Carbon Signal uses a combination of machine learning and physics-based modeling techniques to create calibrated baseline energy models and to simulate the impact of various decarbonization interventions. When you first upload data to Carbon Signal, it uses machine learning to rapidly identify the set of performance characteristics (insulation values, system efficiencies, etc.) that can explain the building’s energy use, given its size and location. Once the system finds the appropriate combination of values, it automatically builds an energy model using those values as inputs, and then runs the energy model using EnergyPlus, a simulation engine developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The model is also used to simulate the impact of each decarbonization intervention. For more information on Carbon Signal’s approach to analysis, see our Resources.
Each of these steps can take several seconds to several minutes to complete, and the time can also vary depending on the number of concurrent simulations and the compute resources available for processing data. Therefore, at any given time, a building can be in one of five states, shown in the Calibration status column on the Buildings page.
Status Definitions
- Not started: Calibration has not begun for this building yet. Buildings show this state briefly between being created and their first task being picked up.
- Queued: Depending on the compute resources that are available, Carbon Signal can only process a limited number of buildings at once, though the compute resources are designed to scale up or down to accommodate varying demand. If there aren’t any resources available to complete an analysis task, the task is put into a queue until resources become available.
- Running: Carbon Signal is running the calibration routine or the baseline simulation.
- Complete: Calibration and the baseline simulation have both finished. You can see the full analysis, including the end use disaggregation, the baseline utility estimates, and the intervention results.
- Failed baseline: The calibration or the baseline simulation failed, most often because of a timeout during the EnergyPlus simulation. To retry, open the building and click Refresh model on the Overview tab, or select the building on the Buildings page and choose More actions then Retry baseline.
From Upload to Results
Creating a building runs the whole pipeline automatically. Carbon Signal calibrates the model, simulates the baseline, simulates each intervention, and builds the reduction pathway, moving the building from Queued to Running to Complete without any action from you. There is no separate step to finalize a model.
If a building ends up in Failed baseline, you can restart it. Click Refresh model on the building’s Overview tab, or select the building on the Buildings page and choose More actions then Retry baseline.
