Thermostat with utility messaging

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains generally to thermostats that are adapted to assist utilities in communicating with its customers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat having a display, a controller and a receiver that is coupled to the controller. The receiver is adapted to receive messages from a utility, and the controller is adapted to display one or more related display messages on the display.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:
 controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;   receiving information either directly or indirectly from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the information is related to energy consumption of the HVAC system; and   displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is based on the received information, wherein the display indicator simultaneously displays a cost of utility usage during a first time period and a cost of utility usage during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time period corresponds to a first month and the second time period corresponds to a second month that is after the first month. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first month immediately precedes the second month. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time period corresponds to a first day and the second time period corresponds to a second day that is after the first day. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first day immediately precedes the second day. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermostat comprises a user interface that includes the display, the method further comprising:
 receiving an input from a user via the user interface to enter a utility usage mode; and   in response to entering the utility usage mode, displaying the display indicator on the display.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the display is a touch screen display, and wherein the input is received from the user via the touch screen display. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises displaying on the display of the thermostat a request to mitigate demand on the utility. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the request to mitigate demand on the utility is in response to receiving a curtailment message either directly or indirectly from a utility, another service provider, or a meter. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, wherein the building or other structure receives energy from a utility, the method comprising:
 controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;   receiving a message either directly or indirectly from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the message includes a suggestion as to how to take action to mitigate a current demand on the utility; and   displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display indicator suggests that the user change a temperature set point of the thermostat to save energy. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display indicator suggests that the user refrain from running an energy intensive appliance until later. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display indicator includes a textual message displayed on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the utility includes an electric utility. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the utility includes a water utility, and wherein the message includes a suggestion that the user not water their lawn in order to mitigate the demand on the water utility. 
     
     
         16 . An HVAC controller for controlling at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the HVAC controller comprising:
 an output for providing one or more control signals to control the HVAC system;   an input for receiving information related to energy consumption of the HVAC system;   a display; and   a controller in communication with the input, the output and the display, the controller configured to display an indicator on the display that is based on the information received via the input of the HVAC controller, wherein the display indicator simultaneously displays a cost of utility usage during a first time period and a cost of utility usage during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period.   
     
     
         17 . The HVAC controller of  claim 16 , wherein the first time period corresponds to a first month and the second time period corresponds to a second month that is after the first month. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC controller of  claim 16 , wherein the first time period corresponds to a first day and the second time period corresponds to a second day that is after the first day. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC controller of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a user interface that includes the display;   the controller is in communication with the user interface and is configured to receive input from a user via the user interface to enter a utility usage mode; and   in response to receiving the input to enter the utility usage mode, the controller is configured to enter the utility usage mode and display the display indicator on the display.   
     
     
         20 . The HVAC controller of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to display on the display a request to mitigate demand on the utility.