IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HVAC SYSTEMS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE METHODS
Keywords:
HVAC systems, Artificial Intelligence, Energy Efficiency, Commercial Buildings, Model Predictive Control, Reinforcement Learning, Indoor Air Quality, BMS, Hybrid ControlAbstract
This paper addresses the improvement of energy efficiency in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems within large commercial buildings. It discusses the development and implementation of an Artificial Intelligence AI control platform integrated into the existing Building Management System BMS. A hybrid control algorithm is proposed, combining Model Predictive Control MPC, Reinforcement Learning RL, and Trim & Respond heuristics. This approach solves a multi-criteria optimization problem: minimizing energy consumption while strictly adhering to thermal comfort and Indoor Air Quality IAQ standards. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated through a pilot implementation in a large shopping and entertainment center. The results indicate a 23% reduction in ventilation electricity consumption compared to the baseline scenario, while maintaining CO₂ levels and temperature within regulatory ranges. The findings are benchmarked against international studies, confirming the viability of hybrid AI strategies without the need for major equipment retrofits.
References
1. Aghili S.A., Olofsson T., Mahlia T.M.I. et al. Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Energy Management in HVAC Systems: A Systematic Review. Buildings, 2025.
2. Lee D., Lee S.-T., Kim B. et al. Artificial Intelligence Enabled Energy-Efficient Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System: Design, Analysis and Necessary Hardware Upgrades. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2023.
3. Gassar A.A.A., Jafar R. Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems Toward Zero-Emission Buildings: A Systematic Review of Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. Applied Sciences, 2025.
4. Ekanayaka Gunasinghalge L.U.G., Bandara H.M.N.D., Jayasinghe G.Y. et al. Artificial Intelligence for Energy Optimization in Smart Buildings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Energy Informatics, 2025.
5. Ali D.M.T.E., Motuzienė V. AI Applications in Buildings: A Review of Energy Management Advancements. Journal of New Technologies in Environmental Science, 2024.
6. Ali D.M.T.E., Motuzienė V. AI-Driven Innovations in Building Energy Management Systems: A Review of Potential Applications and Energy Savings. Energies, 2024.
7. Emedo C., Jones R.V., Patterson M. et al. AI-Driven Transformations in Smart Buildings: A Review of Energy, Comfort, and User-Centric Control. Smart Energy, 2025.
8. Taheri S., Amini M.H., Shafie-khah M. et al. Model Predictive Control of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems: A Review. Energy and Buildings, 2022.
9. Yang S., Drgoňa J., Vrabie D. et al. Lessons Learned from Field Demonstrations of Model Predictive Control and Reinforcement Learning in Buildings. Frontiers in Energy Research / arXiv, 2025.
10. Ali D. Data Challenges in AI-Driven HVAC Systems. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 2025.
11. Zhao Y., Wen J., Xiao F. Artificial Intelligence-Based Fault Detection and Diagnosis Methods for Building Energy Systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2019.
12. Zhou S.L., Li Y., Wang Y. et al. A Comprehensive Review of the Applications of Machine Learning for HVAC. DeCarbon, 2023.
13. Sustainability Education Academy. AI-HVAC Optimization in Smart Buildings: Guide. Sustainability Education Academy, 2025.
14. Xin X., Jiang Y., Wang S. et al. A Comprehensive Review of Predictive Control Strategies in HVAC Systems. Energy and Buildings / Building and Environment, 2024.
15. Michailidis P., Papantoniou S., Kolokotsa D. Model Predictive Control for Smart Buildings: Applications and Challenges. Buildings, 2025.
16. Rockett P., Hathway E.A. Model-Predictive Control for Non-Domestic Buildings: A Critical Review. Building Research & Information, 2017.
17. Bamdad K., Nik-Bakht A., Shahnazari H. Model Predictive Control for Energy Optimization of HVAC Systems in Office Buildings. Buildings, 2023.
18. Yang Y., Drgoňa J., Vrabie D. Optimizing HVAC Systems with Model Predictive Control. Frontiers in Energy Research, 2025.
19. Al Sayed K., Zaidan E., Psomas T. et al. Reinforcement Learning for HVAC Control in Intelligent Buildings: A Review. Energy and Buildings, 2024.
20. Xu S., Zhang S., Li N. et al. Efficient and Assured Reinforcement Learning Based Control for HVAC Systems. Scientific Reports, 2025.
21. Boutahri Y., Elmansouri M., Benhammou M. et al. Reinforcement Learning for HVAC Control and Energy Management. Information Retrieval Journal, 2025.
22. Yu L., Zhang X., Hong T. Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning for HVAC Control in Commercial Buildings. arXiv preprint arXiv:2006.14156, 2020.
23. Blad C. Reinforcement Learning Based Control for Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Systems. PhD Thesis, Aalborg University, 2022.
24. Gharbi A., Dhaou I., Hamdaoui F. et al. Intelligent HVAC Control: Comparative Simulation of Reinforcement Learning and PID Control. Mathematics, 2025.
25. Myrspoven, Schneider Electric. AI-Powered HVAC in Educational Buildings – White Paper. Myrspoven / Schneider Electric, 2024.
26. Analytika by Cimetrics. AI Powered HVAC Optimization – Cut Costs & Boost Efficiency. Online report, 2024.
27. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2023. Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), 2023.
28. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022. Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. ASHRAE, 2022.
29. ISO 7730:2025. Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment – Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Thermal Comfort Using PMV and PPD Indices. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 2025.
30. EN 16798-1:2019. Energy Performance of Buildings – Indoor Environmental Input Parameters for Design and Assessment of Energy Performance of Buildings. European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 2019.
31. Google DeepMind. DeepMind AI Reduces Google Data Centre Cooling Bill by 40%. Technical blog / case study, 2016.
32. BrainBox AI. Montreal Office Building Achieves Energy Cost Savings in First 5 Months. Case Study, BrainBox AI, 2020.
33. BrainBox AI. Holiday Inn Longueuil: Realizing Energy Savings with AI. Case Study, BrainBox AI, 2020.
34. Welcome.ai. Australian Mall Achieves 21% Energy Savings with AI HVAC System. Online case study, 2021.
35. Aegis Solvo Group, Byteflow AI Lab. AI Revolutionizes HVAC: 87 Educational Buildings in Stockholm. Blog / case study, 2024.
36. Siemens. Dynamic VAV Optimization (DVO) – 1111 Broadway Case Study. Siemens, 2019.
37. Business Action Bank. Enhance Building Energy Efficiency Through AI Automation. Online case study on a European commercial building, 2024.
38. Panorad.ai. HVAC AI Agents: How Smart Buildings Cut Energy Costs and Carbon Emissions. Blog article, 2025.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Bekhruz Azam, Sherzod Alimov, Vladimir Frolov, Gleb Alshanskii, Sultan Murzabekov
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
