Energy management system and method

Abstract

A demand response system includes a mobile application of a mobile device that is configured to initiate altering an operating condition of a network device disposed at a site using location based services. A demand response application interface module is configured to enable access between a utility company and the network device to communicate energy management information therebetween. The network device is configured to be remotely altered by each of the demand response application interface module and the mobile application separately based on the location based services and the energy management information. A method of managing a demand response system includes detecting a user being disposed away from a site, detecting energy management information from a utility company associated with the site, and initiating a reduction in energy use at the site in response to the relative location of the user and the energy management information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A demand response system comprising:
 a mobile device including location based services accessible by a mobile application of the mobile device, wherein the mobile application is further configured to initiate altering an operating condition of a network device disposed at a site using the location based services;   a demand response application interface module configured to enable access between a utility company and the network device to communicate energy management information therebetween for use in altering an operating condition of the network device; and   wherein the network device is configured to be remotely altered by each of the demand response application interface module and the mobile application separately based on the location based services and the energy management information.   
     
     
         2 . The demand response system of  claim 1  wherein said energy management information includes a curtailment action to alter the operating condition of the network device associated with the site in response to the mobile device being disposed away from the site. 
     
     
         3 . The energy management system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a scheduling tool module in communication with said demand response application interface module;   said scheduling tool module including a demand response selector configured to allow a user to select a preference to participate in said curtailment action; and   said demand response application interface module further configured to generate said curtailment action in response to said energy management information and said relative location of the mobile device and said preference to participate.   
     
     
         4 . The demand response system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 said preference to participate including an always participate selection and a never participate selection and a request to participate selection;   wherein said demand response application interface module is configured to:
 generate said curtailment action in response to said always participate selection and said energy management information; 
 cancel said curtailment action in response to said never participate selection and said energy management information; and 
 queue said curtailment action in response to said request participate selection and said energy management information. 
   
     
     
         5 . The demand response system of  claim 4  wherein:
 said demand response application interface module is configured to initiate a request to the user of the site in response to queuing said curtailment action to request participation in said curtailment action; 
 said demand response application interface module is configured to detect a user reply communicated from the user in response to said request; and 
 said demand response application interface module is configured to enable said curtailment action in response to said user reply. 
 
     
     
         6 . The demand response system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an efficiency rating module in communication with the site and configured to evaluate performance data of the network device associated with the site and configured to generate an energy capacity of the site using said performance data; and   said demand response application interface module further configured to generate said curtailment action in response to said energy management information and said relative location of the mobile device and said energy capacity.   
     
     
         7 . The demand response system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 said efficiency rating module in communication with a plurality of sites and configured to generate an energy capacity of each of the sites;   a scheduling module in communication with the efficiency rating module and the demand response application interface module and configured to generate an aggregate capacity of the sites; and   said demand response application interface_module configured to coordinate said energy management information using said aggregate capacity.   
     
     
         8 . The demand response system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said energy management information includes one or more of an increase in the price of energy due to an undersupply of energy within an energy market and an oversupply of energy purchased by an energy provider of the site and a high demand period of energy and a time interval when transmission pricing to use an energy transmission period exists. 
 
     
     
         9 . The demand response system of  claim 1  wherein said network device is one of or a part of one of the following: a tablet, a smart phone, an energy management system, an energy management device, a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a broadband communication device, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a media server, a network server, a network storage device, a wireless speaker, a retail energy provider's server, a wholesale energy provider's server, a COOP energy provider's server, a retail business server, a commercial site server, an industrial site server, a multi-residential site server, a temporary lodging server, a hotel server, a motel server, a condominium server, a utility provider's server, which can include waste, water, power or combinations thereof, an energy substation, a news media server, a weather server, an advertisement server or service provider, a network radio server or service provider, a network media server or service provider, a music server or server provider, a search engine server or service provider, an information server or service provider, a wireless information network device, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat (TSTAT), an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a garage door opening system or device, a power management device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router, an automobile or transportation device, or a network communication device. 
     
