JP2012088892A - Energy management server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an energy management server capable of continuously performing energy saving activities in the long term and providing the energy saving effects in a sustainable manner.SOLUTION: An eco race management server 102, or an energy management server, includes: a race information management unit 217 for storing eco race information necessary for executing an eco race; a race participation acceptance unit 214 inviting participants of the eco race; a user information management unit 218 for storing information on the participants; an evaluation data collecting/calculating unit 215 for periodically collecting information on an energy amount consumed at the household of each participant from a tabulation device provided on facilities of each participant via a network; and a ranking calculation unit 218 determining, at the end of the eco race, a ranking of the participants in the eco race based on the user information and information on the energy consumption.

Description

  The present invention relates to an energy management server that manages the consumption of electric power energy at home, and more particularly to an energy management server that enables continuous efforts to reduce the consumption of electric power energy at home.

  Currently, in order to prevent global warming, there is an urgent need to reduce power consumption and use green power such as solar power generation, geothermal power generation, and biomass power generation with low environmental impact. Against this background, in order to reduce power consumption at home, a number of systems have been proposed that improve the user's awareness of the environment and achieve energy savings (hereinafter abbreviated as “energy saving”). Has been. Furthermore, in recent years, proposals have been made for systems that place importance on how to continuously work on energy saving.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-163610 discloses an invention that aims to maintain an energy saving effect by providing an incentive for energy saving activities at home. The present invention registers participants in a management server for energy saving, and sets an energy saving target for each registrant. In this embodiment, the target is the energy reduction target calculated based on the difference between the previous year's energy usage record and the average value of the previous year's electricity usage of consumers in the same contract system in the same region. used. However, the method of setting the target is not one way, and the target is created in consideration of various circumstances.

  Then, the record of the energy consumption amount is recorded for the registrant, and points are added according to the achievement degree of the energy saving reduction amount with respect to the target. For example, it is 10 points if the reduction target of energy consumption can be achieved, and 5 points if 50% of the reduction target can be reduced. The registrant can purchase goods using the total of the points.

JP 2006-163610 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a target is set based on the difference between the average power consumption in the region and the power consumption in the previous year of the home, and points are given. This method has a problem that if the energy saving activity is repeated several times, the energy saving effect cannot be improved, and it becomes difficult to acquire points, and the user's motivation is lowered. In such a situation, each home may not be able to continuously engage in energy conservation activities. Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to understand what kind of merit is provided to a person who issues points. For example, when an electric power company issues points, the electric power company has an incentive to issue points for reducing consumption because the electric company earns enough to consume electric power. Although there may be advantages such as reducing capital investment by reducing the total power consumption and enabling the stable supply of power, they give points to continuous energy-saving activities. There will be no strong incentives. As a result, it may be difficult in the long term to maintain the above point grant system.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an energy management server capable of continuing an energy saving activity for a long period of time and continuously obtaining an energy saving effect.

  The energy management server according to the first aspect of the present invention is connected to an eco-race information storage means for storing eco-race information necessary for carrying out an eco-race which is a competition competing for the degree of energy saving, and connected to a network. Based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means, a participant recruiting means for recruiting a plurality of participants to the eco race corresponding to the eco-race information via the network, and recruiting participants An energy management server including participant information storage means for storing information relating to each of the participants recruited by the means. Each participant's facility is provided with a counting means for counting the amount of energy consumed in the facility. The counting means is connected to the network. The energy management server is further connected to a network, and periodically collects and stores information on the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility from the aggregation means provided at each participant's facility via the network. Based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage unit and the energy consumption information collecting / storing unit for storing the information, stored in the participant information storage unit in response to the end of the eco-race Rank determining means for determining the rank of the participants in the eco-race based on the information of the participants and the information on the energy consumption in each participant's facility stored in the energy consumption information collection / storage means Including.

  When the eco-race information is connected to the eco-race information storage means, the participant recruiting means recruits participants for the eco-race. Participant information is stored in the participant information storage means. In the eco-race, the totaling means provided in the participant's facility totals the amount of energy consumed in the facility. The collected information is collected and stored in the energy consumption information collection / storage means via the network. When the end of the eco-race arrives, the rank determination means determines the participant's information in the eco-race based on the participant's information and information on the energy consumption of each participant stored in the energy consumption information collection / storage means. Determine the ranking.

  Energy conservation activities are carried out in the form of competition among multiple participants. Since energy-saving activities are conducted in the form of competition, participants have a desire to get better evaluation than other participants. Therefore, the effectiveness of energy saving activities can be raised. Since eco-racing can be repeated, participants can always perform fresh energy-saving activities.

