Healthy Indoors
53
Aircuity Components http://www.aircuity.com/technology/
optinet-components/
Aircuity Operations http://www.aircuity.com/technology/
optinet-operation/
Efforts to accurately quantify NU total laboratory ener-
gy savings are continuing. NU also uses the data delivered
through Aircuity Advisor Services to diagnosing any air
quality or temperature related issues that may arise.
Current scope
As of spring 2017, on the Evanston campus, there were
about 130 laboratory rooms equipped with an Aircuity sys-
tem. The Chicago campus has 370 labs equipped. A total of
34 Aircuity sensor suites were installed.
Evanston
• Pancoe, 2 systems
• Cook Hall, 4 systems
Chicago
• Feinberg SOM (various floor remodels, WMA Engi-
neering), 5 systems
• Ward/Searle/Tarry/Lurie (NORESCO Energy Conser-
vation Project), 23 systems
8
Two more Aircuity sensor suites are planned for the Evanston
Pancoe vivarium.
Transparent communication
Transparent communication with the laboratory users is import-
ant as most of the sensors and control elements are hidden
from view. Additional touch screens were installed in labora-
tories to provide feedback on current ventilation settings. Re-
searcher adherence to operational limits are more important in
laboratories where the air change rates can be below 4 ACH.
8. http://flowtechinc.com/aircuity-monitor-february-2017-newsletter/
over-ventilated. In the rare case of a spill or release, no
extra clearance ventilation is provided.
NU History
In 2010, the first Aircuity system was installed to monitor
air quality related to use of a heat wheel. In 2012, Noresco
implemented an energy conservation project for the Chica-
go campus research buildings. Through WMA consulting
engineers, Aircuity was implemented on various lab floor
remodels. In 2013, Facilities began coordinating Aircuity in-
stallations on the Evanston campus in Cook Hall and Pan-
coe science buildings. Installations were completed in 2015
and 2016.
In 2011, NU committed over $40 million as a part of the
Northwestern Energy Retrofit Fund (NERF) to gas and
energy conservation projects across the two campuses
6
.
This commitment to energy efficiency has decreased the
amount of electricity purchased from the grid by almost five
percent, even as the square footage of occupied space has
increased.
7
The Aircuity Analysis Station monitors laboratory air
quality parameters of TVOC and particulate and the Lab-
oratory Airflow Control System (LACS), Phoenix Controls,
monitors occupancy via ceiling mounted occupancy sen-
sors. The information collected dynamically controls ven-
tilation rates. The intelligent system adjusts the volume of
laboratory air exhausted and respectively supplied within a
specified range – usually between 2 -12 air changes per
hour. This dynamically controlled system provides the least
amount of ventilation in an un-occupied lab (2 air changes).
It is able to provide about twice the traditional ventilation
rate in a detected release event (12 air changes)
6. http://www.northwestern.edu/sustainability/strategic-initiatives/energy/
energy-efficiency.html
7. http://www.aquaair.ab.ca/aircuity_main.html
