Patent ID: 6860431

Claim:
A strategic-response control system for operation of an air conditioning system in an environment with increased power rates during a designated peak period, the air conditioning system including a power board for alternately operating the air conditioning system in an operating state and an “off” state, the control system comprising: a controller having a processor and a real time clock for coordinating operations of the processor with the timing of the designated peak period; an indoor temperature sensor electronically connected to the controller unit for generating an input signal to the processor representing the indoor temperature; an outdoor temperature sensor electronically connected to the controller unit for generating an input signal to the processor representing the outdoor temperature; and, an operating program having operating parameters including a maximum comfort level temperature, a minimum comfort level temperature and a warmup rate for the environment in which the air conditioner operates, and, having a processing procedure for determining a time period for precooling the environment before the peak period begins; wherein on activation, the processor determines a time period of precooling the environment before the peak period begins and signals the power board at the determined times to enter an operating state for precooling and an “off” state at the beginning of the peak period.