  Preferably, the participant information stored by the participant information storage unit includes an identifier of the participant and notification destination information regarding a notification destination on the network for contacting the participant via the network. Race information is based on the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility in the eco-race, according to the evaluation formula that specifies the evaluation method for determining the evaluation value for each participant, and the ranking of the eco-race. Bonus information related to the bonus provided to the customer. The rank determining means is based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means and responds to the end of the eco-race, and information on the participants stored in the participant information storage means and energy consumption A means for determining the ranking of the participants in the eco-race based on the information on the energy consumption in each participant's facility stored in the quantity information collecting / storing means and the evaluation formula in the eco-race information. Including. The energy management server is further connected to the network and each determined by the means for determining a rank in response to determining the rank in each participant's eco-race by the means for determining the rank. According to the participant's ranking in the eco-race, based on the notification destination information of the participant to whom the privilege is provided, privilege information notification means for transmitting the privilege information related to the corresponding privilege to the participant's notification destination is included.

  More preferably, the energy consumption amount information collecting / storing means is connected to a network, and information relating to the amount of energy consumed in each participant's facility is aggregated provided in each participant's facility via the network. Energy consumption collecting means for collecting periodically from the means, and energy consumption collected daily from each participant's facility by the energy consumption collecting means for each participant's facility from the start of the eco-race The energy consumption totaling means for accumulating, the energy consumption collected on the day by the energy consumption collecting means for each participant's facility, and the cumulative energy consumption accumulated by the energy consumption totaling means are stored. Energy consumption storage means. The energy management server is further connected to the network and the energy consumption storage means, identifies participants through the network, and responds to an inquiry about the rank in a certain eco race based on the eco race information. And rank return means for calculating the rank of the identified participant at that time and returning the rank.

  More preferably, the rank reply means is connected to the network and the energy consumption storage means, and the participant is identified via the network, and in response to the inquiry about the rank in a certain eco race, the eco race Means for calculating the current ranking of the identified participant based on the information and returning the ranking together with the total number of participants in the eco-race.

  The rank reply means is connected to the network and the energy consumption storage means, identifies the participant via the network, and responds to the inquiry of the rank to a certain eco race, Based on the information stored in the energy consumption storage means, the cumulative ranking based on the current cumulative energy consumption of the identified participant and the current day based on the energy consumption of the identified participant on that day Means for calculating the ranking and returning the cumulative ranking and the current day ranking may be included.

  Preferably, each of the counting means includes, among the total amount of energy consumed in the facility of the participant, the amount of generated power generated by the power generation resource that does not give an environmental load in the facility, and the amount of generated power Means for counting the amount of power consumed in the facility is included. The energy consumption information collecting / storing means is connected to a network, and through the network, the total energy consumed at each participant's facility and the power generation generated by the power generation resource that does not give an environmental load in the facility. Means for periodically collecting and storing the amount of electric power and information related to the amount of electric power consumed in the facility among the amount of generated power from the totaling unit provided in the facility of each participant. The judgment formula included in the eco-race information is based on the total energy consumption at each customer's facility, and is generated by a power generation resource that does not give an environmental load at the customer's facility and is consumed at the customer's facility. It is a formula which calculates the ratio of the amount of energy consumed.

  More preferably, the energy management server further includes means connected to the network for receiving the input of eco-race information from the eco-race organizer via the network and storing it in the eco-race information storage means.

  The energy management server is further connected to the network, and based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage unit, transmits the holding information regarding the eco-race before the start of the implementation period to each aggregation unit connected to the network. A holding information transmission means may be included.

  The computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention is an eco-race information storage for storing eco-race information necessary for carrying out an eco-race which is a competition competing for the degree of energy saving with a computer connected to a network. Participants for recruiting, via the network, a plurality of participants in an eco race corresponding to the eco race information based on the eco race information stored in the eco race information storage means It functions as recruitment means and participant information storage means for storing information on each of the participants recruited by the participant recruitment means. Each participant's facility is provided with a counting means for counting the amount of energy consumed in the facility. The counting means is connected to the network. The computer program further connects the computer to a network, and periodically transmits information on the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility from the aggregation means provided at each participant's facility via the network. In response to the end of the eco-race based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means and the energy consumption information collection / storage means for collecting and storing, the participant information storage means For determining the ranking of the participants in the eco-race based on the stored information of the participants and the information on the energy consumption at each participant's facility stored in the energy consumption information collection / storage means It functions as a rank determining means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the energy saving activity is performed in the form of a competition among a plurality of participants, the energy saving activity can be effectively performed, and the energy saving activity can be continuously performed. it can. As a result, it is possible to provide an energy management server that can continue the energy saving activity for a long time and can continuously obtain the energy saving effect.

It is a lineblock diagram for explaining an outline of an energy-saving promotion system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a more detailed configuration of a service server 101. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of an eco race management server 102. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of a HEMS device 103. FIG. It is a figure which shows the process until a service provider determines holding of an eco-race and registers the information of the eco-race held in the eco-race management server 102. It is a figure which shows the example of the information of an eco-race when the service server 101 requests registration to the eco-race management server. It is a figure which shows the basic information of the eco-race managed by the race information management part 217. It is a flowchart which shows the process in which a user performs participation registration to an eco-race. It is a figure which shows the structure of the user information memorize | stored in the user information management part of an eco-race management server. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program which implement | achieves the determination process of the order | rank during an eco-race period. It is a figure which shows the structure of participant information preserve | saved in the race information management part 217. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the evaluation value transmitted from the HEMS apparatus 103. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a program that realizes a process of displaying an order on the HEMS device 103; It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the order | rank in the HEMS apparatus 103. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program which implement | achieves provision of a privilege at the time of the end of an eco race, and the notification of the order | rank to a user.

