System and method for calculating the thermal mass of a building

A system for controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

• one or more server computers comprising computer hardware, the one or more server computers configured to receive inside temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by at least one HVAC system;
• one or more databases that store the inside temperature measurements over time, the one or more databases accesses by the one or more server computers;
• wherein the one or more server computers are located remotely from the first location, the one or more server computers configured to receive outside temperature measurements from at least one source other than the HVAC system,
• wherein the one or more server computers are configured to calculate one or more predicted rates of change in temperature at the first location based on status of the HVAC system, and based on the outside temperature measurements, wherein the one or more predicted rates of change predict a speed a temperature inside the first location will change in response to changes in outside temperature;
• and
• wherein the one or more server computers are further configured to determine whether to direct the HVAC control system to pre-cool the first structure based on the one or more predicted rates of change prior to directing the HVAC control system to reduce electricity demand.