Managing hot water storage and delivery

1. A method of managing a water heater utilized for heating stored hot water comprising:

utilizing an expected user schedule to determine an expected user load for hot water delivered to a set of output fixtures for use by a set of users;

utilizing ambient temperature data to determine a water heating load for water storage and water delivery to the set of users in response to the expected user load for storage in memory;

utilizing a processor to analyze the expected user load and the water heating load stored in memory to determine a desired temperature for the stored hot water according to a predetermined policy; and

utilizing the processor to instruct the water heater to heat the stored hot water to the desired temperature;

wherein determining the water heating load for water delivery includes considering accumulated expected usage from more than one water route based on ambient temperature data and water route length with more than one of the set of output fixtures providing the expected user load.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining which user is present; and wherein the expected user schedule utilized to determine the expected user load is utilized to determine an individual expected user load for each identified user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the expected user load includes an accumulated individual expected user load for a period of time by more than one user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the expected user schedule includes determining prior usage data by time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined policy is based on a baseline configuration stored in memory and a set of user preferences received through a user interface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined policy includes criteria selected from a group consisting of comfort and energy cost reduction.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the expected user schedule comprises data selected from a group consisting of calendar information, alarm clock setting, security system information, and prior usage information stored in memory; wherein the expected user load includes an accumulated expected usage for a period of time by more than one user; and wherein determining the water heating load includes considering accumulated expected usage from more than one water route with more than one output fixture.

8. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for use in managing a water heater utilized for heating stored hot water, the computer usable program product comprising code for performing the steps of:

utilizing an expected user schedule to determine an expected user load for hot water delivered to a set of output fixtures for use by a set of users;

utilizing ambient temperature data to determine a water heating load for water storage and water delivery to the set of users in response to the expected user load for storage in memory;

utilizing a processor to analyze the expected user load and the water heating load stored in memory to determine a desired temperature for the stored hot water according to a predetermined policy; and

utilizing the processor to instruct the water heater to heat the stored hot water to the desired temperature;

wherein determining the water heating load for water delivery includes considering accumulated expected usage from more than one water route based on ambient temperature data and water route length with more than one of the set of output fixtures providing the expected user load.

9. The computer usable program product of claim 8 further comprising determining which user is present; and wherein the expected user schedule utilized to determine the expected user load is utilized to determine an individual expected user load for each identified user.

10. The computer usable program product of claim 9 wherein the expected user load includes an accumulated individual expected user load for a period of time by more than one user.

11. The computer usable program product of claim 8 wherein determining the expected user schedule includes determining prior usage data by time period.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 8 wherein the predetermined policy is based on a baseline configuration stored in memory and a set of user preferences received through a user interface.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein the predetermined policy includes criteria selected from a group consisting of comfort and energy cost reduction.

14. A data processing system for managing a water heater utilized for heating stored hot water, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions which when executed by the processor execute the steps of:

utilizing an expected user schedule to determine an expected user load for hot water delivered to a set of output fixtures for use by a set of users;

utilizing ambient temperature data to determine a water heating load for water storage and water delivery to the set of users in response to the expected user load for storage in memory;

utilizing a processor to analyze the expected user load and the water heating load stored in memory to determine a desired temperature for the stored hot water according to a predetermined policy; and

utilizing the processor to instruct the water heater to heat the stored hot water to the desired temperature;

wherein determining the water heating load for water delivery includes considering accumulated expected usage from more than one water route based on ambient temperature data and water route length with more than one of the set of output fixtures providing the expected user load.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising determining which user is present; and wherein the expected user schedule utilized to determine the expected user load is utilized to determine an individual expected user load for each identified user.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the expected user load includes an accumulated individual expected user load for a period of time by more than one user.

17. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein determining the expected user schedule includes determining prior usage data by time period.

18. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the predetermined policy is based on a baseline configuration stored in memory and a set of user preferences received through a user interface.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein the predetermined policy includes criteria selected from a group consisting of comfort and energy cost reduction.

20. The data processing system of claim 19 wherein the expected user schedule comprises data selected from a group consisting of calendar information, alarm clock setting, security system information, and prior usage information stored in memory; wherein the expected user load includes an accumulated expected usage for a period of time by more than one user; and wherein determining the water heating load includes considering accumulated expected usage from more than one water route with more than one output fixture.