The Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden, located in Glencoe, Illinois, is environmentally distinctive and has achieved a  LEED^® Gold rating for its  Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. This research facility opened in September 2009 and was recognized as Lab of the Year by R&D Magazine in 2010. The Center not only had to fit into the existing surroundings, it had to have minimal impact on the environment. By varying air change rates Aircuity provides both energy efficiency and safety for its lab facility. Aircuity’s OptiNet system allows for a variable air change rate, giving the Garden the assurance that the ventilation rates could be lowered by real time measurement of the laboratory environment, and increased airflow if contaminants were sensed, thus providing a safer and more energy efficient operation for their research facilty. The OptiNet system uses air sensing and measurement technology that continuously senses and analyzes lab room’s indoor environment implementing a demand based control approach to laboratory ventilation. Outputs to the lab airflow control system and the building management systems provide timely adjustment of the lab room ventilation based on the quality of the room environment. The OptiNet system will continue to leverage demand control ventilation (DCV) solution to significantly reduce energy use and overall costs in the facility.