Occupant-Centric Micro-Zone Control for Commercial Buildings

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems represent a major contributor to building energy consumption, yet conventional zone-based control strategies often fail to optimize airflow for dynamic occupancy patterns, leading to inefficiencies and compromised indoor air quality. Micro-zone control, an emerging technology, addresses this challenge by leveraging advanced sensors and smart dampers to enable real-time adjustments to ventilation, heating, and cooling, at a more granular level than traditional zone-based systems. Successful implementation of this approach could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support California’s climate and electrification goals. This study evaluated the real-world performance of micro-zone control across different HVAC configurations and occupancy conditions. Field demonstrations were conducted at two Southern California Edison sites: a college campus building equipped with a variable air volume system and a single-zone rooftop unit retrofitted for micro-zone control. Testing spanned 11 months at the first site and six months at the second, with data analysis incorporating regression modeling and California Climate Zone 8 weather files to estimate annual energy impacts. Based on field test data, annual electricity savings were estimated at 38% for Site 1 and 9% for Site 2. These results indicate that micro-zone control can reduce electricity consumption and peak demand during low-occupancy periods, while improving indoor air quality through continuous monitoring of CO₂, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. These findings highlight the potential for micro-zone control to enhance HVAC system performance, delivering both energy savings and healthier indoor environments. Broader adoption, supported by utility pilot programs and integration with Networked Lighting Controls, could accelerate market penetration and contribute to statewide energy and climate objectives, positioning micro-zone control as a scalable solution for advanced building energy management.