Method and system for automated aggregation of carbon offsets
OwnerCole Walker, Jason Martininventors
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Abstract
A method for accounting for carbon offsets realized by energy-efficient, electrically-powered devices used by electrical power consumers includes obtaining power usage data for the devices, calculating an initial power reduction attributable to the device, calculating a final power reduction accounting for line loss between the device's location and the location of the power generator. The final power reduction is converted to a carbon offset amount by considering the fuel type used by the power generator. Carbon offsets are then accounted for with distributed ledger technology. A system that performs the method is also disclosed.
Claims15
A method, executed by one or more computers, for automatically measuring carbon offsets for one or more devices consuming electrical power, said devices used by a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining power usage data in kilowatt-hours from said one or more electrically-powered devices;
- calculating an initial power reduction value based upon said power usage data;
- calculating a final reduction value by applying a line loss multiplier to said initial reduction value, said line loss multiplier accounting for power loss over a distance between a power generator and said one or more devices;
- calculating a carbon offset amount by converting said final reduction value from kilowatt-hours to a mass of carbon dioxide saved based upon a fuel type used to generate said electrical power;
- and
- associating said carbon offset amount to said user.
The method of claim 11, wherein said step of calculating a final reduction value further comprises the steps of:
- obtaining a geographic location for said user;
- and
- obtaining a geographic location for said power generator.
A system for automatically measuring carbon offsets for one or more devices consuming electrical power, said devices used by a user, said system comprising:
- a processor;
- a computer-readable memory in communication with said processor, said memory configured to store control logic and data, said data comprising:
- said user's location;
- said user's one or more devices;
- the location of a power generator associated with said user;
- a fuel type used by said power generator;
- and
- a distributed ledger;
- and
- a network interface in communication in communication with said one or more devices;
- and
- wherein, said control logic causes said processor to:
- obtain power usage data in kilowatt-hours from said one or more devices;
- calculate an initial power reduction value based upon said power usage data;
- calculate a final reduction value by applying a line loss multiplier to said initial reduction value, said line loss multiplier accounting for power loss over a distance between a power generator and said one or more devices;
- calculate a carbon offset amount by converting said final reduction value from kilowatt-hours to a mass of carbon dioxide saved based upon said fuel type used to generate said electrical power;
- and
- associate said carbon offset amount to said user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.