  In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  This embodiment focuses on what is called an “eco-race”. Eco-race is not limited to electric power companies, solicits the participation of each household sponsored by any service provider, ranks the degree of energy-saving activities performed by each participating household according to a certain evaluation standard, This refers to a form of competition in which benefits such as prizes are given to each family. In the following embodiment, prizes are given to each household by a service provider.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the energy saving promotion system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed in each home with service servers 101, 101A and 101B, etc. managed by a service provider and registered for an eco race. HEMS (Home Energy Management System) HEMS devices 103, 103A and 103B that collect and manage the power consumption of each household device or room, the entire household, the amount of power generated by solar power generation, the amount of power sold, etc. And an eco-race management server 102 for managing an eco-race held by a service provider, connected to a home energy management system (HEMS) device 103 of each household. The service servers 101, 101A and 101B, the HEMS devices 103, 103A and 103B, and the eco-race management server 102 for the service provider to hold the 102 eco-race are all connected via the Internet 104. The eco race management server 102 is an example of an energy management server according to the present invention.

  In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding, it is assumed that the system includes a service server 101, an eco-race management server 102, and a HEMS device 103 as shown in FIG.

  3 to 5 show detailed configurations of the service server 101, the eco race management server 102, and the HEMS device 103 in FIG. 2, respectively.

<< Service Server 101 >>
Referring to FIG. 3, service server 101 is connected to communication unit 201 connected to Internet 104, race information registration unit 203 and race result acquisition unit 204 connected to communication unit 201, and race information registration unit 203. A race information creating unit 202 having the output, a privilege providing unit 205 having an input connected to receive the output of the race result acquiring unit 204, and an output connected to the communication unit 201.

  The communication unit 201 has a function of connecting to the Internet 104 and transmitting / receiving various types of information to / from the eco race management server 102.

  The race information creation unit 202 has a function of creating the contents of the eco race according to the input from the eco race organizer.

  The race information registration unit 203 has a function of creating information (eco-race information) necessary for holding an eco-race and transmitting it to the eco-race management server 102 together with a request for holding the eco-race.

  The race result acquisition unit 204 has a function of receiving a race result from the eco race management server 102.

  The privilege providing unit 205 has a function of transmitting information for acquiring a privilege to a target person who provides the privilege from the result of the eco race acquired by the race result acquiring unit 204.

<< Eco Race Management Server 102 >>
With reference to FIG. 4, the eco-race management server 102 is connected to the communication unit 211 and the communication unit 211, and receives a race request for eco-race together with eco-race information from a terminal on the Internet 104 via the communication unit 211. The event reception unit 212, the race participation reception unit 214 that is connected to the Internet 104 via the communication unit 211 and receives participation in the eco-race, and the HEMS device on the Internet 104 that is connected to the Internet 104 via the communication unit 211 Data for evaluation (evaluation will be described later) from 103 is periodically collected from 103, and an evaluation data collection / calculation unit 215 for calculating an evaluation value is obtained via the communication unit 211. A race information disclosure unit 213 disclosed on the Internet 104.

  The eco-race management server 102 further includes an input for receiving outputs from the race holding reception unit 212, the race participation reception unit 214, and the evaluation data collection / calculation unit 215, and an output connected to the race information disclosure unit 213. , A race information management unit 217 for storing eco-race information, and rank calculation for calculating the ranking of registrants by a predetermined calculation method based on the eco-race information and the evaluation data stored in the race information management unit 217 And a user information management unit 218 that is connected to the race information disclosure unit 213 and the race participation reception unit 214 and manages information related to the participants in the held race.

  The communication unit 211 has a function of connecting to the Internet and transmitting / receiving various information between the service server 101 and the HEMS device 103.

  The race event reception unit 212 receives an input of an eco race event request from the race information registration unit 203 of the service server 101 via the Internet 104, and whether or not an eco race can be held based on the eco race information transmitted together. Judgment is made. If an eco race can be held, the race information management unit 217 registers the eco race information related to the eco race.

  The race information disclosure unit 213 receives various information related to the eco-race from the service server 101 and the HEMS device 103, and among the eco-race information managed by the race information management unit 217, particularly those before the eco-race is held. It has a function to send information about the event.

  The race participation reception unit 214 has a function of receiving, from the HEMS device 103, a request for participating in an eco-race of a user who uses the HEMS device 103, and registering it as a race participant in the race information management unit 217.

  The evaluation data collection / calculation unit 215 periodically receives the evaluation data necessary for calculating the evaluation value used to determine the ranking of the eco-race from the HEMS devices 103 participating in the eco-race every day. Collected, based on participant information and eco-race information, calculates an evaluation value for each HEMS device 103, and has a function of registering the result together with evaluation data in the race information management unit 217. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the evaluation value is determined by an evaluation formula described in the eco-race information.

