Patent ID: 8720791

Claim:
An adaptive-fan-control (AFC) communicating thermostat for controlling an electrical load and controlling an HVAC circulation fan during a load control event to interrupt and override fan operation according to an occupant-selected fan setting of the thermostat, the thermostat comprising: a temperature sensor that senses temperature of a space of a facility, the space receiving conditioned air from an HVAC system having an electrical load; an occupant-selectable fan control adapted to permit an occupant of the space to select one of a plurality of occupant-selected fan-control settings, the fan control configured to control operation of the HVAC circulation fan other than during a load-control event; a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the occupant-selectable fan control, including: a transceiver adapted to receive load-control messages over a communications network; means in communication with the transceiver, the temperature sensor, and the fan control for overriding the occupant-selected fan-control setting to operate the fan based on at least one of ductwork location, and ductwork length, and based on at least one of facility conditions, occupant settings, predetermined utility-managed load-control factors, and an override mode thereby changing operation of the fan during the load-control event and maximizing occupant comfort in the space of the facility.