U.S. patent application number 15/585100 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for energy-related information presentation system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Wendy Foslien, Thomas Gall, Paul Kleinhans, Joseph S. Majewski, Jake Mayher, Ayman Mohamed, Rob Trout.
Application Number | 20170235291 15/585100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44309570 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170235291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foslien; Wendy ; et
al. |
August 17, 2017 |
ENERGY-RELATED INFORMATION PRESENTATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A system and approach for diagnostic visualizations of, for
example, building control systems data. A focus may be on a
similarity metric for comparing operations among sites relative to
energy consumption. Normalizing factors may be used across sites
with varying equipment consumption levels to be compared
automatically. There may also be a high level overview of an
enterprise of sites. For instance, consumption totals of the sites
may be normalized by site size and length of time of a billing
period to identify such things as outlier sites. One may use a main
view of geographic distribution dynamically linked to subviews
showing distribution by size, by aggregated climate, and so on.
With these views, one may quickly drill through the enterprise and
identify sites of interest for further investigation. A key metric
may be intensity which invokes viewing virtually all sites by
normalized consumption for a unit amount of time.
Inventors: |
Foslien; Wendy; (Woodbury,
MN) ; Gall; Thomas; (Solon, OH) ; Trout;
Rob; (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) ; Mayher; Jake;
(North Olmsted, OH) ; Majewski; Joseph S.;
(Strongsville, OH) ; Kleinhans; Paul; (Cuyahoga
Falls, OH) ; Mohamed; Ayman; (North Royalton,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
44309570 |
Appl. No.: |
15/585100 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14059364 |
Oct 21, 2013 |
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15585100 |
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13015545 |
Jan 27, 2011 |
8577505 |
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14059364 |
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61336789 |
Jan 27, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 19/0426 20130101;
G05F 1/66 20130101; Y04S 20/244 20130101; B60H 1/00985 20130101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; G05B 15/02 20130101; G06Q 50/06 20130101; Y02B
70/30 20130101; F24F 11/62 20180101; F24F 11/47 20180101; Y02P
90/82 20151101; G06Q 10/06 20130101; H02J 13/00001 20200101; F24F
11/46 20180101; G05B 2219/39361 20130101; G01D 4/002 20130101; G05B
2219/2642 20130101; G05B 2219/23171 20130101; G05B 2219/2614
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/042 20060101
G05B019/042; G01D 4/00 20060101 G01D004/00; G06Q 50/06 20060101
G06Q050/06; F24F 11/00 20060101 F24F011/00; G05F 1/66 20060101
G05F001/66; H02J 13/00 20060101 H02J013/00 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. An energy-related information presentation system comprising: a
processor; and one or more detectors for obtaining data on
instances of heating, ventilation and air conditioning and/or
lighting equipment at one or more sites of an enterprise; and
wherein: the one or more detectors are connected to the processor;
the processor receives the data from the one or more detectors on
instances of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and/or
lighting equipment at the one or more sites; the processor outputs
a normalization of the equipment across the one or more sites based
on data on instances of the equipment; an instance of the equipment
is an TRU; the normalization comprises a directly measured quantity
of energy units divided by a product of a square footage of an
energy consumption site and a number of days in a billing cycle
represented by the directly measured quantity of energy units; and
a normalization output by the processor is calculated in units of
kWh/SF/Day.
8. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 7,
wherein the processor outputs automated anomaly detection based on
the normalization.
9. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 8,
wherein the processor evaluates abnormalities in operational
procedures of instances of equipment across an enterprise at the
one or more sites of the enterprise.
10. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 9,
wherein the processor provides normalizations based on a total
capacity of the equipment at a site.
11. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 10,
the processor compares sites against one another using
normalizations for each site.
12. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 7,
wherein: the data from the one or more detectors provide a basis
for a drill down to details of the heating, ventilation and air
conditioning and/or lighting equipment; and the processor provides
a normalization of the equipment across the one or more sites,
using data of instances of the equipment to build the
normalization.
13. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 7,
wherein the processor compares sites against one another, with a
normalization of an aggregation of the number of days in a billing
cycle represented by the directly measured quantity of energy units
by a count of instances of equipment for each site.
14. An energy-related information presentation system comprising: a
processor; and one or more detectors for obtaining data on
instances of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and/or
lighting equipment at one or more sites of an enterprise; and
wherein: the one or more detectors are connected to the processor;
the processor receives the data from the one or more detectors on
instances of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and/or
lighting equipment at the one or more sites; the processor outputs
normalizations of the equipment across the one or more sites based
on data on instances of the equipment; the data from the one or
more detectors provide a basis for a drill down to details of the
heating, ventilation and air conditioning and/or lighting
equipment; the processor provides normalizations of the equipment
across the one or more sites, using data of instances of the
equipment to build the normalizations; the normalizations each
comprise a directly measured quantity of energy units divided by a
product of a square footage of an energy consumption site and a
number of days in a billing cycle represented by the directly
measured quantity of energy units; and normalizations output by the
processor are calculated in units of kWh/SF/Day.
15. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 14,
wherein the processor provides the normalizations based on a total
capacity of the equipment at a site.
16. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 14,
the processor compares sites against one another using the
normalizations for each site.
17. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 14,
wherein the normalizations are used by the processor to evaluate
abnormalities in operational procedures across an enterprise of
instances of equipment at the one or more sites of the
enterprise.
18. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 14,
further comprising: a display connected to the processor; and
wherein: the display provides a visualization to support
identification of certain issues of a site among sites by a human
user of the sites; and a site comprises energy consuming
equipment.
19. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 18,
wherein: the visualization includes normalization factors to drive
the human user to a specific site of interest, and automatically
generate views of a highest priority site; the highest priority
site is the specific site of interest having a largest number
and/or biggest issues relative to the sites by the human user of
the sites; and an interest, a priority and/or an issue relates to
energy consumption at a site.
20. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 19,
wherein normalization factors are used to provide an approach for
the human user to compare a single site against other sites.
21. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 18,
wherein: a first element of the visualization is a link to a
calendar view for comparison of sites across days of week, weeks of
a month and/or weeks of a year; and a second element of the
visualization is a link to a detailed daily profile view for
analysis of an operation of pieces of energy consumption equipment
at a site level.
22. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 21,
wherein the calendar view further comprises weather data and a
scrolling and/or selection capability to provide navigation through
time and across sites.
23. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 21,
wherein: the calendar view comprises data of lighting and/or data
of heating, ventilation and air conditioning of the energy
consuming equipment; and the detailed daily profile view comprises
a simultaneous overview of data of heating, ventilation and air
conditioning and/or of lighting of pieces the energy consuming
equipment.
24. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 21,
wherein: the detailed daily profile view further comprises
highlights of individual operating stages of heating, ventilation
and air conditioning equipment and/or lighting of each piece of
energy consuming equipment over a daily period; and a capability
for a user to scroll through time for a specific site having stages
of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and/or
lighting at a level of sites.
25. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 18,
further comprising: a dashboard provided by the display; and
wherein the dashboard has one or more windows for viewing one or
more energy consuming sites where an energy consumption metric is
presented on a geographic map and the energy consumption metric is
coded via shape, size, shade and/or color to identify certain
deviations in the energy consumption metric.
26. The energy-related information presentation system of claim 25,
wherein: the dashboard further comprises one or more linking views
that provide contextual information about the one or more energy
consuming sites to a user; and the contextual information
comprises: a geographic distribution; a distribution by size; a
distribution by aggregated climate zone; and/or a distribution
across virtually all sites to reveal consumption in an overall
context of an enterprise of the sites.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional
Application Ser. No. 14/059,364, filed Oct. 21, 2013, which in turn
is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional Application Ser. No.
13/015,545, filed Jan. 27, 2011, and entitled "An Energy-Related
Information Presentation System", now U.S. Pat. No. 8,577,505,
issued Nov. 5, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/336,789, filed Jan. 27, 2010, and entitled
"Integrated Multi-Site Energy Dashboard". U.S. Non-provisional
Application Ser. No. 13/015,545, filed Jan. 27, 2011, and U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/336,789, filed Jan. 27, 2010,
are hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Non-provisional
Application Ser. No. 14/059,364, filed Oct. 21, 2013, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure pertains to energy usage and
particularly to an apparatus and approach for displaying
energy-related information.
SUMMARY
[0003] The disclosure reveals a system and approach for diagnostic
visualizations of, for example, building control systems data. A
focus may be on a similarity metric for comparing operations among
sites relative to energy consumption. Normalizing factors may be
used across sites with varying equipment consumption levels to be
compared automatically. There may also be a high level overview of
an enterprise of sites. For instance, consumption totals of the
sites may be normalized by site size and length of time of a
billing period to identify such things as outlier sites. One may
use a main view of geographic distribution dynamically linked to
subviews showing distribution by size, by aggregated climate, and
so on. With these views, one may quickly drill through the
enterprise and identify sites of interest for further
investigation. A key metric may be intensity which invokes viewing
virtually all sites by normalized consumption for a unit amount of
time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0004] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an apparatus used in conjunction with
accomplishing various aspects presented in the present
disclosure;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a processor with a display and user
interface, connected to an enterprise of sites;
[0006] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of activity for energy-related
information presentation systems;
[0007] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a dashboard-oriented energy-related
information presentation approach;
[0008] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a formula for calculating an alpha
factor;
[0009] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a formula for calculating a beta
factor;
[0010] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example an alpha calculation and
view;
[0011] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a formula for calculating another
alpha factor;
[0012] FIGS. 10a and 10b are tables of alpha and beta calculations,
respectively, for various sites;
[0013] FIG. 10c is a table of distances of other sites nearby a
noted site of interest in FIGS. 10a and 10b;
[0014] FIGS. 11a and 11b are diagrams of alpha calculations for
various sites for roof top units and lights, respectively;
[0015] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a daily lighting and heating,
ventilation and air conditioning system profile;
[0016] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a heating, ventilation and air
conditioning calendar;
[0017] FIG. 14 is a diagram of a lighting calendar; and
[0018] FIGS. 15-18 are diagrams of screen shots of an approach
utilizing a key metric of intensity to view customer sites by
normalized consumption.
DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an example apparatus 100 for obtaining,
processing and displaying energy-related information according to
the present disclosure. Other examples of the apparatus 100 may be
used. Apparatus 100 may be used to provide graphical user
interfaces, visualizations and dashboards for displaying
energy-related information according to the present disclosure.
Other kinds of graphical user interfaces, visualizations and
dashboards may be provided by apparatus 100.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 may incorporate a
processing system 102 for processing energy-related data and
generating graphical displays. The term "energy" may represent any
suitable utility, such as electricity, gas, fuel oil, cold water,
hot water, steam, or the like. The processing system 102 in this
example may incorporate at least one processor 104, at least one
network interface 108, and at least one memory 106. The processor
104 may process the energy-related data and generate the graphical
displays. The processor 104 may incorporate virtually any suitable
processing or computing component.
[0021] Memory 106 may be coupled to the processor 104. The memory
106 may be used to store instructions and data used, generated, or
collected by the processor 104. The memory 106 may, for example,
store the energy-related data collected and analyzed by the
processor 104 and analysis results generated by the processor 104.
The memory 106 may represent a suitable volatile and/or
non-volatile storage and retrieval device or devices.
[0022] The network interface 108 may support communication with
external components, such as an external database or external
sensors. The network interface 108 may, for example, receive
temperature readings from sensors, energy usage readings from
meters, or any other or additional energy-related data. The network
interface 108 may incorporate virtually any suitable structure for
facilitating communications over one or more networks, such as an
Ethernet interface or a wireless transceiver. Other connections may
be accomplished with an external connections module 116.
[0023] At least one item or display 110 may be coupled to the
processing system 102. The display 110 can present various kinds of
information to one or more users. For example, the display 110
could present one or more graphical user interfaces containing
graphs and/or other information related to energy usage. This may
allow, for example, energy analysts or other personnel to review
the analysis results and identify energy-related issues with an
enterprise or other entity. Item 110 may represent any suitable
display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray
tube (CRT) display, light emitting diode (LED) display, or other
type of visual information providing mechanism.
[0024] In the present examples, the processor 104 may perform
various functions for supporting the collection and analysis of
energy-related data. For example, the processor 104 may support
data input/output (I/O) functions with a data I/O module 114 to
support communication with other components, such as input devices
(like a mouse or keyboard) at a user interface 117 and output
devices (such as display 110). Processor 104 may also perform
collection functions with collection module 112 and detection
mechanism 115 to collect data related to the energy usage of one or
more enterprises. Processor 104 may further perform operations and
functions at an analysis module 113 to analyze collected data, such
as cost-savings calculations and normalization functions, and
perform other analyses and calculations. In addition, processor 104
may perform graphical user interface generation functions at GUI
generation module 111 to generate one or more graphical user
interfaces for presentation to one or more users. The contents of
the generated graphical user interfaces may depend, at least in
part, on the analysis performed by various portions of the
processor 104. Example graphical user interfaces, graphs, tables,
maps and the like are illustrated herein. Each of these graphical
presentations, visualizations, dashboards, and the like may be
implemented using any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or
combination thereof, shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] The apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be used in a larger
system, such as a process control system used to control one or
multiple industrial facilities. In these arrangements, apparatus
100 may communicate with sensors, controllers, servers, or
historian mechanisms in the process control system to gather data
for analysis. These communications may occur over Ethernet or other
wired or wireless network or networks. Also, in the illustrative
examples, apparatus 100 may represent any suitable device in the
process control system, such as a server or operator station. In
other illustrative examples, the apparatus 100 may analyze data
from multiple enterprises, and data for each enterprise may be
provided to the apparatus 100 or retrieved by the apparatus 100 in
any suitable manner.
[0026] In one aspect of operation, the apparatus 100 may analyze
energy-related data and provide graphical interfaces and
presentations based on the analyses to energy analysts or other
personnel. For instance, apparatus 100 may receive and analyze data
associated with various enterprises, such as for an entity having
multiple individual locations or sites. Also, apparatus 100 may be
used to analyze any suitable energy-related aspects of that domain,
such as energy financial costs, parameters, and so forth as
indicated herein.
[0027] In some illustrative examples, apparatus 100 may provide
improved data visualizations (graphical displays) for energy
analysts or other users, which may be useful in detecting and
diagnosing issues in energy use. For instance, a visualization may
integrate reports and graphs used by a user into a single
interactive display. Depending on an implementation, such
visualization may involve an integration of different displays,
linking of symbols to detailed information for specific sites
(areas, shapes, colors, shades, symbols, and so on associated with
energy usage), integration of histories, linking of views, and
providing time-based views. Shades may be instances of a grayscale
or variants of an intensity of a displayed color such as a
grey.
[0028] Apparatus 100 may also use a set of performance metrics in
the data visualizations, where the metrics serve to highlight
potential energy use issues at a site or other place. A user may be
able to select one of those measures, which may then be used to
drive an integrated display of charts. These metrics can be applied
to analyze energy performance over a user-selectable period of
time.
[0029] Although FIG. 1 illustrates an example apparatus 100 for
displaying energy-related information, various changes may be made
to the apparatus. For example, the apparatus 100 may include any
number of processing systems, processors, memories, and network
interfaces. Also, the apparatus 100 may be coupled directly or
indirectly to any number of displays, and more than one apparatus
100 may be used in a system. In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates one
example operational environment where the processing of
energy-related data may be used. This functionality could be used
with any other suitable device or system.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram of processor 104, with display 110 and
user interface (UI) 117, connected to an enterprise 125 of n sites
incorporating sites 121, 122, and 124 which represent site 1, site
2, and additional sites through site number n, respectively. Each
site may have a detection mechanism 115 connected to it. Mechanism
115 may obtain data relative to each of the respective sites,
pertaining for instance to energy consumption and the like.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram of example basic activity of an energy
related information presentation system. This activity may be
performed by apparatus 100 or other mechanism. Symbol 131 indicates
obtaining data on energy consumption at site equipment. Example
equipment may incorporate heating, ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC), and lighting. The data may be normalized with a dual layer
approach using alpha and beta factors, as indicated in symbol 132.
The normalized data may be used to compare sites as indicated in
symbol 133. The comparison of sites may aid, as indicated in symbol
134, in detecting abnormalities across an enterprise of sites.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram of activity of an energy-related
information presentation system. This activity may be performed by
apparatus 100 or other mechanism. Using a processor with a display
may provide a visualization to support identification of issues of
a site among sites, as indicated in symbol 141. Symbol 142
indicates using alpha and beta factors to drive a specific site of
interest. Then there may be a generating of views of a highest
priority site having the most and/or largest issues related to
energy consumption of an HVAC and/or lighting, as noted in symbol
143. A linking to a calendar view of energy usage for various
periods of time and profile views of HVAC and/or lighting energy
usage at a site level, and optionally incorporating weather data
may be performed, as indicated by symbol 144. According to symbol
145, there may be a scrolling and/or selecting through time across
sites individually or together.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram of activity for a dashboard oriented
energy-related information presentation approach. This activity may
be performed by apparatus 100 or other mechanism. A display of a
processor may provide an intensity map having a dashboard, as
indicated by symbol 151. Symbol 152 may note using views of one or
more energy consuming sites on a geographic map with an energy
consumption metric coded with symbols via shape, size, shade,
color, symbol, and/or other graphical distinction to identify
energy consumption amounts in an absolute, relative and/or
normalized manner. There may be a use of linking views with
information about one or more energy consuming sites where the
information may incorporate geographical distribution, distribution
by size, distribution by aggregated climate zone, distribution by
energy consumption, and/or so on, across an enterprise of sites, as
indicated in symbol 153. Symbol 154 notes that there may be a
making of selections in virtually any of all windows. A mouseover
in virtually all windows may provide details of each site
incorporating location of energy consumption, information about
billing associated with the energy consumption, and so on. A window
may be a screen or graphical presentation. One or more windows may
be on a display at the same time or at different times.
[0034] Various Figures herein illustrate example graphical user
interfaces, visualizations and dashboards for displaying
energy-related information according to the present disclosure.
Other kinds of graphical user interfaces, visualizations and
dashboards may be used.
[0035] Energy analysis services may be provided for customers that
have multiple sites located across the country. There may be an
effort to provide recommendations on how to better operate these
sites, using a combination of utility bill data, electric or other
utility meter data, control system operational data, and weather
conditions. A challenge in providing these services may be in
sifting through a massive amount of data to identify actionable
recommendations that can be implemented at the customer's site, and
to perform this activity in a cost effective manner.
[0036] Diagnostic visualizations for building control systems data
may be noted. A present approach may address analyzing the HVAC and
lighting systems at an individual site, and comparing their
performance against other sites and/or comparing them over time at
the same site.
[0037] A focus of the approach may be on a development of a
similarity metric to compare operations between sites, and
visualizations to support an energy analyst in quickly identifying
sources with issues in the HVAC and lighting systems.
[0038] The present approach may have a definition of normalizing
factors across sites, so that sites with varying equipment levels
can be compared automatically. These normalizing factors may be
called alpha and beta, and be defined on a per site basis. There
may be an approach for visualizing the normalizing factors.
[0039] There may be a use of HVAC and lighting data for a single
site in a calendar view. This view may allow an analyst to quickly
assess performance over time, and compare same day performance for
the same site. This view may facilitate an assessment of whether an
issue is persistent or sporadic. Other approaches may look at
individual trend plots.
[0040] There may be an incorporation of HVAC and lighting data into
a "birthday cake" view for each day. This view may allow an analyst
to develop a characteristic profile for a site, and use this
characteristic profile as a comparison within sites and between
sites.
[0041] In the present disclosure, one may have an approach to
normalize HVAC and lighting operations between sites. Essentially,
one may define a factor, called an alpha (.alpha.) factor, for each
stage of lighting or HVAC equipment, and for each piece of
equipment at the site. This may require that data be available in a
form that separates the pieces of equipment and stages of
operation. Then, for each of these stages and pieces of equipment,
one may define a daily period of operation, such as unoccupied
hours; and an aggregation period, such as one month. The alpha
factor may then be used to calculate the percentage of those
operation and aggregation periods where this stage of
equipment/lighting was activated.
[0042] Another step or stage of normalization may invoke collecting
virtually all of the alpha factors for a single site, and then
normalizing them by a number of pieces of equipment at that site.
The normalization may be referred to as a beta ((.beta.) factor.
For example, one may have alpha factors for eight rooftop HVAC
units at one site, and six rooftop HVAC units at another site. To
normalize between sites, one may sum the alpha factors and divide
by the number of units at each site. Thus, the beta factor may be
the fraction of time that that total site capacity was activated
during the aggregation period.
[0043] An example of a calculation for alpha and beta factors, and
an example of a visualization of alpha calculations across sites,
are shown herein.
[0044] The alpha and beta factors may be intended to either provide
an automated metric for comparison, or to assist the analyst in
identifying sites that are candidates for a further drill down.
[0045] FIG. 12 shows charts with site details with daily profiles
27 and 28 for HVAC and lighting, respectively. FIG. 13 shows an
HVAC calendar 31 with site details. FIG. 14 shows a lighting
calendar 32 with site details. FIGS. 12, 13 and 15 are data
instances with rough accuracy as examples for illustrative
purposes.
[0046] Once a site is selected for the further drill down, the
analyst may need views to support rapid identification of specific
issues in the HVAC and lighting systems. FIG. 13 shows the HVAC
calendar 31 for a specific site (2507). This visualization may be
used to illustrate the operation of the HVAC systems across the
aggregation period. In the view shown here, one may see the
operation of a single site across a one month period, and then use
this view to identify when heating, cooling and fan stages are
operating across the aggregation period. This may allow an analyst
to see an entire month's data in a single view, and rapidly
identify operational issues such as running HVAC systems during
unoccupied periods. A similar approach with a calendar 32 for
lighting systems is shown in FIG. 14.
[0047] Eventually, a daily detail view may be used as a bottom
level drill down into the data. As noted herein, FIG. 12 may show
the profiles 27 and 28 with details summarized in the HVAC and
lighting calendars 31 and 32 in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, but
at a finer level of detail for a single day, with each subsystem
charted individually.
[0048] One approach may involve a monthly site review. One may find
n outlier sites via meter data, utility bill data, or a "big three
report". For each of these outliers, the following items may be
done. 1) One may find m "similar" reference sites. A similarity
metric may currently be a distance between postal codes. One may
also incorporate a number of RTUs, total RTU tonnage, square
footage. 2) The similarity metric may be precomputed and stored in
a file in prototype, which could be a table in the warehouse or
other place. 3) The RTU data may be pulled up for the comparison
site, and for the m reference sites. For instance, total run time
may be evaluated during unoccupied periods, total run time may be
evaluated for all RTUs during occupied periods, and/or the metric
may be computed on an unoccupied comparison vs. reference and/or
occupied comparison vs. reference. 4) Lighting data may be pulled
up for the comparison site, and for the m reference sites. A
similar evaluation may be done as for the RTUs. 5) The results may
be comparison metrics, such as RTU run time (occupied, unoccupied),
LIGHTS run time (occupied, unoccupied) for each site, and so forth.
An approach may incorporate examining how the total run times for
this site compare to the reference sites. 6) Visualization of a
comparison and selected reference site may be shown. An approach
here may incorporate examining how the total run times for this
site compare to those of the reference sites. Examples may pertain
to RTU stages (heat & cool), fan status, lighting status, and
so forth. RTU may be referred to a rooftop unit associated with an
HVAC system.
[0049] An approach for normalizing RTU log data may be noted. A way
to normalize the RTU data may be needed, so that one can compare
across stores. This approach may be done in two stages: 1)
Normalizing at the equipment/unit level; and 2) Normalizing by
total site capacity. An assumption may be to work with a single
point for each normalized calculation, e.g., COOL 1. One may define
.alpha..sub.i,j,k=sum of run time for site i, stage j, RTU k, in
percent, across a specified time of day and date range for a
specific RTU divided by 100 percent*n hours*n days according to a
formula 11 in FIG. 6. This formula may represent the fraction of
time in the specified period, where this stage or fan was running
on a single RTU.
[0050] One may define .beta..sub.i,j=the sum of all
.alpha..sub.i,j,k for a site divided by the total number of RTUs at
this site. A formula 13 for the beta ((.beta.) calculation is shown
in FIG. 7. This may be the fraction of time that the total site
capacity for that stage which was on during the specified period.
One may then compare beta factors across sites. A beta factor
should virtually always have an associated time period and RTU
stage. For instance, there may be a time range (midnight to 7 AM)
and a state (unoccupied).
[0051] An example an alpha "a" calculation and view may be
considered. In FIG. 8, site 273 at location 14 of the Figure may be
compared with nearby sites 15, for instance, over the month of
November and at a period between midnight and 9 am. A size of a
circle may be proportional to the total amount of time running
during this period in the date range, which may be a numerator of
an alpha ".alpha." calculation with formula 11 in FIG. 6. A
question of which equipment is running for what fraction of the
time and what stage is running may be asked. It may be seen that
fan stages run regularly, with the "RTU10" running roughly 27
percent of the total time during this period, as indicated by a dot
16 and corresponding scale 17. SITE_ID (color or shade) and sum of
AlphaRTU (size) may be broken down by NTT_NM vs. SITE_ID and
DL_PNT_NM. The data may be filtered on a sum of LOG_VAL_FLT, which
includes values greater than or equal to 5.
[0052] An approach for normalizing lighting log data may be
considered. As with the RTU data, there may be a need for a way to
normalize the lighting data, so that one can make a comparison
across stores. One may assume to work with a single point for each
lighting category, such as, for example, employee lights. One may
define .alpha..sub.i,j=sum of run time for site i and lighting
category j, in percent, across a specified time of day and date
range for a specific lighting category divided by 100
percent*nhours*ndays as shown in the formula 12 of FIG. 9. This
formula may represent the fraction of time in the specified period,
where this lighting category was on. One may define
.beta..sub.i,j=the sum of all .alpha..sub.i,j for a site divided by
the total number of lighting categories for site i. This may
indicate the fraction of time that the total site lighting was on
during the specified period. One may then compare "0" factors
across the sites and lighting categories. A "0" factor may
virtually always have an associated time period and lighting
category. There may be, for example, a time range (e.g., midnight
to 7 AM) and a state (e.g., unoccupied).
