Patent Document ID: 9417637
Application ID: 13828767
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for promoting energy efficiency in association with an HVAC system of a climate controlled enclosure, the HVAC system being controlled by a network-connected thermostat having a user interface controllable by a user, the method comprising: receiving a first HVAC schedule comprising a plurality of setpoints, each setpoint comprising an indication of a setpoint time and a setpoint temperature for the climate controlled enclosure; operating, over a period of time, the HVAC system according to the first HVAC schedule; measuring, over said period of time, an actual ambient temperature in the climate controlled enclosure; receiving an update corresponding to at least one of: a real-time setpoint change, a schedule change, and an occupancy profile, wherein the real-time setpoint change comprises a desired temperature for immediate implementation entered by the user using the user interface during said period of time, wherein the schedule change comprises at least one of (i) a change to the setpoint temperature or setpoint time of one or more setpoints of the first HVAC schedule, (ii) the removal of the one or more setpoints from the first HVAC schedule, and (iii) the addition of one or more new setpoints to the first HVAC schedule, and wherein the occupancy profile comprises indications over said period of time of whether one or more occupants is present in the climate controlled enclosure; processing said received update in conjunction with the first HVAC schedule to generate a second HVAC schedule representative of what would have been generated by an automated schedule learning algorithm operating over said period of time, wherein the second HVAC schedule is generated in the background based on the first HVAC schedule, the received update, and the automated schedule learning algorithm, the second HVAC schedule and the first HVAC schedule exist simultaneously, and the second HVAC schedule is maintained distinct from the first HVAC schedule; simulating the second HVAC schedule using a thermal model of the climate controlled enclosure; subsequent to said period of time, generating a cost difference indicator corresponding to a cost difference between an actual cost of operating the HVAC system according to the first HVAC schedule over said period of time and a hypothetical cost of operating the HVAC system according to the second HVAC schedule over said period of time based on simulating the second HVAC schedule using the thermal model of the climate controlled enclosure; and displaying said cost difference indicator to the user using said user interface.