US 8,571,719 B2 · Load control system having an energy savings mode

Abstract

A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system, and adjusts amount of daylight entering the window if the heating and cooling system is not saving energy. A motorized window treatment of the load control system is operable to move a fabric covering the window in a first direction, and a temperature control device is operable to subsequently determine if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. The motorized window treatment then moves the fabric in a second direction opposite the first direction if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A load control system for use in a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building, the load control system comprising:

a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building;
and
a motorized window treatment for controlling a window treatment covering to an initial position between a fully open position in which the window is not covered and a fully-closed position in which the window is covered;
wherein after the motorized window treatment moves the covering in a first direction from the initial position towards the fully open position to allow more sunlight to enter the space when the heating and cooling system is heating the building, the load control system determines if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the covering was in the initial position;
and
wherein if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the covering was in the initial position, the motorized window treatment moves the covering in a second direction towards the fully-closed position.

3 more elements

A method of controlling a motorized window treatment comprising a window treatment covering for a window in a space of the building, the building having a heating and cooling system, the method comprising:

moving the covering to an initial position between a fully open position in which the window is not covered and a fully-closed position in which the window is covered;
subsequently moving the covering from the initial position in a first direction towards a fully open position to allow more sunlight to enter the space;
monitoring the heating and cooling system for a predetermined time period after the fabric covering is moved from the initial position in a first direction;
storing data representative of energy usage information of the heating and cooling system in response to monitoring the heating and cooling system;
determining if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the covering was in the initial position by using the data representative of energy usage information of the heating and cooling system;
and
moving the covering in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the fully-closed position if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the covering was in the initial position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Load control system having an energy savings mode

Life of this patent

Load control system having an energy savings mode

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21