Configurable energy demand management system

1. An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a system of energy consuming devices, the apparatus comprising:

a network operations center, operationally coupled to a demand coordination network, configured to provide configuration data to the system of energy consuming devices; and

a first control node, coupled to a second control node and said monitor node via said demand coordination network, said first control node comprising:

a node processor, coupled to a first energy consuming device, configured to operate the first energy consuming device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first local environment by cycling on and off;

a global schedule module, coupled to said node processor, configured to coordinate run times for said first energy consuming device and a second energy consuming device, wherein the coordination is based on a replica copy of a global run time schedule disposed within said first and second control nodes, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing said first local environment, an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second local environment, and said configuration data provided by said network operations center; and

a local model module, coupled to said node processor and said global, schedule module, configured to develop a third descriptor set characterizing a third local environment associated with said first energy consuming device; and

a global model module, coupled to said node processor, said local model module, and said global schedule module, configured to develop said adjusted first and second descriptor sets, wherein said adjusted first and second descriptor sets are based upon said third descriptor set, a fourth descriptor set characterizing a fourth local environment associated with said second energy consuming device, and global sensor data received over said demand coordination network.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said global schedule module coordinates said run times to reduce the peak demand of said energy resource.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said configuration data comprises a number of the energy consuming devices that are simultaneously operating.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said configuration data further comprises a given energy consuming device's operational priority relative to other energy consuming devices.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein said configuration data further comprises energy demand profiles related to time of day.

6. An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a system of energy consuming devices, the apparatus comprising:

a network operations center, operationally coupled to a demand coordination network, configured to provide configuration data to the system of energy consuming devices; and

a first control node, coupled to a second control node and said monitor node via said demand coordination network, said first control node comprising:

a node processor, coupled to a first energy consuming device, configured to operate the first energy consuming device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first local environment by cycling on and off;

a global schedule module, coupled to said node processor, configured to coordinate run times for said first energy consuming device and a second energy consuming device, wherein the coordination is based on a replica copy of a global run time schedule disposed within said first and second control nodes, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing said first local environment, an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second local environment, and said configuration data provided by said network operations center;

a local schedule module, coupled to said node processor and said global schedule module, configured to direct said first energy consuming device to cycle on and off at appropriate times as a function of a device actuation schedule provided by said global schedule module;

a local model module, coupled to said node processor and said global, schedule module, configured to develop a third descriptor set characterizing a third local environment associated with said first energy consuming device; and

a global model module, coupled to said node processor, said local model module, and said global schedule module, configured to develop said adjusted first and second descriptor sets, wherein said adjusted first and second descriptor sets are based upon said third descriptor set, a fourth descriptor set characterizing a fourth local environment associated with said second energy consuming device, and global sensor data received over said demand coordination network.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein said global schedule module coordinates said run times to reduce the peak demand of said energy resource.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein said configuration data comprises a number of the energy consuming devices that are simultaneously operating.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein said configuration data further comprises a given energy consuming device's operational priority relative to other energy consuming devices.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein said configuration data further comprises energy demand profiles related to time of day.

11. A method for controlling peak demand of a system of energy consuming devices, the method comprising:

operationally coupling a network operations center, a first control node, and a second control node together via a demand coordination network;

via the network operations center, providing configuration to the system of energy consuming devices;

via the first control node, operating a first energy consuming device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first local environment by cycling on and off;

coordinating run times for the first energy consuming device and a second energy consuming device, wherein the coordination is based on a replica copy of a global run time schedule disposed within the first and second control nodes respectively coupled to the first and second energy consuming devices, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing the first local environment, an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second local environment, and the configuration data provided by the network operations center;

first developing a third descriptor set characterizing a third local environment associated with the first energy consuming device; and

second developing the adjusted first and second descriptor set, wherein said second developing is based upon the third descriptor set, a fourth descriptor set characterizing a fourth local environment associated with the second energy consuming device, and global sensor data received over the demand coordination network.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein said coordinating is performed to reduce the peak demand of the energy resource.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the configuration data comprises a number of the energy consuming devices that are simultaneously operating.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the configuration data further comprises a given energy consuming device's operational priority relative to other energy consuming devices.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein said configuration data further comprises energy demand profiles related to time of day.