Efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning through indirect extension of compressor run times

Abstract

A load control device for improving energy efficiency of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system by controlling shed times of a compressor of the HVAC system. The load control device includes a compressor cutoff switch, a sensing circuit, and a processor. The processor determines a subsequent mandatory shed time based upon a previous shed time, a previous run time, and a minimum run time. A subsequent mandatory shed longer than the previous mandatory shed time causes a subsequent run time to be increased, thereby increasing system efficiency.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A load control system for selectively improving energy efficiency of a set of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems located at multiple residential locations by selectively controlling operation of a compressor of each of the HVAC system using a set of load controls devices each having a compressor cutoff switch in electrical communication with a temperature control device of the HVAC system, the compressor cutoff switch adapted to selectively cause an electrically-powered compressor of the HVAC system to be disconnected from a power source under control of the load control system having a processor in electrical communication with each of the compressor cutoff switches of the set of load control devices, the processor configured to determine a system energy efficiency of each HVAC system based on run times of operating cycles of the corresponding compressor and a predetermined optimal run time of the corresponding compressor, and to selectively operate the compressor cutoff switch to cause power to the corresponding compressor to be disconnected for a mandatory shed-time period, thereby causing a run time of the corresponding compressor to be extended such that there is an increase in the system energy efficiency of the set of HVAC system.