  The rank calculation unit 216 has a function of calculating the rank of eco-race from the evaluation values of all the users participating in a specific eco-race registered in the race information management unit 217 and registering it in the race information management unit 217. . In the present embodiment, the eco-race ranking calculation time is the end of the eco-race. However, as will be described later, if there is a request from the HEMS device 103 even during an eco-race, the rank of the HEMS device 103 at that time is calculated and the result is transmitted.

  The race information management unit 217 has a function of storing basic information regarding the eco-rac that is being held, participating users and their evaluation values, and ranking.

  The user information management unit 218 has a function of storing user information of the home where the HEMS device 103 is installed. Here, it is assumed that information of one representative per household is registered.

<< HEMS device 103 >>
The HEMS device 103 is a device for managing energy consumption at home, but has a display unit and an input unit as will be described later, and can receive an input from the user through a dialogue with the user.

  The communication unit 221 is connected to the Internet 104 and has a function of transmitting / receiving various types of information to / from the eco race management server 102. Although not shown in the drawing, generally, a gateway exists between a home network and the Internet 104, and the gateway is connected to a communication destination on the Internet 104.

  The display unit 222 allows a user such as a liquid crystal monitor to visually confirm information, and has a function of displaying information acquired from the eco race management server 102.

  The input unit 223 has a function for a user to input information to the HEMS device 103 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or a voice. This is used when the user operates the HEMS device 103.

The race information acquisition unit 224 has a function of acquiring information on the eco race to be held from the eco race management server 102. The rank information acquisition unit 225 receives the HEMS in the participating eco race from the eco race management server 102. It has a function of acquiring the current order of users who use the device 103.

  The race participation registration unit 226 has a function of allowing the user of the HEMS device 103 to send a participation request to the eco race to the eco race management server 102.

  The power information collection unit 227 has a function of collecting power consumption, generated power, power sales, and the like from each home appliance connected to the home and storing them in the evaluation information management unit. Here, the HEMS device 103 is connected to household appliances such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a TV, and a lighting device in a home, a distribution board, and a power conditioner device of a photovoltaic power generation system, It is possible to collect the amount of power consumed by the entire household, the amount of power generated by solar power generation, the amount of power sold, etc.

  The power information management unit 228 has a function of storing power information collected from the above-described home.

  The evaluation information notification unit 229 has a function of transmitting, from the power information management unit 228, power data necessary for determining the ranking of the participating eco races to the eco race management server 102.

<Program structure>
In FIG. 6 and subsequent figures, the process of implementing the eco-race and the control structure of the program for realizing it in the system described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows processing until the service provider decides to hold an eco-race and registers information on the eco-race to be held in the eco-race management server 102. Referring to FIG. 6, first, in step 111 (hereinafter, “step” is simply written as “S”), the service server 101 transmits information on the eco-race to be held to the eco-race management server 102 to register the race. Request.

  When the eco-race management server 102 receives the request (S112), the race holding reception unit 212 confirms whether the requested eco-race can be held. Specifically, whether or not there is any deficiency in the content of the eco-race information, such as whether the race implementation period is a period that can be held, whether evaluation information is described, privilege information is described (S113) Alternatively, it is confirmed whether there are too many registered races and the number of races that can be managed by the server has not been exceeded (S114).

  If the event cannot be held as a result of the confirmation, the service server 101 is notified of the failure to hold and the reason (S115).

  As a result of the determination in S113 and S114, if the race can be held, the eco-race management server 102 registers the received information as basic information on the eco-race in the race information management unit 217 and assigns a race ID (identifier). (S116). The race ID is a unique ID assigned to each race, and is used for identifying the eco race thereafter.

  The eco-race management server 102 further notifies the service server 101 together with the race ID that the registration of the race has been completed and ends the process (S117).

  With reference to FIG. 7, the eco-race information includes the following. Note that the eco-race information example shown in FIG. 7 is shown in XML format for easy understanding. Of course, the format of eco-race information is not limited to XML. However, in the XML format, the information of one eco race can be expressed by the <eco race information> tag, so it is possible to request the eco race management server 102 to register a plurality of eco races at once. The information necessary for the registration of the eco-race includes the race name, the organizer, the race implementation period, the evaluation method for determining the rank of the race, and the information on the benefits given to the race performance superior. In FIG. 7, these are all surrounded by a start tag and an end tag with corresponding names.

  For example, the evaluation method is sandwiched between an <evaluation method> tag and a </ evaluation method> tag. The evaluation method consists of a sentence described by the <description> tag for presentation to the user, an evaluation expression for obtaining an evaluation value described by the <evaluation expression> tag, and <evaluation data> Information of power amount data necessary for the evaluation formula described by the tag. In this example, the evaluation data includes the amount of power generated by solar power generation, the amount of power sold by solar power generation, and the total amount of household power consumption. The evaluation formula is “(photovoltaic power generation amount−photovoltaic power sales amount) / total power consumption × 100”. This formula shows the amount of energy consumed by the photovoltaic power generation apparatus that does not give an environmental load at the user's facility and consumed at the user's facility with respect to the total energy consumption at the home of each user. It can be said that the ratio is calculated.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, the benefits are classified by a <prize> tag and its rank attribute. A gift certificate of 10,000 yen is sent to the first user. A gift certificate of 3000 yen is provided to the second to tenth users. The <Prize> tag with ranking = “all” indicates that a 1-discount coupon is provided to all participants.

  Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a table for managing the eco race information shown in FIG. 7 by the race information management unit 217, and each entry of this table corresponds to one race. Each entry includes a race ID, a race name, an organizer name, a holding period, an evaluation method, and information related to a privilege. Each eco-race information stores each information described in the race outline shown in FIG. Each entry is given a unique race ID for each race, and is managed using this race ID.

With reference to FIG. 9, the process in which the user registers for participation in the eco race will be described.
Here, in this embodiment, it is assumed that a unique user ID is assigned to each household when the HEMS device 103 is introduced. Accordingly, the user information shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the user information management unit 218 of the eco race management server 102. Referring to FIG. 10, the user information includes a user ID, a name of a representative of the household, a contact address used for providing a privilege, and an eco race ID of the eco race in which the user participates. .

  Referring again to FIG. 9, first, the HEMS device 103 requests the race information acquisition unit 224 to transmit information on eco races that can be participated, to the eco race management server 102 (S141). The eco races that can be participated are typically eco races that are scheduled to be held but have not yet been implemented. Of course, other conditions may be added.

  In the eco-race management server 102, the race information disclosure unit 213 receives a request from the HEMS device 103 (S142). In response to this, it is confirmed whether there is information on the eco-race before the implementation period from the eco-race registered in the race information management unit 217 (S143). As a result of confirmation, if there is no eco-race that can be registered, the fact is transmitted to the HEMS device 103. The HEMS device 103 displays on the display unit 222 that there is no eco-rac that can participate (S144).

  If there is an eco race before the implementation in S143, the information regarding the eco race is transmitted to the HEMS device 103 (S145). The information to be transmitted has the same contents as the information shown in FIG.

  When receiving the race information, the HEMS device 103 displays the content on the display unit 222 (S146). The user can see the information and use the input unit 223 shown in FIG. 5 to perform an operation for participating in the desired eco-race.

  When an operation for requesting a race is performed by the user via the input unit 223, the race participation registration unit 226 specifies a race ID and transmits a request to participate in the race to the eco-race management server 102 (S147). .

  The race participation reception unit 214 of the eco race management server 102 receives this race participation request. The race participation reception unit 214 creates participant information for the user ID assigned to the requesting HEMS device 103 and the race ID in the participation request, and the race information management unit 217 stores the race in the participation request. It registers as participant information together with the ID (S148). Participant information will be described later with reference to FIG. When registration is completed, the race participation reception unit 214 notifies the requesting HEMS device 103 of completion of participation registration.

  In response to the notification of completion of participation registration, the HEMS device 103 displays a message of completion of participation registration on the display unit 222 (S149). The HEMS device 103 further stores, in the power information management unit 228, the race ID of the participating eco race and the type of power information that must be transmitted to the eco race management server 102 for evaluation. The type of necessary power information can be known from information similar to the <evaluation data> tag shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the program for realizing the ranking determination process during the eco-race period has the following control structure. In the present embodiment, an evaluation value is calculated for each HEMS device 103 at a predetermined time once a day for a certain eco-race, and the eco-race ranking (intermediate) is calculated based on the calculated evaluation value. Order) shall be determined. In the HEMS device 103, it is assumed that power information is collected from various devices in the home by the power information collection unit 227 every predetermined time and stored in the power information management unit 228. The total power consumption is collected from the distribution board, and the total generated power amount and the sold power amount of the solar power generation system are collected from the power conditioner of the solar power generation system.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the evaluation information notification unit 229 reads power data required for evaluation of ranking in the participating eco races from the power information management unit 228 at a predetermined time, The user ID and the race ID are transmitted to the eco-race management server 102 (S301). In the case of the eco-race taken up in FIG. 7, the transmitted power data includes the entire household power consumption, the amount of power generated by solar power generation, and the amount of power sold by solar power generation. FIG. 11 shows only one program on the eco-race management server 102 side. Actually, however, a separate process is running for each eco-race being executed, and the message is changed to an appropriate process based on the race ID. Sorted.

  In the eco-race management server 102, the evaluation data collection / calculation unit 215 receives the evaluation data from the HEMS device 103 (S302). The received evaluation data is added to the cumulative evaluation data of the corresponding race ID and user ID data of the participant information managed by the race information management unit 217, and the evaluation formula defined for the eco-race Is used to calculate today's evaluation value and register it in the participant information (S303).

  Further, the eco-race management server 102 calculates a cumulative evaluation value from the start of the race to today based on the cumulative evaluation data, and similarly registers it in the participant information (S304). This process is repeated until the collection of evaluation data from all user IDs registered in the participant information of a certain eco-race and the calculation of evaluation values are completed (S305). When the evaluation value calculation for today is completed for all participants in this eco-race, the ranking of each participant to today is calculated from the cumulative evaluation value of the participant information, and the ranking for today only is calculated from the evaluation value for today. Both are stored in the participant information (S306).

