HVAC CONTROL SYSTEM ENCOURAGING ENERGY EFFICIENT USER BEHAVIORS IN PLURAL INTERACTIVE CONTEXTS

摘要

Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.

主权项

1. A system for efficient HVAC control comprising:
an HVAC control device that is configured to control an HVAC system to condition an enclosure, the HVAC control device having a walk-up display that displays information to a user, the display including a first energy efficiency icon that is displayed in response to an on-device temperature change corresponding to an increased degree of responsible energy usage of the HVAC system in conditioning the enclosure, the first energy efficiency icon being displayed to present immediate feedback to the user about the responsible energy usage of the HVAC system; said HVAC control device being remotely controllable by a mobile device having software that is configured to:
document an energy usage of the HVAC system for the enclosure during one or more historical periods; anddisplay a second energy efficiency icon for a period of the one or more historical periods when the energy usage of the HVAC system for the period is representative of an environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure; wherein said first and second energy efficiency icons are substantially visually identical in order to positively reinforce to the user the environmentally responsible behavior in conditioning the enclosure.