Demand response system

Abstract

A demand response (DR) system includes a DR control unit to generate different DR levels having different power rates for each power unit, and transmit a current DR level, and a household appliance to receive the DR level from the DR control unit, and differentially control energy output of a product in response to the received DR level so as to reduce power consumption of the product. As a result, the DR system reduces power consumption when power rates are high so as to reduce electricity bills.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress refrigerant; and   a controller configured to control an operation of the compressor based on a difference between a set temperature input from a user and stored therein and a current room temperature, receive information about a current power rate through a network, and store a table including initial set temperatures matched to respective power rates,   wherein when the air conditioner is turned on, the controller controls the operation of the compressor based on the difference between the initial set temperature and the current room temperature, if the set temperature input and stored is lower than the initial set temperature corresponding to received current power rate.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the table defines a plurality of levels corresponding to respective power rate range, and stores a plurality of initial set temperatures matched to the respective level. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein a first difference between an initial set temperature of the table matched to an N level and an initial set temperature of the table matched to an N+1 level is equal to a second difference between an initial set temperature of the table matched to an N−1 level and the initial set temperature matched to the N level. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the difference is a unit temperature.