  Referring to FIG. 12, the participant information stored in the race information management unit 217 includes the race ID of the eco race in which the user is participating and the user ID. It is tied. Participant information further includes the cumulative ranking and today's ranking calculated from all the participant information of the same race ID, the cumulative evaluation value calculated using the evaluation formula stored in the race information, and the HEMS device 103. It includes the cumulative total of the received power data from the start of the race and the current evaluation value. Of course, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, as the participant information, the evaluation value of each user may be stored for all days during the eco-race implementation period.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of evaluation value information transmitted from the HEMS device 103, taking the race shown in FIG. 7 as an example. In this example as in FIG. 7, the evaluation value information is described in the xml format. This evaluation value information includes a user ID and a race ID, a date, and power data for evaluation. The evaluation data includes today's power consumption, today's power generation, and today's power sales.

  When the eco-race management server 102 receives this data, it adds these values to the cumulative evaluation data of the participant information associated with the user ID and the race ID. Then, the cumulative evaluation value and today's evaluation value are calculated. In the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, the evaluation value for today is obtained from the following equation.

(900-0) / 2000 × 100 = 45
Referring to FIG. 14, when executing the process of displaying the rank, the HEMS device 103 designates the user ID and the race ID in the rank information acquisition unit 225 and sends a rank transmission request to the eco-race management server 102. Transmit (S401).

  In the eco-race management server 102, the race information disclosure unit 213 receives the order information transmission request (S402). In response to this, based on the participant information of the race information management unit 217, it is confirmed whether or not the user with the corresponding user ID is a participant in the race (S403). If the user is not a participant in the eco-race, an error is notified (S404). The HEMS device 103 displays this error notification on the display unit 222. If the user is an eco-race participant, the eco-race management server 102 obtains the cumulative ranking of the user and the current-day ranking from the race information management unit 217, and sends it to the HEMS device 103 together with the number of race participants. Transmit (S405). The number of participants in the eco-race is obtained by counting the number of records having the corresponding race ID among the records of participant information.

  Referring to FIG. 15, the display unit 222 of the HEMS device 103 displays not only the user's cumulative rank but also today's rank. As a result, it can be seen how much energy is saved in the user's daily life compared to other households. Based on this display, the user can consider what kind of life should be done to further improve the subsequent ranking. That is, it can be used as a reference for a more energy-saving life. By analyzing each device using the power amount data collected by the HEMS device 103, it is possible to notify which setting of which device is problematic and effective.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, in the HEMS device 103, the rank information acquisition unit 225 receives this rank information (S406). In response to this, the display unit 222 displays the cumulative ranking and today's ranking (S407).

  Referring to FIG. 16, at the end of the eco-race, provision of benefits to the user and notification of the ranking to the user are performed as follows. In the present embodiment, the eco race management server 102 executes the following processing at a predetermined time every day for each eco race. The eco-race management server 102 checks whether or not the eco-race implementation period has ended (S501). If the eco-race implementation period has not expired, this process is terminated. If the implementation period of the eco-race has ended, the final ranking is determined from the cumulative evaluation values of all the users participating in the race with reference to the participant information of the corresponding eco-race (S502). The race information disclosure unit 213 confirms the rank that is the target of receiving the privilege in the eco race from the race information of the race information management unit 217, and acquires the user ID that is the target of receiving the privilege from the participant information. The race information disclosure unit 213 further acquires the name of the corresponding user and the information of the privilege notification destination from the user information management unit 218, and notifies the service server 101 together with the ranking information (S503).

  In the service server 101, the race result acquisition unit 204 receives information on the result of the eco race (S504). The privilege providing unit 205 of the service server 101 notifies each recipient of the privilege target in the received result information of how to receive the privilege and ends the process (S505). In this embodiment, the privilege providing unit 205 is provided in the service server 101, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The eco race management server 102 may notify the user of a privilege based on the race result.

  For example, it is assumed that the content of the privilege is as shown in FIG. The notification destination of the privilege is the email address of the representative of the household using the HEMS device 103. The privilege providing unit 205 transmits an e-mail in which a URL of a WEB page where a gift certificate or coupon can be downloaded, an ID and a password for accessing the URL, are registered to the e-mail address registered for the corresponding HEMS device 103. To do. The user who has received this e-mail accesses the URL and obtains a gift certificate or coupon. Such a structure can be easily realized by combining existing technologies.

  In principle, such benefits are borne by the eco race organizer. As will be described later, since there is a merit of holding an eco race for the eco race organizer, it can be expected that the amount will be appropriate according to the merit.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, coupons are also provided to all participants. In this case, if the coupon is to be transmitted by e-mail and the sender of the e-mail is an eco-race organizer, the eco-race organizer can obtain contact information for all participants. Since it is assumed that the eco-race organizer is a business provider that provides some service, the eco-race organizer can obtain new customer information. This is an incentive to host an eco race.

