The model behind ClimateOS is built to preserve the activities that happen in a city or region, such as:
- transporting people and goods
- heating and cooling buildings
- construction
- agriculture
- producing goods
What the model does is shift the impact of the operations these activities are carried out with - from a higher carbon to a low carbon operation. Therefore, the model suggests opportunities to satisfy activities without compromising the function that they serve.
To calculate and visualise these shifts we use Transition elements, which are built upon Carbon Causal Chains, that explain the relationship between using an operation to carry out an activity and the amount of emissions that it releases.
Each Transition element is
- A universal building block, meaning that you can "activate" all necessary Transition elements for your city in a modular way.
- Based on a strict mathematical model, making it possible to calculate the carbon abatement and primary indicators.
- Able to connect strategies and actions to the shift you are creating.
- Interconnected, meaning that it affects other Transition elements, and is affected by others (e.g. installing a heat pump is typically done in connection with retrofitting).
Explore Transition elements here.
The types of shift these Transition elements describe can generally be divided into four categories:
- Shifting the mechanism of operation (e.g. ICE vehicle to public transport)
- Reducing the operation needed (more remote working)
- Increasing efficiency (better driving or improved engine)
- Shifting the resource used (e.g. diesel to bio-diesel)