Patent ID: 7606639

Claim:
A method for reducing energy consumption of an appliance, the method comprising the steps of: providing an appliance actuation sensor configured to detect when the appliance is operational; monitoring the appliance actuation sensor for a predetermined monitoring period to detect a fractional run time, wherein the fractional run time comprises a fraction of a predetermined period during which the appliance is calling for energy; receiving a power reduction factor, the power reduction factor comprising a number of watts of consumption to be curtailed by the appliance during a predetermined period; obtaining a connected load value corresponding to the appliance; calculating an allowed energy consumption value from the fractional run time, the connected load value, and the power reduction factor; calculating an allowed run time responsive to the allowed energy consumption that ensures a reduction of consumption by the appliance of at least the number of watts of consumption to be curtailed during the predetermined period; and permitting the appliance to be operational in accordance with the allowed run time.