However, such a method may be undesirable from the viewpoint of personal information protection. In that case, the eco-race management server 102 and the service server 101 may be completely separated with respect to personal information. That is, a URL for providing a privilege is stored as race information in the eco-race management server 102, and the eco-race management server 102 notifies the URL to the privilege target person after the end of the eco-race. Since personal information of race participants is not given to the eco-race organizer, it is effective in protecting personal information. Even in this case, for example, a privilege that is particularly advantageous for purchasing a product of a service provider related to the eco race organizer as a coupon is given, or an advertisement of the eco race organizer is attached to the coupon. It is conceivable that the user who has received the action takes a consumption behavior advantageous to the service provider related to the eco-race organizer. Therefore, it can be said that there is a sufficient merit for the service provider to host the eco race.

  In the present embodiment, after the end of the eco-race, the final ranking can be displayed to the user by the same process as described in FIG.

  As described above, according to the system according to the present embodiment, a general household as a consumer of electric power participates in an eco-race hosted by a service provider and competes for energy-saving effects with other households. Can do. At that time, it is expected that energy saving activities will be enjoyed, actively and continuously by giving an incentive that some kind of privilege can be obtained as a result of the eco-race. The eco-race can be sponsored by the service providers individually, so that the participants can participate in each eco-race with a new feeling and can continue energy-saving activities.

  In the above embodiment, the eco-race organizer determines the method for evaluating the energy saving effect. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The eco-race management server 102 may prepare several evaluation methods, and an eco-race organizer may appropriately select among them.

  In the said embodiment, when the HEMS apparatus 103 acquires the order of an eco-race, it does not utilize especially about other information. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. You can also take the method of obtaining the difference between the evaluation of the higher-ranking participants and your own evaluation, and displaying how much you can save to improve the ranking. By stimulating a sense of competition in a good sense with other households, the user's awareness of energy-saving activities can be improved.

  In addition, it can be said that there is no possibility that a user in a lower rank will be able to advance to a higher position after an eco-race has been held for a while. As a result, there is a risk that participants will give up ecological activities if the acquisition of products becomes desperate. In order to avoid such a situation, the eco race organizer may hold a mini race limited to the participants during the eco race. For example, a special privilege is given by summing up the results in a specific short period such as a certain day during the period, or a score is given to a characteristic user by evaluating according to a different standard than usual You can also Daily benefits can also be given to users who leave excellent results every day. In this way, all users participating in the eco race can continue the eco activity until the end.

  During the race, an advertisement of the service business related to the eco race organizer may be exclusively displayed on the screen displayed by the HEMS device 103 for the eco race participants. By adopting such a method, it becomes possible for the user to understand the business of the eco-race organizer, and it becomes an advantage for the eco-race organizer to organize the race. Therefore, it can be expected that many eco races can be held by many eco race organizers.

  In the above embodiment, the HEMS device 103 acquires race information and, according to the description of the race information, acquires power information used for evaluation in an eco race from a distribution board or the like and periodically sends it to the eco race management server 102. Notice. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. In principle, the HEMS device 103 acquires information on the power consumption (generated power) of all the electric devices managed by the HEMS device 103. Therefore, the eco-race management server 102 may periodically acquire power data used for evaluation from the HEMS device 103 of each household.

  In the above embodiment, the eco-race management server 102 obtains an evaluation value by calculating with the evaluation formula defined by the eco-race information as shown in FIG. 7 based on the power data used for the evaluation. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The evaluation formula may be notified to the HEMS device 103, the HEMS device 103 may calculate an evaluation value according to the evaluation formula based on the power data, and only the evaluation value may be transmitted to the eco race management server 102.

  According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be achieved. In other words, in the above embodiment, the eco-race is performed based on the evaluation value for eco. Therefore, it can be said that the service provider who is the organizer of the eco-race is taking a serious approach to ecology, so that the company image can be improved. Furthermore, it can be said that the race itself contributes to energy saving, and it can be said from the evaluation value accumulated in the eco-race management server 102 how much environmental contribution can be made specifically.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

101, 101A, 101B Service server 102 Eco race management server 103, 103A, 103B HEMS device 203 Race information registration unit 204 Race result acquisition unit 205 Benefit provision unit 212 Race holding reception unit 213 Race information disclosure unit 214 Race participation reception unit 215 Evaluation Data collection / calculation unit 216 Rank calculation unit 217 Race information management unit 218 User information management unit 222 Display unit 223 Input unit 224 Race information acquisition unit 225 Rank information acquisition unit 226 Race participation registration unit

Claims (9)

