FAQs
Your one-stop place for answers.
General
Q. What exactly does energy management software (EMS) do, anyway?
A. Energy management software collects, analyzes and communicates energy information in real time. Pulse™ enables you to quickly identify energy-wasting anomalies, engage building occupants in energy saving campaigns, and automatically create financial and environmental reports.
Q. Who uses Pulse™ software?
A. Pulse Energy has identified three main user groups: building occupants, facility managers, executives and owners.
The Dashboard view can be used by anyone, including building occupants, to view consumption in a simple format, compare buildings, translate consumption to emissions, or receive energy conservation advice.
The Management view can be used by facility managers to set alerts and identify operational improvements using more advanced curves and features.
The Reporting view can be used by executives to compare buildings and identify best and worst performers, calculate GHG emissions or financial data and demonstrate the savings as a result of conservation or efficiency projects.
Q. What if I want to show energy consumption to anyone?
A. Pulse™ has an option to display your Dashboard as a public webpage or it can be embedded in your organization’s webpage.
Q. Where can I use Pulse™ software?
A. As Pulse™ is web-based software, it operates anywhere with an internet connection.
Q. Is Pulse Energy hiring?
A. Pulse Energy is always looking for talented and motivated individuals. Check out the careers page for more info on specific job offerings.
Getting Started
Q. How much does Pulse™ cost?
A. Pulse Energy offers pricing on a per square foot, per building, per meter, or portfolio basis. Simple payback periods are usually in the range of 6 to 18 months.
Q. Who do I contact for more information?
A. For more information about Pulse™, submit your contact information here or call +1.778.331.0500.
Technical
Q. How do I install Pulse™ software?
A. Pulse™ is web-based software, which means all you have to do is log in to our online application. Pulse™ software can be configured and accounts can be set up in a matter of minutes.
Q. What kind of hardware do I need?
A. Pulse Energy has experience working with a many types of interval meters, as well as the most common BAS protocols and DDC systems. Let us know what you have, and we will help you figure out your best option.
Q. How secure is Pulse™?
A. Pulse™ is hosted on secure servers in both Canada and the United States, and is compliant with all relevant regulations including FOIPPA. We have implemented multiple levels of hardware and software security to ensure the protection of your information. Contact Pulse Energy if you still have concerns.
Customer Support
Q. Is any training required to learn to use Pulse™ EMS?
A. Pulse™ is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Our support team will help you get started and show you some common tools.
Q. Is training available if I need it?
A. In addition to our online help, Pulse™ support staff are available to instruct all users of the software. If you need more information about our advanced tools or how to make the most of Pulse™, we will arrange for training that best suits your needs.
Q. Where is the help section?
A. Most pages within the software have a “?”. It can also be accessed by clicking the Support link in the top right corner of every page in the software, and clicking the “Help” tab.
Q. How do I contact customer support?
A. On every page within the application, there is a Support link in the top-right corner. Submit this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also contact us at +1.778.331.0500.
Features
Q. How does Pulse™ know when my consumption is too high or low?
A. Pulse™ uses a complex algorithm, developed in conjunction with top scientists from UBC, Berkeley and Stanford to generate a Typical Curve for every building on the system for every minute of every day. The Typical Curve shows what a building’s consumption should look like at any given time, given a number of factors such as day of week, time of day, month, temperature and wind speed. Pulse™ can automatically send alerts via text or email when consumption varies too much from the Typical Curve.
Q. What sort of utilities can be displayed with Pulse™?
A. We like to say, “If it can be metered, Pulse™ can show it”. Pulse™ can display electricity, gas, steam, water and on-site generation, such as a solar array.
Q. Can I use Pulse™ to measure the savings from a retrofit or similar project?
A. Yes! The Business As Usual Curve (a curve which shows what energy consumption would have been, had changes not been made) can be compared against actual consumption. For a simpler model, a weather linear regression can also be used.
Q. What time intervals can be displayed using Pulse™?
A. Pulse™ can display daily, weekly, monthly or yearly views. The granularity depends on the metering in place, which is typically measured in 1-,5-, or 15-minute intervals.
Q. Can I upload existing data to Pulse™?
A. Pulse™ allows you to upload historical data from bills, csv files, or BAS outputs. This can be used for longer-term comparisons and trending, as well as unified reporting.
Q. Can I use Pulse™ data for other applications?
A. Pulse™ Charts and Reports can be exported to common applications such as Excel. Reports can also be printed.
Post Installation
Q. What is the Typical Curve?
A. The Typical Curve represents how a building typically performs under similar conditions. It is based on historical behavior and correlates with weather conditions, time of day, day of week, month, season, and other available variables such as occupancy rate. More specifically, a typical curve predicts the readings of a Point based on a number of variables, some of which you can define and some of which are used automatically by the system.
Q. How do I use the software?
A. The help files contain step-by-step instructions on how you can best use and customize the software for your use.
Q. When can I start using the software?
A. Once installation and setup are complete, a Pulse Energy representative will send you an invite to create a login to the software.
Q. How do I create a conversion or calculated point, charts, reports, etc?
A. The help files contain step-by-step instructions on how to use Pulse™ and are located here.
Q. Who should I contact if I have any problems?
A. If you have any problems, contact your Pulse Energy representative, or simply send us a message by clicking on Support at the top right hand corner of Pulse™.