Case Study: University of California, Berkeley achieves 7% annual energy cost savings with Vigilent Intelligent Energy Management System

UC Berkeley’s University Hall wireless HVAC retrofit brings the campus one step closer to its climate neutrality goal

The University of California, Berkeley faced persistent over‑ventilation and wasted energy in University Hall after campus monitoring found constant air volume fans running far above needed ventilation rates. To address rising electricity and natural gas use without disruptive ductwork changes, the campus selected Vigilent and its Vigilent Intelligent Energy Management System to retrofit the building’s HVAC controls.

Vigilent installed variable frequency drives, new premium‑efficiency motors, 120 wireless thermal sensors, two wireless gateways and a local Vigilent Artificial Intelligence Engine that integrates with the existing EMS to modulate fan speeds to match demand. The Vigilent system reduced annual energy use by about 93,100 kWh and 8,450 therms (saving roughly $21,500 or 7% of utility costs), cut peak demand by 40.4 kW, lowered emissions by ~73 metric tons CO2e, and achieved a roughly six‑year simple payback on the $176,000 project.

University of California, Berkeley

Lisa McNeilly

Director, Office of Sustainability