System and method for calculating the thermal mass of a building

Abstract

The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting anomalous conditions in the operation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 at least a first HVAC system that receives inside temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by said first HVAC system;   at least a second HVAC system that receives inside temperature measurements from at least a second location conditioned by said second HVAC system;   at least one computer not at said first location or said second location capable of storing said inside temperature measurements in a database or distributed file system;   using said temperature measurements from said second location to determine whether said temperature measurements from said first location indicate the existence of an anomalous condition in said first location.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1  in which said first location and said second location are geographically proximate to each other. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2  further comprising receiving outside temperature measurements from at least a weather station geographically proximate to said first location and said second location. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns off. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns off, and further comprising receiving at least a time when said second HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said second HVAC system turns off. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising at least a first communicating thermostat. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising at least a first communicating thermostat inside said first location and a second communicating thermostat inside said second location. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising receiving data related to wind direction and/or speed at said first location. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising receiving data related to the solar load at said first location. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 1  further comprising calculating at least an expected rate of temperature change for said first location based on energy characteristics of said first location and weather data associated with said first location and comparing said calculated rate of change with at least an actual rate of change measured from within said first location and at least an actual rate of change measured from within said second location. 
     
     
         11 . A method for detecting anomalous conditions in the operation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 receiving inside temperature measurements from at least a first HVAC system inside at least a first location;   receiving inside temperature measurements from at least a second HVAC system inside at least a second location;   storing said temperature measurements in a database or distributed file system on at least one computer not at said first location or said second location;   using said temperature measurements from said second location to determine whether said temperature measurements from said first location indicate the existence of an anomalous condition in said first location.   
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11  in which said first location and said second location are geographically proximate to each other. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12  further comprising receiving outside temperature measurements from at least a weather station geographically proximate to said first location and said second location. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns off. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said first HVAC system turns off, and further comprising receiving at least a time when said second HVAC system turns on and receiving at least a time when said second HVAC system turns off. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising at least a first communicating thermostat. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising at least a first communicating thermostat inside said first location and a second communicating thermostat inside said second location. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising receiving data related to wind direction and/or speed at said first location. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising receiving data related to the solar load at said first location. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 11  further comprising calculating at least an expected rate of temperature change for said first location based on energy characteristics of said first location and weather data associated with said first location and comparing said calculated rate of change with at least an actual rate of change measured from within said first location and at least an actual rate of change measured from within said second location.