Hvac systems with climate control devices for improved efficiency

A method for zonal preheating or precooling in a heating, ventilation, and cooling (“HVAC”) system, the method comprising:

• receiving, by at least one processor configured by executing code stored on non-transitory processor readable media, via a user making a selection in at least one user interface, information representing i) one or more zones in the HVAC system, ii) a respective temperature set point representing a temperature for each respective one of the one or more zones, and iii) a respective time set point representing a respective time associated with each respective one of the one or more zones;
• for each one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system:
• detecting, by the at least one processor via a temperature sensor associated with the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system, a current ambient temperature;
• calculating, by the at least one processor, a temperature difference between the current ambient temperature and the temperature set point for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system;
• detecting, by the at least one processor via a clock, a current time;
• calculating, by the at least one processor, a time difference between the current time and the time set point for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system;
• determining, by the at least one processor processing at least the current time, the time difference, and the temperature difference, a target time to transmit a HVAC system operations control signal for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system, such that a future ambient temperature of the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system at the respective time set point will equal the temperature set point;
• where i) the target time is within a predetermined range of the current time and ii) the temperature difference is greater than 0, transmitting, by the at least one processor, the HVAC system operations control signal to the HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system uses the HVAC system operations control signal to:
• always operate initially at a lowest operating stage or speed (ECO MODE) of a plurality of operating stages or speeds of the HVAC system and, thereafter in accordance with the current time, the time difference, and the temperature difference, to operate at an elevated stage or speed (QUICK MODE) or at a highest operating stage or speed (TURBO MODE);
• and
• cause a temperature change in the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system;
• and
• where i) the target time is not within the predetermined range of the current time or ii) the temperature difference is not greater than 0, not transmitting, by the at least one processor, the HVAC system operations control signal for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system.

A climate control device for zonal preheating or precooling in a heating, ventilation, and cooling (“HVAC”) system, the climate control device comprising:

• at least one processor, configured by executing code stored on non-transitory processor readable media to perform steps including:
• receiving, via a user making a selection in at least one user interface, information representing i) one or more zones in the HVAC system, ii) a respective temperature set point representing a temperature for each respective one of the one or more zones, and iii) a respective time set point representing a respective time associated with each respective one of the one or more zones;
• for each one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system:
• detecting, via a temperature sensor associated with the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system, a current ambient temperature;
• calculating a temperature difference between the current ambient temperature and the temperature set point for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system;
• detecting, via a clock, a current time;
• calculating a time difference between the current time and the time set point for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system;
• determining, by processing at least the current time, the time difference, and the temperature difference, a target time to transmit a HVAC system operations control signal for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system, such that a future ambient temperature of the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system at the respective time set point will equal the temperature set point;
• where i) the target time is within a predetermined range of the current time and ii) the temperature difference is greater than 0, transmitting the HVAC system operations control signal to the HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system uses the HVAC system operations control signal to:
• always operate initially, during a first period of time, at a lowest operating stage or speed of the HVAC system;
• cause a temperature change in the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system at a first rate in accordance with the lowest operating stage or speed of the HVAC system;
• operate in accordance with the current time, the time difference, and the temperature difference, at an elevated stage or speed (QUICK MODE) or at a highest operating stage or speed (TURBO MODE), during a second period of time;
• cause a temperature change in the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system at a second rate in accordance with the second operating stage or speed;
• and
• where i) the target time is not within the predetermined range of the current time or ii) the temperature difference is not greater than 0, not transmitting the HVAC system operations control signal for the respective one of the one or more zones in the HVAC system.