System and method for optimizing use of plug-in air conditioners and portable heaters

An apparatus for controlling a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater comprising:

• a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to a plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network;
• a server capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device;
• and
• where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater, and wherein said microprocessor in said load control device receives at least one operational instruction from said server via said network instructing the load control device to disconnect power to said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater;
• and
• wherein said server compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said plug-in air conditioner or portable heater has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

An apparatus for optimizing the cooling of a habitable space comprising:

• a plug-in air conditioner;
• a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device is configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to the plug-in air conditioner, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to said plug-in air conditioner, and said load control device further configured to communicate over a network;
• a computer capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device;
• and
• where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said plug-in air conditioner, and wherein said computer compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said plug-in air conditioner has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.

An apparatus for optimizing the heating of a habitable space comprising:

• a portable heater;
• a load control device comprising a temperature sensor and a microprocessor, said load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a portable heater, the load control device further configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to said portable heater, and said load control device further configured to communicate over a network;
• a computer capable of receiving messages from and sending messages to said load control device;
• and
• where said load control device is located inside the space conditioned by said portable heater, wherein the computer compares the rate of change in temperature in said conditioned space based on measurements obtained by said temperature sensor in said load control device with a predicted rate of change to determine whether said portable heater has been connected to a second electrical outlet that bypasses said load control device.