# US 2008/0189180 A1 · Utility resource conservation method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189180 A1 - Document ID: US20080189180A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/953,152 - Filed: 2007-12-10 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-08 - Inventors: Lee J. Maher; Zach Steele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189180A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0236: {Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user} - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A utility resource conservation method may include determining a periodic consumption value for at least one utility resource by a utility consumer without use of at least one utility resource conservation device, and determining a periodic payment amount for the utility consumer with use of the at least one utility resource conservation device by applying a discount to the periodic consumption value so that the periodic payment amount is less than the periodic consumption value. The method may further include installing the at least one conservation device to reduce consumption of the at least one utility resource by the utility consumer. The periodic payment amount may advantageously include payment for the reduced consumption of the at least one utility resource, and for the at least one utility resource conservation device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A utility resource conservation method comprising: determining a periodic consumption value for at least one utility resource by a utility consumer without use of at least one utility resource conservation device; determining a periodic payment amount for the utility consumer with use of the at least one utility resource conservation device by applying a discount to the periodic consumption value so that the periodic payment amount is less than the periodic consumption value; and installing the at least one conservation device to reduce consumption of the at least one utility resource by the utility consumer; wherein the periodic payment amount includes payment for the reduced consumption of the at least one utility resource and for the at least one utility resource conservation device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the discount is based on an expected utility resource savings from use of the at least one utility resource conservation device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the expected utility resource savings includes an expected energy reduction credit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the expected utility resource savings includes a block energy purchase savings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the discount is fixed for a predetermined number of payments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the discount is increased after the predetermined number of payments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein installation of the at least one utility resource conservation device is designed to provide an energy reduction credit threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: re-determining the periodic consumption value; and re-determining the periodic payment amount by re-applying the discount to the re-determined periodic consumption value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the re-determinations are made after a predetermined number of payments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the periodic payment is fixed for a plurality of periods. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one utility resource comprises a plurality thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one utility resource comprises at least one of electricity, natural gas, heating oil and water. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one utility resource conservation device comprises a plurality thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one conservation device comprises at least one of a utility resource replacement device and a utility resource reduction device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one utility resource replacement device comprises at least one of a solar water heater, a photovoltaic panel and a wind turbine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one utility resource reduction device comprises at least one of an increased-efficiency lighting system, an increased-efficiency HVAC system, a water saving device and a utility use monitoring and control system. ### Claim 17 An energy conservation method comprising: determining a periodic energy consumption value by an energy consumer without use of at least one energy conservation device; determining an expected energy savings from use of the at least one energy conservation device; determining a discount based on the expected energy savings; determining a periodic payment amount for the energy consumer with use of the at least one energy conservation device by applying the discount to the periodic energy consumption value so that the periodic payment amount is less than the periodic energy consumption value, the periodic payment amount including payment for the reduced energy consumption and for the at least one energy conservation device; and installing the at least one energy conservation device to reduce consumption of energy by the energy consumer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the expected energy savings includes an expected energy reduction credit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the expected energy savings includes a block energy purchase savings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one energy reduction device comprises at least one of an increased-efficiency lighting system, an increased-efficiency HVAC system, a solar water heater, a photovoltaic panel, and a utility use monitoring and control system. ### Claim 21 A utility resource conservation method comprising: determining a periodic consumption value for at least one utility resource by a utility consumer without use of at least one utility resource conservation device, the at least one utility resource conservation device comprising at least one utility resource replacement device; determining a periodic payment amount for the utility consumer with use of the at least one utility resource conservation device by applying a discount to the periodic consumption value so that the periodic payment amount is less than the periodic consumption value; and installing the at least one utility resource conservation device to reduce consumption of the at least one utility resource by the utility consumer; wherein the periodic payment amount includes payment for the reduced consumption of the at least one utility resource and for the at least one utility resource conservation device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one utility resource replacement device comprises at least one of a solar water heater, a photovoltaic panel and a wind turbine. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one utility resource device further comprises at least one utility resource reduction device.