modeling for Gross Consumption Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy management systems fail to provide consumers with a comprehensive understanding of their gross energy consumption and efficiency, leading to misperceptions about the need for further energy conservation efforts after adopting renewable energy sources, as they only track net energy consumption from utilities and not on-site generation.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing distributed computational resources to analyze energy consumption and generation through a single user interface, providing consumers with a holistic view of their energy consumption, including space heating, water heating, and personal transportation, and offering options for reducing energy consumption and investing in renewable energy systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If consumers focus on net energy consumption statistics provided by utilities, then monthly utility bills are lowered, but comprehensive understanding of gross energy efficiency is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidgross energy efficiency information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments energy consumption information into multiple dimensions: gross energy consumption, net energy consumption, on-site renewable generation, and utility-purchased energy. This segmentation allows consumers to view both the overall energy efficiency picture and the specific components, resolving the contradiction between lowering bills and maintaining comprehensive understanding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The web-based energy information system acts as an intermediary between utility-provided net consumption data and consumer understanding of gross efficiency. It aggregates data from multiple sources including on-site sensors and utility meters, processes the information, and presents a comprehensive view that bridges the information gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If on-site renewable energy generation is adopted first, then monthly utility bills are reduced, but further energy efficiency improvements are overlooked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutility energy purchaseVSAvoidenergy efficiency improvement rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of gross energy consumption patterns before and after renewable energy installation. By establishing a baseline understanding of total energy efficiency needs first, the system ensures that efficiency improvements are identified and implemented alongside renewable energy adoption, preventing the overlooking of further efficiency opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback to consumers about their gross energy consumption patterns, efficiency improvement opportunities, and the impact of renewable energy installation. This feedback loop ensures consumers remain aware of additional efficiency measures they can take even after adopting on-site generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If net power consumption statistics are used to evaluate energy performance, then utility bill reduction is measured, but overall building efficiency is masked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchased energyVSAvoidbuilding efficiency measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds another dimension to energy measurement by simultaneously tracking both net consumption (utility-billed) and gross consumption (total building usage including on-site generation). This multi-dimensional measurement approach provides precise visibility into overall building efficiency while still measuring utility bill reduction, resolving the contradiction between the two metrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12626035B2Implementation of building energy consumption reduction using distributed computational resources

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 CLEAN POWER RES

AI summary

Improved energy conservation, including realization of a ZNET (Zero Net Energy including Transportation) paradigm, can be encouraged by providing energy consumers with a holistic view of their overall energy consumption. Current energy consumption in terms of space heating, water heating, other electricity, and personal transportation can be modeled by normalizing the respective energy consumption into the same units of energy. Options for reducing energy that can include traditional energy efficiencies, such as cutting down on and avoiding wasteful energy use and switching to energy efficient fixtures, and improving the thermal efficiency and performance of a building, can be modeled. Additional options can also include non-traditional energy efficiencies, such as replacing a gasoline-powered vehicle with an electric vehicle, fuel switching from a water heater fueled by natural gas to a heat pump water heater, and fuel switching from space heating fueled by natural gas to a heat pump space heater.