Green Building Retrofit [Postponed]
IOT Solution to Improve Air Quality in a Historic Building
Background
Problem: The Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPA), a non-profit organization, was created in 2021 by ten anchor arts organizations in Charlotte NC to create a much–needed space for artists to create, practice, exhibit, and perform their respective arts. The center is experiencing significant issues with its HVAC system, water pipes, roofing, and air quality. These problems are adversely impacting artists' quality of life, leading to health issues such as asthma and disrupted sleep patterns.
Solution: This project aims to provide real-time air quality monitoring of 5 major pollutants for the Vapa center then offer them green building retrofitting suggestions to improve living conditions. We will develop a dashboard that integrates live data from Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices installed throughout common areas, with the goal of getting the building to a healthy air quality index between 0-100.
Steps
Identification and Assessment: Collaborate with Vapa Center & artist learn about the current state of the building. Identify tenants that are experiencing the effects of the building's health. This will help target areas for immediate improvement and ensure the project's impact aligns with communities sustainability goals.
Procurement and Installation: Order IoT smart devices specifically designed to monitor air to get baseline metrics for each 5 major pollutant: Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10),Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Ozone (O3). Purchase a white-labeled IoT device platform capable of tracking all devices supporting LoRaWAN, a low-power, wide-area networking protocol that wirelessly connects battery-powered devices to the internet. This platform will serve as the backbone for data integration and analysis.
Retrofit: After knowing what our baseline metrics are in each room throughout the building we can begin to improve air conditions by ordering plants and air quality filters.
These activities will create a comprehensive smart building platform for Vapa Center, improving artists' quality of life and supporting Charlotte's sustainability initiatives.
A Successful Implementation
Demo (Pilot w. Innovation Barn)
We will determine the success of our project through several key metrics and evaluation methods:
Air Quality Index (AQI): AQI is a standardized measure used to indicate the level of pollutants in the air. The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, with lower values indicating better air quality. Achieving an air quality index between 0-50 meaning that the air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Real-Time Monitoring: The smart building dashboard will provide continuous, real-time data on GHG emissions and energy usage, allowing us to track improvements and identify areas for further action.
Scaling
To sustain the positive outcomes beyond the funding period, we will scale the project by selling the tool to other property managers, HOA’s leaders, and government sustainability leaders. This will generate revenue to maintain and enhance the platform while extending its impact to other cities needing help with reaching their climate action goals. Additionally, we will seek partnerships to support ongoing development and expansion. This strategy ensures long-term sustainability and continued positive impact on urban planning and community engagement.