BrainBox AI Celebrates Automated Emissions Reduction Success in LEED Gold Certified Loyola University Building in Chicago
May 08 2024 - 9:00AM
BrainBox AI, a pioneer in autonomous AI technology for the built
environment, is pleased to announce the significant results of its
first Automated Emissions Reduction (AER) project in partnership
with WattTime and The UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment.
In March 2021, BrainBox AI announced that it would be collaborating
on a project funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, to help
buildings located in and around the Great Lakes reduce the mercury
and GHG emissions caused by their electricity use. Following the
news release, its AI for HVAC tech, layered with its proprietary
Automated Emissions Reduction (AER) algorithm, was deployed in one
of Loyola University’s newest flagship buildings located in
Chicago, Illinois. The goal of this deployment, using AER in
conjunction with WattTime’s Marginal Operating Emissions Rate
(MOER), was to reduce the energy consumed by the building, the
emissions resulting from that energy use, while also facilitating
the integration of renewable energy during increased congestion
periods.
As the percent of total energy production from renewables grows,
the need to manage energy distribution and consumption becomes more
and more critical to avoid wasted renewable energy. WattTime’s MOER
signal technology takes a granular view of electricity grids and
forecasts the times when local electric grid experiences a surplus
of renewables. During these congestion periods, transmission of
some of the energy generated by these sources is intentionally
reduced or stopped altogether. This act of letting this surplus
energy generation go to waste is often referred to as a
“curtailment”. Consequently, this phenomenon feeds the grid
concerns pertaining to energy supply along with environmental and
financial concerns related to the wasted renewable energy. The need
arises for a solution that captures and stores this surplus energy
to avoid this renewable waste. This is where BrainBox AI’s AER
algorithm steps in. When deployed, it turns the building’s HVAC
system into a thermal battery that can be charged on the renewable
energy that would otherwise be wasted and discharged later when
grid emissions are high. This unlikely battery is unlocked by an
AI-driven algorithm making it much cheaper than electric batteries
(e.g. Li-ion). It provides an elegant solution that turns buildings
into an asset for electric grids while also helping to accelerate
the growth of renewables.
“Our work on this project is a clear example of the impact that
our autonomous AI tech, combined with AER, can have in grid energy
management.” said Sam Ramadori, Chief Executive Officer at BrainBox
AI. “We are excited by the fact that Autonomous AI opens a new
chapter in building intelligence that unleashes greater
opportunities and capabilities to support our transition towards
full renewable energy.”
Over the course of a year, BrainBox AI’s autonomous AI-tech
worked inside the LEED Gold certified Schrieber Center, a 10-story,
150,000 sq ft. building on the Loyola University campus. In a
randomized controlled trial, the study compared three modes of the
buildings management system (BMS) in relation to each other;
results from the AER algorithm running paired with the BrainBox AI
HVAC optimization algorithms, had the most impactful result. It
showed that the building had achieved high returns related to CO2
emissions reductions, achieving a consistent 10% reduction in
HVAC-related energy costs and emissions annually as well as
reducing HVAC emissions by up to 15% during periods where
renewables were being curtailed on the grid, plus a four-hour
period after the curtailment ended. In addition, the test of the
deployed AER algorithm revealed that the building itself could work
as a viable unit for the storage of extra power during curtailment
periods. “We're thrilled to see BrainBox AI bringing automated
carbon reduction into existing commercial buildings.” said Geoff
Hancock, Product Manager at WattTime. “Equipped with this
technology, buildings can be a resource to better utilize
renewables on the grid, which promotes faster renewable
growth.”
In 2023, the results of this project were recognized by
U.S.-based Center for the Built Environment as well as in a new
ASHRAE Guide on the Role of Grid Interactivity in Decarbonization,
marking yet another milestone for BrainBox AI and its pioneering
technology for the built environment. “The Center for the Built
Environment is excited about this study, its findings, and its
potential as part of the solution to the challenges that the energy
grid currently faces.” shared Paul Raftery, Professional Researcher
at the Center for the Built Environment, University of California
Berkeley.
BrainBox AI has previously announced its work in this domain, in
pilot projects and other initiatives, most notably when it entered
and won the Tech for Our Planet Challenge at COP26 in 2021 under
another pilot project. It continues to push the research and
development of its AI-led technology further, driven by its mission
to save the planet with AI. For a more in-depth account of the
project and its results we invite you to read our case study.
About BrainBox AI
Founded in 2017, BrainBox AI was created to address two critical
issues currently facing the built environment: carbon emissions and
energy consumption. As innovators in the decarbonization movement,
BrainBox AI’s game-changing HVAC technology leverages AI to make
buildings smarter, greener, and more efficient. Through strategic
global relationships, BrainBox AI elevates real estate clients
across various sectors from office buildings and hotels to
commercial retail, grocery stores, airports, and more.
Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, a global AI hub, our
workforce of over 170 employees, bring with them talent from all
sectors with the common thread of being in business to heal our
planet. BrainBox AI works in collaboration with research partners
including MILA – Quebec AI Institute, the Institute for Data
Valorization (IVADO), as well as academic institutions including
McGill University. For more information visit:
https://brainboxai.com
Contact:
Liz Culley-SulloDirector, Public
Relationsl.culley-sullo@brainboxai.com