System and method for personal energy consumption change payback determination using distributed computational resources

A method for personal energy consumption change payback determination using distributed computational resources, comprising:

• presenting using a distributed computation system configured to execute computer-executable code a single user interface through which user input for data for equipment associated with a user and related to energy consumption and replacements for at least some of the equipment is received, wherein at least some of the equipment are part of a building associated with the user and wherein the distributed computation system comprises a listing of the equipment and a fuel type used by that equipment;
• determining using the distributed computation system a total energy consumption of the equipment over a set time period based on the user input and presenting using the distributed computation system the total energy consumption over the single user interface, wherein the energy consumption for at least some of equipment is in different units than the energy consumption for other ones of the equipment, further comprising:
• forming time series of the energy consumption of the equipment for the set time period for each of the fuel types;
• converting the time series for fuel type other than electricity into electricity-equivalent units;
• and
• using the electricity time series and electric rate structure to forecast an estimated cost of the consumption of the electricity during the set time period, wherein the estimated cost and the electricity units are used to estimate the total energy consumption cost;
• determining using the distributed computation system a thermal performance of a building associated with the user by remotely controlling one of a cooling source and a heating source inside the building, wherein at least some of the replacement equipment affect an envelope of the building;
• determining using the distributed computation system a cost associated with the total energy consumption;
• and
• determining using the distributed computation system a payback associated with installing the replacement equipment and displaying using the distributed computation system the payback on the single user interface, comprising obtaining an area of the envelope affected by the at least some replacement equipment, to compare an insulation provided by the equipment being replaced by the at least some replacement equipment to an insulation provided by the at least some of the replacement equipment, and determining a change to the thermal performance based on the comparison, wherein the changed thermal performance is used for the determination of the payback, wherein the equipment comprises one or more a diesel-fueled vehicle and a gasoline-fueled vehicle and the replacement equipment comprises one or more a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle.