Patent ID: 9727063
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: F24F,G05B

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method performed by a computer system, where the computer system includes a processor for executing instructions from a memory, the method comprising: selecting a plurality of candidate thermostat set points; for each of the plurality of candidate thermostat set points, determining, using a processor, a predicted energy usage amount corresponding to the candidate thermostat set point; retrieving an actual energy usage amount from a server computer over a computer network, wherein the actual energy usage amount is associated with a customer; for each of the plurality of candidate thermostat set points, determining, using the processor, an error value corresponding to the candidate thermostat set point using the actual energy usage amount and the predicted energy usage amount corresponding to the candidate thermostat set point; for one or more candidate thermostat set points that are infrequently used by customers relative to other thermostat set points, increasing the error value for the one or more candidate thermostat set points by a penalty value; identifying, using the processor, an estimated thermostat set point by selecting, from the plurality of candidate thermostat set points, the candidate thermostat set point having the error value that is lowest relative to the error values of the other candidate thermostat set points; and generating and transmitting a message to the customer with information including the estimated thermostat set point to cause the customer to adjust a thermostat set point in a thermostat, associated with the customer, to the estimated thermostat set point.