Smart Meter Feedback Loop for Energy Consumption Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy metering systems are ineffective in encouraging sustainable energy consumption behavior in consumers, particularly in residential and small business settings, due to lack of real-time and qualitative data feedback, which hinders efficient energy usage and cost reduction.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves associating end-point devices with smart meters to collect and transmit resource consumption data and qualitative indicators of usefulness, allowing for transparent monitoring and billing that incentivizes sustainable behavior without compromising user privacy or imposing technical constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional energy metering systems are used, then basic consumption data can be collected, but real-time qualitative feedback to consumers is insufficient to encourage sustainable behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where consumption data and usefulness indicators are transmitted in real-time to a server, processed, and communicated back to consumers through a user interface. This feedback loop enables consumers to see the direct impact of their energy usage decisions, encouraging sustainable behavior. The server compares actual consumption against usefulness metrics and provides actionable insights to users.
2Productivity
If detailed monitoring data is collected and transmitted to server, then consumer behavior can be optimized, but user privacy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes data locally at the consumer premises before transmission to the server. The usefulness indicator is generated based on local analysis of consumption patterns and device status, preserving privacy-sensitive information while extracting only the necessary aggregated metrics for optimization. This local processing approach maintains data quality for energy optimization while minimizing privacy exposure.
3Measurement precision
If automatic meter reading systems with wireless modules are deployed, then data collection capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase for small businesses and consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where existing smart meters serve multiple purposes: they continue their primary function of measuring energy consumption while also collecting auxiliary data from end-point devices, processing usefulness indicators locally, and communicating with both local user interfaces and remote servers. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring systems, reducing overall complexity and cost.
4Productivity
If consumers are provided with real-time consumption data and usefulness indicators, then sustainable behavior is encouraged, but billing system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of consumption data and generation of usefulness indicators at the consumer premises before billing data is sent to the utility company. By pre-processing and aggregating data locally, the system reduces the complexity of the utility's billing system while still enabling differentiated billing based on consumption quality. The pre-processed data is ready for straightforward integration into existing billing workflows.
Data Source
AI summary
The resource metering system comprises: an end-point device (25) consuming a resource, in particular for usage in a building (2) or in an outdoor lighting system, said device comprising a detection unit that produces status information and an indicator of usefulness; a smart meter (20) comprising: a communication circuitry provided with an interface adapted for receiving from said device status information and said indicator of usefulness; a metrology device connected to a medium (17) that provides the resource to said device; and a control circuitry connected to the metrology device for collecting resource consumption data, the control circuitry being connected to the communication circuitry and adapted to produce monitoring data to be securely transmitted to a server (10) after processing the status information and said indicator. Monitoring data are used when determining consumption tariffs, so as to encourage energy efficient usage of the device.