Laboratories are some of the highest energy-use spaces in buildings, largely due to ventilation requirements that protect occupant safety. RDH delivered a research publication for CSA Group examining where standards-based approaches can help improve energy performance in labs while maintaining safety and operational reliability. The work focused on how ventilation strategies, controls, and heat-recovery technologies interact, and where consistent guidance could support better decision-making across the industry.
What Stood Out
Reducing baseline ventilation demand goes a long way.
Clear minimum airflow expectations help teams avoid oversized or overly conservative systems.
Controls and monitoring create meaningful savings.
Condition-based or sensor-driven strategies can reduce ventilation when paired with defined thresholds.
Heat recovery should be considered standard practice.
Well-designed heat-recovery systems are highly effective in Canadian climates and offer energy-reduction potential.
Standards help build shared confidence.
Consistent expectations allow owners, engineers, and operators to adopt efficiency measures.
RDH’s study provides practical insights that help designers and owners understand which strategies are viable, where the biggest gains are, and how to move toward higher-performing laboratory environments across Canada.
Download the full CSA Group research report: Assessing Standards-Based Solutions for Energy Efficiency of Laboratory Systems and Controls in Canada – CSA Group for detailed, standards-aligned guidance on improving the energy performance of laboratory ventilation systems and controls in Canada.