Patent ID: 7644869

Claim:
A method of controlling an HVAC system installed within a building or structure, the HVAC system including a primary stage and an auxiliary stage, and a multistage controller for controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with a currently active temperature setpoint, the multistage controller having a user interface that allows a user to make a change to the currently active temperature setpoint resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint, whereby the multistage controller then controls the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a change to the currently active temperature setpoint from a user via the user interface of the multistage controller, wherein the change is not part of a programmed schedule, the change resulting in a changed currently active temperature setpoint; controlling the primary stage and the auxiliary stage to achieve a temperature within the building or structure that is in accordance with the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near a target time after receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint, the controlling step including: sensing the temperature within the building or structure; activating the primary stage if the sensed temperature is different from the changed currently active temperature setpoint; determining the target time to reach the changed currently active temperature setpoint; and achieving the changed currently active temperature setpoint at or near said target time while delaying or suppressing activation of the auxiliary stage, wherein the controlling step is initiated upon receiving the change to the currently active temperature setpoint from the user.