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Measurement and Control of Ventilation Rates in California Commercial Buildings

Minimum ventilation rates (VRs) in commercial buildings affect health, work and school performance, and energy consumption. Yet, minimum VRs are often poorly controlled and as a result, energy is wasted in some buildings that have excess ventilation. Indoor air quality (IAQ), health, and work performance are substandard in other buildings with insufficient ventilation.

Project "ventcon" aims to:
  • Determine and communicate how minimum VRs, and control systems for minimum VRs, affect energy consumption and IAQ in commercial buildings in California’s climates.
  • Identify practical and effective technologies for real-time measurement and control of minimum VRs.
  • Provide associated guidance to practitioners and information to policy makers.

This project was funded by California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program. Work was conducted (2014-2017) by Indoor Environment Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Link to Final Project Presentation (October, 2018).