Patent ID: 8793021

Claim:
An air conditioner control method, comprising: determining a state for an associated energy supplying utility, the utility state being indicative of at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period; operating the air conditioner in a normal mode during the off-peak demand period; operating the air conditioner in an energy savings mode during the peak demand period; selectively adjusting and/or deactivating any number of one or more power consuming features/functions of the air conditioner to reduce power consumption of the air conditioner in the energy savings mode, including adjusting a setpoint temperature to precipitate less refrigeration system on time in the energy savings mode; and returning to the normal mode after the peak demand period is over; the steps of determining the state for an associated energy supplying utility and operating the air conditioner in the normal mode and the energy savings mode being carried out via an interface module connectable to a controller of the air conditioner and to the energy supplying utility, the interface module being configurable to match communication protocols of various utilities and enabling the air conditioner to be matched to the communication requirements of various utilities, the interface module mounting either integrally with or externally to the air conditioner.