US 6,968,295 B1 · Method of and system for auditing the energy-usage of a facility

Abstract

A method of and system for auditing the energy-usage by a facility, where the facility includes an energy-using system having an operating parameter with a value. One embodiment of the method includes acquiring an initial value of the operating parameter, acquiring initial data of the energy-using system with the operating parameter set at the initial value, acquiring values relating to a weather parameter for the facility, and creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility with the initial energy-using system data and the weather data. Some embodiments of the method can further include determining an initial rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the baseline energy model, changing the initial value of the operating parameter, determining a modified rate of energy-usage by the facility, and calculating a savings in energy costs from changing the initial value of the operating parameter.

Claims102

Dependent claims

A method of auditing the energy-usage by a facility including an energy-using system, the energy-using system including an operating parameter having a value, the method comprising:

acquiring an initial value of the operating parameter;
acquiring initial data of the energy-using system with the operating parameter set at the initial value;
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility with the initial energy-using system data;
determining an initial rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the initial energy-using system data and the baseline energy-usage model;
changing the initial value of the operating parameter to a changed value;
acquiring subsequent data relating to the energy-using system with the operating parameter set at the changed value;
and
determining a modified rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the subsequent energy-using system data and the baseline energy module.

5 more elements

A method of auditing the energy-usage by a facility including an energy-using system, the energy-using system including an operating parameter having a value, the method comprising:

acquiring an initial value of the operating parameter;
acquiring initial data of the energy-using system with the operating parameter set at the initial value;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a weather parameter for the facility;
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility with the initial energy-using system data and the weather data;
and
wherein creating a baseline model includes determining a balance of a mass flow rate of energy gains and losses to and from the energy-using system.

3 more elements

A method of auditing the energy-usage of an energy-using system of a facility, comprising:

surveying a plurality of energy-using systems at the facility, each energy-using system including a plurality of operating parameters;
acquiring an initial value for each operating parameter;
acquiring initial data for each energy-using system with the respective operating parameters set at the initial value;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters, respectively, of the facility;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of weather parameters, respectively, for the facility;
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility using the initial value for each operating parameter, the initial data of the energy-using system, the plurality of values relating to the plurality of building parameters, and the plurality of values relating to the plurality of weather parameters;
wherein the energy-using system includes a refrigeration system;
and
wherein creating a baseline model includes determining a mass flow rate of a refrigerant flowing to and from a refrigerated display case of the refrigeration system.

6 more elements

A method of auditing the energy-usage of an energy-using system of a facility, comprising:

surveying a plurality of energy-using systems at the facility, each energy-using system including a plurality of operating parameters;
acquiring an initial value for each operating parameter;
acquiring initial data for each energy-using system with the respective operating parameters set at the initial value;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters, respectively, of the facility;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of weather parameters, respectively, for the facility;
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility using the initial value for each operating parameter, the initial data of the energy-using system, the plurality of values relating to the plurality of building parameters, and the plurality of values relating to the plurality of weather parameters;
determining an initial rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the initial energy-using system data and the baseline energy-usage model;
changing the value of the initial operating parameter;
and
determining a modified rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the changed value of the operating parameter and the baseline energy module.

7 more elements

A method of auditing the energy-usage by a supermarket having a plurality of energy-using systems, the energy-using systems including an operating parameter having a value, the plurality of energy-using systems including

a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system,
a lighting system, and
a refrigeration system, the method comprising:
surveying the plurality of energy-using systems at the supermarket;
acquiring an initial value for each operating parameter;
acquiring initial data for each energy-using system with the respective operating parameters set at the initial value;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters of the supermarket;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of weather parameters, respectively, for the supermarket;
and
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the supermarket using the initial value for each operating parameter, the initial data, the plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters, and the plurality of values relating to the plurality of weather parameters;
generating an output that indicates a baseline energy-usage for each energy-using system of the supermarket;
changing the value of the initial operating parameter;
and
determining a modified rate of energy-usage by the supermarket based upon the subsequent energy-using system data and the baseline energy model.

11 more elements

a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system,
a lighting system, and
a refrigeration system, the method comprising:
surveying the plurality of energy-using systems at the supermarket;
acquiring an initial value for each operating parameter;
acquiring initial data for each energy-using system with the respective operating parameters set at the initial value;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters of the supermarket;
acquiring a plurality of values relating to a plurality of weather parameters, respectively, for the supermarket;
and
creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the supermarket using the initial value for each operating parameter, the initial data, the plurality of values relating to a plurality of building parameters, and the plurality of values relating to the plurality of weather parameters;
generating an output that indicates a baseline energy-usage for each energy-using system of the supermarket;
wherein creating a baseline model includes:
predicting a mathematical relationship for a flow rate of energy gains and losses to and from the energy-using system;
generating a predicted output based upon the values of the weather parameters and the predicted mathematical relationship;
comparing the predicted output with the initial energy-using system data;
and
adjusting the mathematical relationship until the predicted output is within a predetermined percentage of the initial energy-using system data.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and system for auditing the energy-usage of a facility

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Method of and system for auditing the energy-usage of a facility

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims102