Techniques for predictive control of energy use in a structure

1 . An environmental control unit for a structure wherein the control unit processes a computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of systems within one or more structures, the method comprising:

selecting a first controller from a set of multiple controllers wherein the first controller is a predictive controller wherein the predictive controller is capable of integrating operations of independent systems within a structure and across multiple structures;

with the first controller, determining a control action for a device included in a first system within the one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information wherein a meta controller within the first controller evaluates the suitability of the first controller for communication with the first system such that in the event the first controller is not suitable a replacement first controller is selected for communication with the first system;

with the first controller or replacement first controller, transmitting a control signal based on the control action to the device thereby controlling the output of the device; and

selecting at least one subsequent controller from the set of multiple controllers to determine a separate control action in parallel with the first controller or replacement first controller, wherein the steps further include, after transmitting the control signal based on the control action to the first device, selectin a second controller from the set of multiple of controllers based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and additional state information associated with the one or more structures, wherein the second controller has a greater data input requirement than the first controller.

2 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit generates at least one predicted value for future state information based on the current state information associated with the one or more structures and the forecast information.

3 . The control unit of claim 2 , wherein the control action is further based on the at least one predicted value for the future state information.

4 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control action for the device is determined based on the first controller that is selected from a set of different controllers.

5 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit, prior to transmitting the control signal to the device, translates the control action for the device into control instructions that are interpretable by a control interface that is communicatively coupled to the device.

6 . The control unit of claim 5 , wherein the control unit translates, by the control interface, the control instructions into the control signals.

7 . The control unit of claim 5 , wherein the control instructions include at least one of a setpoint value, an equipment mode setting, or an equipment on-off state.

8 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control action is directed to behavior of the device at a future time and does not result in an immediate behavior change by the device.

9 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control action for the device is determined further based on a control action for a device included in a second system within the one or more structures.

10 . The control unit of claim 9 , wherein the control unit determines the control action for the device included in the first system based on at least one control objective associated with the one or more structures and based on the at least one control objective.

11 . The control unit of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the current state information is associated with the second system within the one or more structures.

12 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines the control action for the device further based on at least one control objective associated with the one or more structures.

13 . The control unit of claim 12 , wherein the control objective comprises at least one of an economic cost associated with the one or more structures, an environmental cost associated with the at least one or more structures, a quantification of occupant comfort associated with the one or more structures, or a quantification of performance associated with the device or system in which the device is included.

14 . The control unit of claim 1 , wherein the control unit further generates the forecast information prior to determining the control action.

15 . The control unit of claim 14 , wherein the forecast information is generated via a forecasting model.

16 . A computer system for controllinq the environment within a structure having a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes a set of instructions which, in response to execution by a processor of the computer system, cause the processor to perform the steps:

selecting a first controller from a set of multiple controllers wherein the predictive controller is capable of integratinq operations of independent systems within a structure and across multiple structures;

with the first controller, determining a control action for a first device included in a first system within one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information wherein a meta controller within the first controller evaluates the suitability of the first controller for communication with the first system such that in the event the first controller is not suitable a replacement first controller is selected for communication with the first system; and

with the first controller or replacement first controller, transmitting a control signal based on the control action to the first device thereby controlling the output of the first device; and selecting at least one subsequent controller from the set of multiple controllers to determine a separate control action in parallel with the first controller or replacement first controller, wherein the steps further include, after transmittinq the control signal based on the control action to the first device, selectinq a second controller from the set of multiple of controllers based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and additional state information associated with the one or more structures, wherein the second controller has a qreater data input requirement than the first controller.

17 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the forecast information includes as least one of power generation forecast information, weather forecast information, grid-signal forecast information, or energy cost forecast information.

18 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the steps further include determining the power generation forecast information based at least in part on the current state information associated with the one or more structures.

19 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the steps further include:

selecting a second controller from the set of multiple of controllers;

with the second controller, determining a control action for a second device included in a second system within one or more structures based on current state information associated with the one or more structures and forecast information; and

transmitting a control signal based on the control action for the second to the second device.