Manage whole home appliances/loads to a peak energy consumption

Abstract

A household energy management method is provided comprising: a local generator for generating local energy, wherein the local generator is selected from the group consisting of wind, solar, water, and fuel powered generators. The capacity of the local generator establishes a supply limit. The method further comprises: determining a demand schedule and a peak demand limit from a controller; and, determining whether the demand schedule and peak demand indicates occurrences of exceeding the supply limit. If peak demand exceeds the supply limit, then the controller sheds the load of one or more appliances to prohibit the peak demand from exceeding the supply limit. Shedding load of at least one appliance is initiated based on a predetermined hierarchy of shedding load.

1 . A household energy management system and method for managing multiple appliances, comprising:
 a controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household;   a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage to a household, the utility meter communicating to the controller a demand limit;   a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of energy usage;   a local generator for generating local energy, wherein the local generator is selected from the group consisting of wind, solar, water, and fuel powered generators;   wherein a supply limit is established based upon the capacity of the local generator;   a communication network connecting the controller to one or more of the utility meter, a local energy storage device, the local generator, and/or the demand server; and,   wherein the controller controls or operates the multiple appliances based on communications from one or more of the utility meter, the user interface, the local generator, the local energy storage device and/or the demand server such that the energy usage does not exceed the supply limit of the local generator.   
     
     
         2 . The household energy management system and method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller allocates energy to the one or more appliances based on one or more of the following: the demand limit, a prioritization of each of the one or more appliances, an energy need level of each of the one or more appliances, and the supply limit. 
     
     
         3 . The household energy management system and method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller instructs one or more appliances to shed load demand. 
     
     
         4 . The household energy management system and method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more appliances includes one or more of household lighting, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, an oven/range, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, an HVAC system, a hot water heater, and an electrical outlet load. 
     
     
         5 . A household energy management method for multiple household appliances, comprising:
 a local generator for generating local energy, wherein the local generator is selected from the group consisting of wind, solar, water, and fuel powered generators;   wherein the capacity of the local generator establishes a supply limit;   determining a demand schedule and a peak demand limit from a controller;   determining whether the demand schedule and peak demand indicates occurrences of exceeding the supply limit;   if peak demand exceeds the supply limit, then the controller sheds the load of one or more appliances to prohibit the peak demand from exceeding the supply limit; and,   wherein shedding load of at least one appliance is initiated based on a predetermined hierarchy of shedding load.   
     
     
         6 . An appliance control method, comprising:
 a controller for controlling the operation of multiple appliances in a normal mode and a modified mode;   determining whether energy demand is at or below an energy supply limit;   the supply limit is established by the capacity of a source of local energy, wherein the local energy source is selected from the group consisting of wind, solar, water, and fuel generators;   determining whether the energy demand indicates occurrences of exceeding the supply limit;   establishing a hierarchy of an order and manner for the controller to disable, suspend, reduce, or increase one or more of the appliances if the energy demand exceeds the supply limit; and,   maintaining the energy demand in accordance with the hierarchy to keep the energy demand below the energy supply limit.   
     
     
         7 . The appliance control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the energy supply limit varies throughout the course of a twenty four hour period. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller instructs one or more appliances to shed load demand. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the one or more appliances includes one or more of household lighting, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, an oven/range, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, an HVAC system, a hot water heater, and an electrical outlet load. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled)