Automated demand response scheduling to reduce electrical loads

A system for reducing the electrical load in a building, the system comprising:

• a building automation system (BAS) including a plurality of field panels configured to deliver control instructions to a plurality of devices in the building;
• an automated demand response client configured to receive a message concerning a demand response event from an automated demand response server, the message including information concerning at least one demand response mode for the demand response event, the automated demand response client including:
• a scheduler component configured to generate a schedule of control actions for at least one device of the plurality of devices during the demand response event, wherein generation of the schedule of control actions is based at least in part on a demand response control period associated with each of the control actions, of the schedule, and a BAS communications component configured to deliver the control actions of the schedule for the at least one device to the plurality of BAS field panels according to the schedule;
• and
• wherein each demand response control period is associated with the demand response event or the at least one demand response mode, and wherein the scheduler is further configured to review the schedule of control actions to determine if a conflict exists in the control actions of the schedule.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a computer generates instructions for controlling a building automation system including a plurality of devices, by:

• receiving a message for a demand response event from an automated demand response server, the message including information concerning at least one demand response mode for the demand response event;
• responsive to receiving the demand response message, automatically generating a schedule of control actions for the at least one device of the plurality of the building automation system for execution in association with the demand response event, wherein the schedule of control actions is generated based at least in part on a demand response control period associated with each of the control actions;
• determining whether at least one schedule conflict exists for a first control action and a second control action from the schedule of control actions, wherein execution of the first control action would cause the at least one device to operate differently than the second control action during the associated demand response control period;
• and
• sending control messages to the building automation system to execute the control actions for the at least one device according to the schedule of control actions for the demand response event.