By Diane Colabello, Senior Health and Safety Specialist
NYC Local Law 97 focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG).¹ Energy efficiency requirements are being phased in for NYC buildings beginning in 2024 in an effort to make the city carbon neutral by 2050. It is estimated that buildings account for approximately two-thirds of GHG emissions in New York City, and laboratories consume 5–10 times more energy per square foot than a standard office building.²
A primary reason a laboratory consumes so much energy is related to HVAC requirements. As a result, HVAC designs factor heavily into many green lab programs and laboratory sustainability efforts.
- The ventilation system of most office buildings is designed to provide about 1 air change per hour (ACH), while laboratories require 100% outside air and usually operate at 6 - 10 ACH.
- Also tied into the ventilation requirements, it is estimated that chemical fume hoods, a common fixture in many labs, use the equivalent of 3 - 3.5 times the energy of an average U.S. home.
As the campus expands, Weill Cornell Medicine is looking for ways to improve and minimize the institution’s carbon footprint. The Aircuity³ system functions to lower the energy burden of ventilation requirements in laboratories by incorporating smart ventilation designs. Aircuity is being utilized at several major institutions around the U.S. and NYC, and it is estimated that this system can result in 40–60% energy savings. The system incorporates a suite of sensors to constantly monitor air quality for CO2, particulates, temperature, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). By monitoring for TVOCs, Aircuity can allow labs to operate at fewer ACH compared to labs with traditional HVAC designs. The sensors also respond to fluctuations and can increase ACH when needed (e.g., in the event of a chemical spill).
Weill Cornell Medicine intends to use the Aircuity system as a pilot study in a new build-out project of the Belfer Research Building. As part of the design process, the Aircuity team analyzed chemical inventories intended for the new lab spaces and ran calculations to determine the new minimum ACH necessary to keep occupants safe. Compared to the traditional 6–10 ACH, Aircuity estimates that WCM labs can safely operate with 2-4 ACH with the use of this system and will help the campus stay safe while lowering energy consumption, saving money, and complying with Local Law 97.
Please watch this brief video to learn more about how the Aircuity system works.
References:
- Local Law 97: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainablebuildings/ll97/local-law-97.page
- DOE article Energy consumption in labs: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/29413.pdf
- Aircuity video: https://www.aircuity.com/platform/system-technology/