An eco-race information storage means for storing eco-race information necessary for carrying out an eco-race which is a competition for conserving the degree of energy saving;
Participant recruitment for recruiting a plurality of participants to an eco race corresponding to the eco race information based on the eco race information connected to the network and stored in the eco race information storage means via the network Means,
An energy management server including participant information storage means for storing information on each of the participants recruited by the participant recruiting means,
Each of the participant's facilities is provided with a counting means for counting the amount of energy consumed in the facility, and the counting means is connected to the network,
The energy management server further includes:
Energy for periodically collecting and storing information related to the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility connected to the network from the aggregation means provided at each participant's facility Consumption information collection and storage means,
Based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means, in response to the end of the eco-race, the participant information stored in the participant information storage means and the energy consumption information An energy management server, comprising: ranking determining means for determining the ranking of the participants in the eco-race based on information on energy consumption in the facilities of each participant stored in the collection / storage means. The energy management server according to claim 1,
The participant information stored by the participant information storage means is:
The identifier of the participant,
Including notification destination information on the notification destination on the network for contacting the participant via the network;
The race information is
An evaluation formula that specifies an evaluation method for determining an evaluation value for each participant based on the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility in the eco-race,
According to the ranking of the eco-race, including information on benefits provided to each participant,
The rank determining means is based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means, and in response to the end of the eco-race, the participant information stored in the participant information storage means The ranking of the participants in the eco-race based on the information on the energy consumption in the facility of each participant stored in the energy consumption information collection / storage means and the evaluation formula in the eco-race information Including means for determining
The energy management server further includes:
Each participant connected to the network and determined by the means for determining the ranking in response to determining the ranking in the eco-race of each participant by the means for determining the ranking. An energy management server including privilege information notification means for transmitting privilege information related to a privilege to a participant's notification destination based on the notification destination information of the participant who provides the privilege according to the rank in the eco-race. The energy management server according to claim 1 or 2,
The energy consumption information collection / storage means comprises:
Energy consumption for periodically collecting information about the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility connected to the network from the aggregation means provided at each participant's facility Collecting means;
Energy consumption totaling means for accumulating the energy consumption collected from each participant's facility daily by the energy consumption collection means for each participant's facility from the start of the eco-racing;
Energy consumption storage means for storing the energy consumption collected on the day by the energy consumption collection means and the cumulative energy consumption accumulated by the energy consumption accumulation means for each participant's facility Including
The energy management server is further connected to the network and the energy consumption storage means, and through the network, the participant is identified, and in response to an inquiry about a rank in an eco-race, An energy management server including rank return means for calculating the rank of the identified participant at that time based on eco-race information and returning the rank.   4. The energy management server according to claim 3, wherein the rank reply unit is connected to the network and the energy consumption storage unit, identifies a participant via the network, and ranks in a certain eco race. In response to the inquiry, the rank of the identified participant at that time is calculated based on the eco-race information, and the rank is returned together with the total number of participants in the eco-race. An energy management server, including means for   4. The energy management server according to claim 3, wherein the rank reply unit is connected to the network and the energy consumption storage unit, identifies a participant via the network, and enters an eco-race. In response to the inquiry of the ranking, based on the eco-race information and the information stored in the energy consumption storage means, based on the accumulated energy consumption at that time of the identified participant An energy management server including means for calculating a cumulative ranking and a current ranking based on the energy consumption of the identified participant on the current day, and returning the cumulative ranking and the current ranking. The energy management server according to claim 1,
Each of the counting means includes a total amount of energy consumed in the participant's facility, a generated power amount generated by a power generation resource that does not give an environmental load in the facility, and the generated power amount. Means for summing up the amount of power consumed in
The energy consumption information collecting / storing means is connected to the network and is generated by the total energy consumed at each participant's facility and the power generation resource that does not give an environmental load in the facility via the network. Means for periodically collecting and storing the amount of generated power and information related to the amount of power consumed in the facility among the amount of generated power from the counting means provided in each participant's facility Including
The judgment formula included in the eco-race information is that the total energy consumption at each customer's facility is generated at the customer's facility by power generation resources that do not give an environmental load, and at the customer's facility. An energy management server, which is an expression for calculating a ratio of consumed energy.   The energy management server according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further connected to the network, receiving input of eco-race information from an eco-race organizer via the network, and An energy management server further comprising means for storing in the race information storage means.   The energy management server according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: an eco-system prior to the start of an implementation period based on eco-race information connected to the network and stored in the eco-race information storage unit. An energy management server, comprising: holding information transmitting means for transmitting holding information relating to a race to each of the counting means connected to the network. Computer connected to network
An eco-race information storage means for storing eco-race information necessary for carrying out an eco-race which is a competition for conserving the degree of energy saving;
Participant recruitment for recruiting a plurality of participants to an eco race corresponding to the eco race information based on the eco race information connected to the network and stored in the eco race information storage means via the network Means,
A computer program for functioning as participant information storage means for storing information on each of the participants recruited by the participant recruiting means,
Each of the participant's facilities is provided with a counting means for counting the amount of energy consumed in the facility, and the counting means is connected to the network,
The computer program further comprises:
Energy for periodically collecting and storing information related to the amount of energy consumed at each participant's facility connected to the network from the aggregation means provided at each participant's facility Consumption information collection and storage means,
Based on the eco-race information stored in the eco-race information storage means, in response to the end of the eco-race, the participant information stored in the participant information storage means and the energy consumption information A computer program that functions as rank determining means for determining the rank of participants in the eco-race based on information on energy consumption in each participant's facility stored in the collection / storage means.

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