Aircuity Project 2021-2024

Aircuity is a centralized demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system that adjusts the amount of air brought into a space based on real-time occupancy and air quality, thereby optimizing ventilation and saving energy. Aircuity’s sensors take air samples and measure a variety of levels, including CO2, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and particulate concentration in each zone. This allows the Aircuity to continually adjust, communicate, and work with the central HVAC systems to establish required real-time ventilation rates in spaces. Air quality and room pressurization remain the top priorities, but they are achieved in an energy-efficient way.  The sensors are checked and calibrated twice a year.  

WCM worked with Aircuity and the design engineering firm Jaros Baum Bolles (JBB) to have the project reviewed and approved in advance by the FDNY. This was the first project of this kind to be approved by the FDNY in New York City.  

Between 2021 and 2024, the Aircuity system was installed on all lab floors within the Belfer Research Building (excluding the 16th floor that is designed for chemistry research), with estimated energy reductions of over 600,000 kWh in electricity and over 6 million lbs of steam annually (corresponding to 793 metric tons CO2 eq/year). The annual energy and cost savings, along with incentives from Con Edison, reduced the payback period of this project to less than 3 years.