Demand-controlled ventilation (DVC) can save energy

Demand-controlled ventilation can save energy — but only when the building use case fits. DCV works best when occupancy changes a lot:

meeting rooms, classrooms, auditoriums, training rooms, and flexible office spaces. But it can backfire when teams treat CO₂ as the whole IAQ strategy.

 

Before implementing DCV, ask:

1. Does occupancy fluctuate significantly?

2. Are sensors calibrated properly?

3. Is this a high-risk IAQ space?

4. Are operators monitoring trends consistently?

 

CO₂ is a useful signal.

It is not a complete indoor air quality strategy.