Thermostat for conveying expected thermal responses to users

1. An apparatus for summarizing and conveying expected thermal responses to users, comprising:

a graphical user interface;

a temperature sensor;

a non-transient memory for storing processor-executable instructions and one or more setpoints; and

a processor, coupled to the graphical user interface, the temperature sensor and the non-transient memory for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:

store a first setpoint in the memory, the first setpoint comprising a start time and a desired setpoint temperature;

determine a current ambient temperature of a room based on one or more signals from the temperature sensor;

calculate an expected thermal response based on at least the current ambient temperature and the desired setpoint temperature;

summarize the expected thermal response into an expected thermal response graph visualization;

cause the expected thermal response graph visualization to be displayed on the graphical user interface;

determine a plurality of expected energy consumption rates of the HVAC system, each of the plurality of expected energy consumption rates determined at least in part on a baseline ambient temperature at a start of a heating or cooling cycle and/or a desired setpoint temperature;

assign a color to each expected energy consumption rate;

store the plurality of expected energy consumption rates in the memory in association with its assigned color;

identify a one of the plurality of expected energy consumption rates stored in the memory based on the current ambient temperature and the first setpoint; and

shade the area below the expected thermal response graph visualization with the color assigned to the identified one of the plurality of expected energy consumption rate;

wherein the expected thermal response graph visualization comprises a wave curve of expected room temperatures vs. time, having a y-axis on which temperature is depicted and an x-axis on which time is depicted, and the wave curve is caused to be displayed using an entire width of the graphical user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a network interface and further comprising further processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:

initiate a cooling sequence with HVAC equipment coupled to the apparatus based on a current temperature provided by the temperature sensor and one of the one or more setpoints; and

in response to initiating the cooling sequence, send a blind control signal to the network interface, the blind control signal for causing motorized blinds, coupled to the apparatus via the network interface, to close.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the processor to send a blind control signal comprises instructions that causes the processor to:

send the blind control signal only when the processor determines that the apparatus is operating in an economy mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a network interface and further comprising further processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:

determine that a cooling sequence or a heating sequence will occur;

in response to determining that a cooling sequence or a heating sequence will occur, cause a message to be displayed on the graphical user interface asking a user to close any open doors or windows for faster and more efficient heating or cooling.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising further processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:

modify the expected thermal response based on whether the apparatus is operating in an economy mode of operation or not.

6. A method for summarizing and conveying expected thermal responses to users, comprising:

storing a first setpoint in a memory, the first setpoint comprising a start time and a desired setpoint temperature;

determining a current ambient temperature of a room based on one or more signals from a temperature sensor;

calculating an expected thermal response based on at least the current ambient temperature and the desired setpoint temperature;

summarizing the expected thermal response into an expected thermal response graph visualization; and

causing the expected thermal response graph visualization to be displayed on the graphical user interface;

determining a plurality of expected energy consumption rates of the HVAC system, each of the plurality of expected energy consumption rates determined at least in part on a baseline ambient temperature at a start of a heating or cooling cycle and/or a desired setpoint temperature;

assigning a color to each expected energy consumption rate;

storing the plurality of expected energy consumption rates in the memory in association with its assigned color;

identifying a one of the plurality of expected energy consumption rates stored in the memory based on the current ambient temperature and the first setpoint; and

shading the area below the expected thermal response graph visualization with the color assigned to the identified one of the plurality of expected energy consumption rate;

wherein the expected thermal response graph visualization comprises a wave curve of expected room temperatures vs. time, having a y-axis on which temperature is depicted and an x-axis on which time is depicted, and the wave curve is caused to be displayed using an entire width of the graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

initiating a cooling sequence with HVAC equipment coupled to the apparatus based on a current temperature provided by the temperature sensor and one of the one or more setpoints; and

in response to initiating the cooling sequence, sending a blind control signal to a motorized blind, the blind control signal for causing the motorized blind to close.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein sending a blind control signal comprises:

sending the blind control signal only when operating in an economy mode.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining that a cooling sequence or a heating sequence will occur;

in response to determining that a cooling sequence or a heating sequence will occur, causing a message to be displayed on a graphical user interface asking a user to close any open doors or windows for faster and more efficient heating or cooling.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

modifying the expected thermal response based on whether an economy mode of operation is in effect or not.