Third-Party Energy Control for Granular Building Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial establishments face challenges in managing and reducing energy consumption due to fragmented energy management systems, lack of real-time measurement capabilities, and the need for significant resources to integrate disparate energy efficiency devices and systems, which often lead to partial gains from energy-saving equipment without effective control.
Innovation Solution
A networked module system that measures, monitors, and controls energy usage at a granular level, allowing a third-party entity to manage energy upgrades and devices, aggregate energy usage across multiple buildings, and adjust energy sources (renewable vs. utility) to optimize energy consumption, with billing based on historical usage rather than actual time-period usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If commercial establishments install energy efficient upgrades and smart energy control devices, then energy consumption is reduced, but significant capital expenditure is required and internal management resources are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party energy management service as an intermediary between energy efficiency providers and commercial establishments. This service consolidates the management of multiple energy efficiency devices and systems, eliminating the need for businesses to internally manage complex energy operations while still achieving energy reduction goals
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated self-management of energy efficiency devices through centralized third-party control. The energy management service automatically monitors, measures, and controls energy-consuming devices without requiring business personnel involvement, allowing the system to serve itself
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple energy efficiency suppliers are engaged, then more comprehensive energy solutions are provided, but integration between disparate systems becomes complex and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple energy efficiency devices and systems from different suppliers into a single unified management platform. The third-party energy management service consolidates control over lighting, HVAC, appliances, and other energy-consuming devices, eliminating the need for separate integration efforts for each device type or supplier
Solution Approach 2:
The energy management service creates a universal platform that can manage diverse energy efficiency devices from multiple suppliers through standardized interfaces. This multi-functional system handles measurement, monitoring, and control across different device types without requiring supplier-specific integration approaches
3Measurement precision
If real-time measurement capability is implemented, then effective energy management is enabled, but measurement and control resources must be dedicated to energy management
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated self-measurement and self-reporting capabilities where energy devices communicate their consumption data automatically to the third-party management service. This eliminates the need for dedicated business resources to perform manual measurement while achieving precise real-time energy monitoring
4Ease of operation
If smart energy control devices are installed, then remote control capability is achieved, but device integration and efficient management become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The third-party energy management service acts as an intermediary that consolidates remote control capabilities across multiple smart devices. Instead of requiring businesses to manage individual remote control functions for each device, the service provides unified remote management through a single interface, making the operation practical and scalable
Data Source
AI summary
A system of modules which control and measure energy usage at a building which are in communication with a software program executing on a remote server controlled by a third party. The third party said usage via the software program which communicates with the modules to modify energy usage and demand for energy and is responsible or liable for energy usage charges the building where the third party does not actually use the energy.