Patent ID: 8712590

Claim:
A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising: at least one load control device at a first location, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “on” or “off”, and wherein the load control device comprises at least one microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network; a thermostat that is in communication with the load control device via the computer network, wherein the thermostat obtains temperature measurements of the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater; and one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive temperature measurements from the thermostat, and receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location from at least one other source, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate operational control instructions to the microprocessor in the load control device via the computer network; wherein when the microprocessor in the load control device turns the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “on” or “off” based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.