[0053] Matlab.TM. may be used to calculate alpha (.alpha.) and beta
(.beta.) for the various sites as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b,
respectively. Example alpha calculations 21 for run hours may be
made for site having an ID of 2507 (i.e., site 2507) and other
sites, e.g., July 20XX, hours 12 AM-7 AM. Similarly, beta
calculations 22 may be made relative to the same sites. FIG. 10c is
a table 20 of distances of other sites nearby site 2507.
Information particularly related to site 2507 may be noted in FIGS.
12-14.
[0054] FIGS. 11a and 11b are views 23 and 24 of a calculations for
various sites for RTU alpha and lighting alpha, respectively. For
instance, site 2507 is shown at portion 25 of FIG. 11a in a darker
shade with sizes of circles proportional to alpha (.alpha.). It may
be noted that these results are not necessarily normalized for a
number of RTUs. Observations may be of RTUs with significant run
times and employee lighting with significant run times.
[0055] An approach may address a first step in identifying
actionable recommendations--using the available data most
effectively to identify and drill down to specific sites with
energy conservation opportunities, with FIGS. 15-18 being
considered.
[0056] The approach may provide a high level overview of the
enterprise, based on a key metric selected by an analyst. An
analyst may use monthly consumption totals normalized by site size
and number of days in the billing period to identify outlier sites
using a linked view. The main view may show the enterprise
locations mapped geographically, with the key metric and site size
mapped to a color or shade, and a shape of the icon representing
each site. The main view may also be dynamically linked to multiple
subviews that allow the user to simultaneously view the metric of
interest cast onto multiple dimensions, such as size group, the
climate group, and an overall histogram of the key metric.
[0057] With the multiple linked views, the analyst can quickly
drill through an enterprise, and identify sites of interest for
further investigation. Other approaches may use multiple static
tables to rank sites, and the present approach may be
differentiated from the others by both the geographic view and the
linking of multiple subviews for an additional dimension.
[0058] FIGS. 15-18 are diagrams of screen shots of an approach
noted herein. A key metric may be the intensity--viewing virtually
all customer sites by normalized monthly consumption.
[0059] Normalized by square footage, a number of days in the
billing period, and so forth, may result in kWh/SF/Day as a key
metric. For the main view and virtually all subviews, the key
metric may be encoded to a color or shade scale shown in the upper
right hand corner of each of the FIGS. 15-17. The main views 33, 34
and 35, respectively, show a geographic distribution, with multiple
subviews 41, 42 and 43 showing the distribution by size,
distribution by aggregated climate zone, and overall intensity
distribution across virtually all sites, respectively. One may
select sites in any window for highlighting across windows.
[0060] One may scope out climate and consumption zones by several
steps as in the following. There may be prioritization shown in
FIG. 15 with a billing example in terms of a map 33 and graphs. One
type of overview may be an intensity map which reveals viewing
virtually all customer sites by normalized monthly consumption.
Consumption may be normalized by square footage, number of days in
billing period such as by kWh/SF/Day. There may be the geographic
distribution, intensity distribution by size, intensity
distribution by climate zone, and overall intensity distribution in
subviews 41, 42 and 43, respectively, of FIGS. 15-17.
Identification of sites may be allowed for further investigation.
Sites may be selected in any window for highlighting across
windows. A mouseover in any window may give site details, such as
location, size, details on consumption and billing period, and so
on.
[0061] FIG. 16 shows an example of a selection by climate zone in
subview 42 one of the subviews, and the resulting linked
highlighting across other views. This concept may be known as
yoking. What may be noted in the present approach is not
necessarily the concept of yoking, but rather the use of the
enterprise energy data, combined with site location and other site
specific information, to aid an analyst in the task of identifying
sites of interest for further investigation.
[0062] FIG. 16 is a map 34 and graphs which illustrate selection by
climate zone. A climate zone window 42 may be used to drive
selections. One may see sites of interest across map 34 and size
distribution. Similar yoking may be done across subplots.
