Occupant controlled energy management system and method for managing energy consumption in a multi-unit building

Abstract

A system and a method for allowing an occupant of a single unit of a multi-unit building to select an operating state of the unit which consumes less energy than a normal operating state.

1 . An occupant controlled energy management system for a unit of a multi-unit building, the system comprising:
 at least one appliance disposed in the unit and configured to effect a change in a condition within the unit; and   an appliance control device in operable communication with said at least one appliance, said appliance control device being accessible to an occupant of the unit;   wherein said appliance control device is configured to include an energy conserving setting that limits energy consumption by said at least one appliance, and wherein said energy conserving setting is actuatable by said occupant by one touch of an actuator disposed on said appliance control device.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a button including a green color. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one appliance is an HVAC appliance, and wherein said appliance control device includes a temperature control device configured to communicate with the HVAC appliance. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said energy conserving setting includes an acceptable temperature range for the unit, wherein said acceptable temperature range is delimited by a high temperature and a low temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said temperature control device is configured to signal said HVAC appliance to only heat the unit to said low temperature when a temperature of the unit is below said low temperature and said energy conserving setting is actuated, wherein said temperature control device is configured to signal said HVAC appliance to only cool the unit to said high temperature when unit temperature is above said high temperature and said energy conserving setting is actuated, and wherein said temperature control device is configured to signal a reduction in an operation of said HVAC appliance until the unit reaches at least one of said high temperature and said low temperature when said temperature is within said acceptable temperature range and said energy conserving setting is actuated. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said temperature controlling device is configured to signal said HVAC appliance to maintain the unit at at least one of said high temperature and said low temperature when said unit temperature is within said acceptable range and allowed to reach at least one of said high temperature and said low temperature, and said energy conserving setting is actuated. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein'said acceptable temperature range is from about  50  to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said temperature control device is communicable with a temperature sensor disposed to sense temperature conditions within the unit. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy consumption by said at least one appliance is less following a first actuation of said actuator than a normal amount of energy consumption present before said first actuation of said button. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a second actuation of said actuator actuates said appliance control device to return to normal setting present before said first actuation of said actuator. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein multiple consecutive actuations of said actuator over a predetermined period of time actuates said appliance control device to cut energy to each appliance. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said HVAC appliance includes at least one of a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC), a fan coil unit (FCU), and other heating ventilation and air conditioning units and equipment. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said appliance control device is configured to indicate to said occupant whether said energy conserving setting has been actuated. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said appliance control device indicates whether said energy conserving setting has been actuated via a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on said appliance control device that is visible to said occupant. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one appliance is a unit lighting system and said appliance control device includes a lighting control device. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein actuation of said energy conserving setting reduces light produced by said unit lighting system to a pre-determined illumination level. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said appliance control device is operably communicable with an automated shade or other window treatment control device that controls a window covering mechanism for at least one window in the unit, said covering mechanism being disposable between a light blocking position and light entering position, wherein said appliance control device is configured to signal said automated shade or other window treatment control device to move said covering mechanism into said light blocking position when said unit is above said high temperature and said energy conserving setting is actuated, and said appliance control device is configured to signal said automated shade or other window treatment control device to move said covering means into said light entering position when the unit is below said low temperature and said energy conserving setting is actuated. 
   
   
       18 . A method for managing energy in a multi-unit building, the method comprising:
 providing an appliance control device in an area accessible to an occupant of a unit of the building;   operably communicating said appliance control device with at least one appliance disposed to effect a change in a condition within the unit;   configuring said appliance control device to include an energy conserving setting that limits energy consumption by said at least one appliance; and   implementing said energy conserving setting within the unit upon the occupant's actuation of the an actuator disposed on said appliance control device.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said actuating includes depressing a button disposed on said temperature control device where the button includes a green color. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said energy consumption after said actuating is less than a normal amount of energy consumption prior to said actuating. 
   
   
       21 . A method of operating or managing a multi-unit building, comprising:
 informing an occupant upon arrival at the multi-unit building of an environmental effect of an occupant controlled energy management system provided in each unit of the building;   encouraging the occupant to select an energy conservation setting of the energy management system by maneuvering an actuator disposed in the unit;   providing reduced energy consumption within the unit upon the occupant's actuation of the actuator; and   optionally providing further information and/or benefits to the occupant having selected and utilized the reduced energy consumption setting.