Evaluation of real-life demand-controlled ventilation from the perception of indoor air quality with probable implications

•Real-time dynamic scenarios are investigated in the context of indoor environment.•The necessity of implementing CO2 mass balance Equation has been established.•A demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) resetting strategy is proposed.•The proposed approach demonstrates significant energy savings potential. The ventilation component is one of the critical parts in an heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) system and holds prime importance in ensuring operational efficacy and efficiency in terms of energy consumption and indoor environmental conditions. A true demand-based ventilation system with an economy air cycle not only offers reduced amounts of energy consumption but also can take part in a healthy indoor environment. This study provides true insight into the performance of a typical variable-air-volume air handling unit system under different operating conditions through a rigorous case study analysis in a real commercial building. To highlight pragmatic solutions to existing complexity within demand control ventilation strategies of the case building this study sets up real-time dynamic scenarios and investigates those scenarios in the context of indoor environment where both carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations are linked. To predict and monitor the indoor air CO2 concentration for the stated real time scenarios this study uses the mass balance equation for CO2 concentration. This study demonstrates that integrating the CO2 mass balance equation along with CO2 sensor data into the building management control system not only assists in reducing energy consumption but also takes part in a healthy indoor environment. This study suggests including the mass balance equation for CO2 concentration into the Australian ventilation standard AS 1668.2.