Temperature control based on energy price
A system is disclosed comprising memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule. The system also comprises a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of a cooling system and a heating system to maintain a temperature of an environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings.
1. A system comprising:
memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule;
a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of a cooling system and a heating system to maintain a temperature of an environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings; and
a user interface comprising
one or more input features for selecting the cost-based temperature value; and
one or more input features for opting out of the energy cost savings comparison.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory and the controller are part of a thermostat device.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive cost information from an energy provider for determining the cost of the given energy resource.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises a manual entry cost schedule for determining the cost of the given energy resource.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises one or more output features for presenting energy management information.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature schedule comprises an Energy Star recommended temperature schedule.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cost of the given energy resource is specified in terms of a plurality of a cost tiers.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the given energy resource comprises one of electricity, gas, and oil.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling system and the heating system are part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
10. A system comprising:
at least one of a cooling system and a heating system for respectively cooling and heating a given environment; and
an energy management system coupled to the at least one of the cooling system and the heating system, the energy management system comprising:
memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule;
a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of the cooling system and the heating system to maintain a temperature of the given environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings; and
a user interface comprising
one or more input features for selecting the cost-based temperature value; and
one or more input features for opting out of the energy cost savings comparison.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory and the controller are part of a thermostat device.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive cost information from an energy provider for determining the cost of the given energy resource.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises a manual entry cost schedule for determining the cost of the given energy resource.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises one or more output features for presenting energy management information.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cost of the given energy resource is specified in terms of a plurality of a cost tiers.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the given energy resource comprises one of electricity, gas, and oil.
17. A system comprising:
memory configured to store a temperature value based on a cost of a given energy resource, wherein the cost-based temperature value differs from a temperature value based on a temperature schedule; and
a controller operatively coupled to the memory and configured to compare the cost-based temperature value to the schedule-based temperature value, and to direct one of a cooling system and a heating system to maintain a temperature of an environment at the one of the cost-based temperature value and the schedule-based temperature value that results in an energy cost savings;
wherein the temperature schedule comprises an Energy Star recommended temperature schedule.