[0063] FIG. 17 shows an example of narrowing down to a specific
site of interest, based on this site being an outlier in its
climate zone. The climate view is shown in the lower middle window
42, and the most significant outlier for this climate zone may be
selected. One may see that by selecting the site in the climate
view, one will have identified its geographic location, and one can
see how that site may rank in the overall distribution in the lower
right hand window. One may also see how that site ranks compared to
sites of similar size in the lower left hand window.
[0064] A mouseover in virtually any window may give site details
(location, size, details on consumption & billing period)
[0065] FIG. 17 is a map 35 and graphs showing how to narrow down to
a site of interest. For instance, a question about where the high
consumption zones in climate zone 5 are located may be asked. One
may look at a meter and EMS details, and then compare these sites
to nearby sites to understand the causes for higher consumption. It
appears that a top consumer in zone 5 is site 2507, which may be
located for instance in Totowa, N.J. Normalizing calculations may
be used to highlight differences, and then one may drill down to
store level details, as the sites may represent, for example,
stores of a chain. A closer view of map 35 is shown in FIG. 18.
[0066] The following may be a recap. There may be automated anomaly
detection based on normalization (alpha and beta), along with drill
down to HVAC/lighting details. There may be a dual layer approach
to normalization across sites, using logical data to build the
normalization. This may incorporate the alpha and beta factors as
defined herein, and this act to normalize for multiple instances of
equipment within a site (e.g., multiple rooftop units).
[0067] The alpha factor may be used to normalize against "expected"
operation. The alpha factor may aggregates equipment run time
during a specified condition (e.g., unoccupied) over a specified
period (e.g., one month).
[0068] The beta factor may aggregates for virtually all equipment
on the site and normalizing based on total site capacity. The beta
factor may provide an approach to compare sites against one
another, by normalizing the aggregated alpha factors by a count of
equipment.
[0069] The normalization may be based generally only on the content
of the data, not other external factors. Alpha and beta factors may
be operational measures driven by the content of the HVAC and
lighting data, intended to evaluate abnormalities in operational
procedures across a large enterprise.
[0070] Visualization may be to support rapid identification of
specific problems by a human user. The visualization may be used
with or without the alpha/beta factors. In the case where
alpha/beta factors are available, the alpha/beta factors may be
used in several ways. First, the alpha/beta factors may be used to
drive the user to a specific site of interest, and automatically
generate views of the highest priority site. Second, the alpha/beta
factors may be used to supplement the raw HVAC/lighting information
and provide an approach for a human user to quickly compare a
single site against other similar sites.
[0071] A specific element of the visualization may be a link to a
calendar view for comparison across days of week and weeks of the
month and weeks of the year. The content of the calendar view may
be lighting data, HVAC data, or a combination of both. The calendar
view may also include weather data. The calendar view may have
scrolling and selection capability to support quick navigation
through time and across sites.
[0072] Another specific element of the visualization may be a link
to a detailed daily profile view for analysis of the operation of
specific pieces of equipment at the site level. This view may
incorporate a simultaneous overview of lighting and HVAC data for
grouped lighting functions and for specific HVAC units. The view
may highlight individual operating stages for each piece of HVAC
equipment over a daily period. The view may incorporate a
capability to scroll through time for a specified site.
[0073] An intensity map may be noted. A dashboard may be for
viewing multiple energy consuming sites where an energy consumption
metric is presented on a geographic map and the energy consumption
metric is coded via shape and/or size and/or color to identify
largest deviations in the metric. The dashboard may also
incorporate one or more linking views that provide the user with
contextual information, such as geographic distribution,
distribution by size, distribution by aggregated climate zone,
distribution across all sites to show consumption in the overall
context of the enterprise.
[0074] The dashboard may also provide an ability to make selections
in any window and have that selection linked across all windows.
Mouseovers in virtually all windows may provide additional
contextual details for each site relevant to energy consumption,
such as location, size, details on energy consumption and the
associated billing period.
[0075] A relevant document may be U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/259,959, filed Oct. 28, 2008, and entitled "Apparatus and Method
for Displaying Energy-Related Information." U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/259,959, filed Oct. 28, 2008, is hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0076] A relevant document may be U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/483,433, filed Jun. 12, 2009, and entitled "Method and System
for Providing an Integrated Building Summary Dashboard". U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/483,433, filed Jun. 12, 2009, is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0077] In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a
hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner
or tense.
[0078] Although the present system and/or approach has been
described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many
variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the
intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as
possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations
and modifications.
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