1. An apparatus for controlling peak demand of a system of energy consuming devices, the apparatus comprising: a first control node, coupled to a second control node via a demand coordination network, said first control node comprising: a node processor, coupled to a first energy consuming device, configured to operate the first energy consuming device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first local environment by cycling on and off; and a global schedule module, coupled to said first node processor, configured to coordinate run times for said first energy consuming device and a second energy consuming device, wherein the coordination is based on a replica copy of a global run time schedule disposed within said first and second control nodes, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing said first local environment, and an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second local environment.