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CO2 Monitoring and Control

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In keeping with Western Michigan University's policy to meet LEED Silver standards for all newly constructed buildings on campus; WMU has selected it's College of Health and Human Services [CHHS] building constructed in 2005 as a test acility for technologies that meet ASHRAE 62.1-2004 standards for indoor air quality [IAQ]. WMU is committed to the overall health and wellbeing of the students, faculty and maintenance personnel who use our facilities. One of the technologies in use at CHHS to maintain indoor air quality are active CO2 sensors in each room throughout the building. These sensors monitor the buildup of carbon dioxide where large groups of people congregate such as classrooms. When these sensors are triggered, the Building Automation System [BAS] instructs the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning [HVAC] system to allow outside air to be circulated maintaining indoor air quality. Western is currently using an economizer strategy which minimizes the cost impact of ventilating with outside air while maximizing the quality of the air inside the building. When the testing stage is complete, the proven technology will be implemented in other buildings throughout campus.