Normative Energy Messaging With Dynamic Household Reclassification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household energy reduction methods face challenges in maintaining effectiveness due to fixed clustering of households based on general energy consumption patterns, which degrade as behaviors change over time, requiring costly and inefficient manual reclassification by human experts.

Innovation Solution

An automated energy reduction messaging system that dynamically reclassifies households into behavioral reference groups using machine learning algorithms, periodically reassessing energy consumption patterns to optimize personalized normative messaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If households are clustered into fixed groups based on general energy consumption patterns, then the initial clustering provides a stable basis for normative messaging, but the effectiveness degrades over time as household behaviors change

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of normative messagingVSAvoidadaptability to changing household behaviors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reclassification of households into behavioral reference groups using automated machine learning algorithms. The system periodically updates cluster assignments based on changing energy consumption patterns, transforming the static clustering approach into a dynamic one that adapts to behavioral changes while maintaining messaging effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors energy consumption data and uses this feedback to trigger reclassification when significant behavioral changes are detected. This feedback loop ensures that households are reassigned to appropriate reference groups, maintaining the reliability of normative messaging over time without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If periodic reclassification of households is performed manually by human experts, then accurate reassignment to behavioral reference groups can be achieved, but the process becomes costly and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of household reclassificationVSAvoidefficiency of reclassification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated self-service system where machine learning algorithms perform the reclassification of households without human intervention. The system autonomously monitors energy consumption patterns, identifies behavioral changes, and reassigns households to appropriate reference groups, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming manual expert analysis while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual expert reclassification with an automated computational system using machine learning algorithms. This substitution eliminates human labor requirements while achieving comparable or superior accuracy in household classification, significantly improving processing efficiency and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If subsidies and tax incentives are provided to specific populations for energy reduction, then targeted energy conservation can be achieved, but the approach becomes costly and difficult to scale

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting precision of energy reduction programsVSAvoidcomplexity of implementation and scaling
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal automated classification system that can be applied to any household regardless of location or specific characteristics. The machine learning model processes energy consumption data uniformly across diverse populations, enabling scalable deployment without requiring population-specific customization or complex manual targeting procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses energy consumption pattern parameters to automatically classify households into behavioral reference groups, replacing the need for complex demographic or socioeconomic criteria. By changing from manual population identification based on multiple factors to automated classification based on observable energy usage patterns, the system achieves precise targeting with simplified implementation that can be scaled universally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250252449A1Lifestyle group-based normative messaging for household energy consumption reduction
Publication Date: 2025.08.07 THE RGT UNIV OF MICHIGAN
  • US20250252449A1 patent drawing
  • US20250252449A1 patent drawing
  • US20250252449A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems are disclosed to automatically reclassify households into a plurality of behavioral reference groups based on changing household energy usage data, and dynamically recluster the households into new behavioral reference groups when conditions are met. Once the households have been classified to appropriate behavioral reference groups, personalized, normative, energy use feedback messages are generated for the households of each behavioral reference group. An effectiveness of the customized messages at reducing household energy consumption may be monitored, and the customized messages may be adjusted over time to maximize the reductions in household energy consumption.