Energy submetering system

Claim 1

A method for submetering artificial energy consumption in a multi-user environment in which a central source services a plurality of individual users by means of individual space conditioning subsystems comprising the steps of: monitoring the time interval of the OFF segment and the time interval of the entire OFF/ON cycle for each cycle of each individual space conditioning subsystem; monitoring the temperature of each conditioned space to determine temperature decay function during the OFF segment and the actual space temperature at the conclusion of each OFF/ON cycle for each cycle of each individual space conditioning means; determining the total artificial heating or cooling energy supplied by each such individual space conditioning subsystem during each complete OFF/ON cycle according to the relationship Q=MC(T.sub.2 -T.sub.est) wherein: Q is the artificial heating or cooling energy; MC is the relative heat capacity of the conditioned space; T 2 is the conditioned space temperature at the conclusion of the ON segment of the control cycle; and T est is the theoretical extrapolated decay temperature at the end of the complete OFF/ON cycle; and utilizing the total artificial energy supplied by each individual space conditioning subsystem to determine the heat consumption of each such subsystem relative to all such subsystems served by said central source as a fraction of the total thereof.

Claim 2

A method for submetering artificial energy consumption in a multi-user environment in which a central source services a plurality of individual users by means of individual space conditioning subsystems comprising the steps of: monitoring the time interval of the OFF segment and the time interval of the entire OFF/ON cycle for each cycle of each individual space conditioning subsystem; monitoring the temperature of each conditioned space to determine temperature decay function during the OFF segment and the actual space temperature at the conclusion of each OFF/ON cycle for each cycle of each individual space conditioning means; determining the total artificial heating or cooling energy supplied by each such individual space conditioning subsystem during each complete OFF/ON cycle according to the relationship Q=MC(T.sub.2 -T.sub.est) wherein: Q is the artificial heating or cooling energy; MC is the relative heat capacity of the conditioned space; T 2 is the conditioned space temperature at the conclusion of the ON segment of the control cycle; and T est is the theoretical extrapolated decay temperature at the end of the complete OFF/ON cycle; and utilizing the total artificial energy supplied by each individual space conditioning subsystem to determine the heat consumption of each such subsystem relative to all such subsystems served by said central source as a fraction of the total thereof.

Claim 6

A system for submetering artificial energy consumption in a multi-user environment in which a central source services a plurality of individual users by means of individual space conditioning subsystems comprising: a plurality of remote monitoring units, one associated with each said space conditioning subsystem further comprising means for monitoring the time interval of the OFF/ON status of each individual space conditioning subsystem; means for monitoring the temperature of the conditioned space; master control means for interrogating each of said plurality of remote monitoring units receiving information therefrom, storing and processing said information and producing an output relative to the energy consumption thereof; 2-way communication means for enabling communication between said master control units and said remote units; and output means in communication with said master control means for reproducing an output relative to said energy usage.

Claim 7

A system for submetering artificial energy consumption in a multi-user environment in which a central source services a plurality of individual users by means of individual space conditioning subsystems comprising: a plurality of remote monitoring units, one associated with each said space conditioning subsystem further comprising means for monitoring the time interval of the OFF/ON status of each individual space conditioning subsystem; means for monitoring the temperature of the conditioned space; master control means for interrogating each of said plurality of remote monitoring units receiving information therefrom, storing and processing said information and producing an output relative to the energy consumption thereof; 2-way communication means for enabling communication between said master control units and said remote units; and output means in communication with said master control means for reproducing an output relative to said energy usage.