Thermostat with utility messaging
View Patent ↗The present disclosure pertains generally to thermostats that are adapted to assist utilities in communicating with its customers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat having a display, a controller and a receiver that is coupled to the controller. The receiver is adapted to receive messages from a utility, and the controller is adapted to display one or more related display messages on the display.
1. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:
controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;
receiving a message, either directly or indirectly, from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the message includes information related to utility consumption;
storing the received message in a memory of the thermostat;
displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message, wherein the display indicator simultaneously provides a numerical summary of utility consumption during a first time period and a numerical summary of utility consumption during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period; and
wherein the numerical summary of utility consumption during the first time period includes the cost of utility usage during the first time period, and the numerical summary of utility consumption during the second time period includes the cost of utility usage during the second time period.
2. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, wherein the building or other structure receives energy from a utility, the method comprising:
controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;
receiving a message directed to a group of customers either directly or indirectly from the utility or another service provider, wherein the message includes a suggestion as to how to take action to mitigate a current demand on the utility;
storing the received message in a memory of the thermostat; and
displaying on a display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the display indicator suggests that the user change a temperature set point of the thermostat to save energy.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the display indicator suggests that the user refrain from running an energy intensive appliance until later.
5. A method for operating a thermostat that controls at least in part an HVAC system of a building or other structure, the method comprising:
controlling the HVAC system to achieve a desired set point;
displaying on a touch screen display of the thermostat a home screen that displays a current temperature and a current time;
receiving a message either directly or indirectly from a utility, another service provider, or a meter, wherein the message includes a measure related to utility usage;
storing the received messages in a memory of the thermostat;
receiving input from a user via the touch screen display to enter a utility usage mode;
in response to entering the utility usage mode, displaying on the touch screen display of the thermostat a display indicator that is related to the received message;
wherein the display indicator provides an indication of a measure of utility usage during a first time period, and an indication of a measure of utility usage during a second time period, wherein the second time period is after the first time period; and
wherein the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the first time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the first time period, and the indication of the measure of utility usage that is displayed for the second time period includes an indication of the cost of utility usage during the second time period.