     
         10 . A demand response system comprising:
 a mobile device including location based services accessible by a mobile application of the mobile device, wherein the mobile application is further configured to initiate altering an operating condition of the network device disposed at a site using the location based services;   a demand response application interface module configured to energy management information and initiate altering an operating condition at the site in response to said energy management information and a relative location of the mobile device associated with the site; and   an electronic device operably coupled to said demand response application interface module and configured to respond to said energy management information.   
     
     
         11 . The demand response system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first wireless module configured to receive demand response data from a smart meter located at the site; and 
 a second wireless module configured to receive demand response event data from an IP based communication received using a broadband connection. 
 
     
     
         12 . The demand response system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a WIFI module configured to communicate with the mobile device;   a proximity detection module capable of detecting whether the mobile device is located near the site using a WIFI connection to the WIFI module;   wherein the demand response application interface_module initiates the altering of the operating condition when the WIFI connection is not detected; and   wherein the demand response application interface_module does not initiate the altering of the operating condition when the WIFI connection is detected.   
     
     
         13 . A method of managing a demand response system comprising:
 detecting a user being disposed away from a site;   detecting energy management information from a utility company associated with the site; and   initiating a reduction in energy use at the site in response to the relative location of the user and the energy management information.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of detecting energy management information includes detecting one or more conditions including an increase in a price of energy due to an undersupply of energy within an energy market and an oversupply of energy purchased by utility company associated with the site and a high demand period of energy and an existence of a time interval for energy transmission pricing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising altering an operating condition of a network device associated with the site. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 detecting a preference of a user to participate in the reduction of energy use; and   altering the operating condition in response to a user's preference to participate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting at least one of an always participate selection and a never participate selection and a request to participate selection;   initiating the reduction of energy use at the site in response to detecting the always participate selection and the energy management information;   not altering the operating condition in response to detecting the never participate selection and the energy management information; and   initiating a communication with a user in response to detecting the request participate selection and the energy management information.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 initiating a request to the user of the site;   detecting a user reply communicated from the user in response to the request; and   initiating the reduction of energy use at the site in response to the user reply.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving performance data of at least one network device associated with the site;   estimating an energy capacity of the site in response to the performance data; and   initiating the reduction of energy use at the site using the energy capacity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 accessing a plurality of sites;   receiving performance data of at least one network device associated with each the sites;   estimating an energy capacity of each of the sites;   estimating an aggregate capacity of the plurality of sites; and   initiating the reduction of energy use at the site using the aggregate capacity.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 detecting whether a user is located at the site;   altering the operating condition at the site when the user is away from the site; and   not altering the operating condition when the user is detected at the site.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 initiating a reduction in energy use of at least one of the following devices at the site: a tablet, a smart phone, an energy management system, an energy management device, a personal computer, a consumer electronic device, a media device, a smart utility meter, an advanced metering infrastructure, a smart energy device, an energy display device, a home automation controller, an energy hub, a smart energy gateway, a set-top box, a digital media subscriber system, a cable modem, a broadband communication device, a fiber optic enabled communications device, a media gateway, a home media management system, a media server, a network server, a network storage device, a wireless speaker, a retail energy provider's server, a wholesale energy provider's server, a COOP energy provider's server, a retail business server, a commercial site server, an industrial site server, a multi-residential site server, a temporary lodging server, a hotel server, a motel server, a condominium server, a utility provider's server, which can include waste, water, power or combinations thereof, an energy substation, a news media server, a weather server, an advertisement server or service provider, a network radio server or service provider, a network media server or service provider, a music server or server provider, a search engine server or service provider, an information server or service provider, a wireless information network device, a vehicle charging station, a renewable energy production device, a renewable energy control device, an energy storage management system, a smart appliance, an HVAC system, a water pump, a heat pump, a hot water heater, a thermostat (TSTAT), an energy controller, an irrigation system, a lighting system, an alarm system, a smart power outlet, an energy detection device, a garage door opening system or device, a power management device, a power measurement unit (PMU), an air handler, a wireless air damper, a humidity control system, a heat and motion sensing device, a smart power outlet, a switch router, a wireless router, an automobile or transportation device, or a network communication device.