WellStat, a building performance platform for energy management, indoor air quality and demand response, has integrated PointGrab’s occupancy-sensing technology to control heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) in commercial buildings based on how spaces are used.
The integration links the WellStat platform to real-time data from PointGrab, a developer of AI-based occupancy-sensing technology for smart buildings. Building systems can use this data rather than relying solely on fixed operating schedules.
PointGrab’s CogniPoint sensors use edge AI optical processing, analysing data on the device, to measure occupancy across office environments. The sensors provide anonymous occupancy data without capturing or storing personally identifiable information.
WellStat uses the data to adjust HVAC setpoints (target operating settings) and to implement demand-controlled ventilation, which varies ventilation rates based on occupancy. During demand-response events, the platform can use occupancy data to determine where to reduce electricity use.
HVAC controls adjust to office occupancy
Hybrid working means office occupancy no longer follows fixed HVAC schedules. Live data shows which zones are occupied and how many people are present in the building.
PointGrab had used its occupancy technology for HVAC control before the WellStat integration. In a Singapore office deployment, CogniPoint sensors were connected to the building management system (BMS), the central system that monitors and controls building services. An application developed for the project used real-time meeting-room occupancy to activate HVAC controls and adjust fresh-air provision according to room use. PointGrab estimated a 10% reduction in meeting-room energy consumption.
WellStat had also supported links between sensor data and building controls before the new integration. In 2023, the company said data from its platform could be made available to a BMS via an API or BACnet IP connections, with sensors used for demand-controlled ventilation and other control functions.
The May announcement cites industry benchmarks indicating 15–30% energy savings when HVAC systems use actual occupancy rather than fixed schedules. The figures are not results of the WellStat and PointGrab integration.
It also cites a 2025 Schneider Electric study at 150 Holborn, an office building in London. The research found average savings of 22% in operational energy use and carbon emissions in meeting rooms using occupancy-based controls. The calculation covered fan-coil operation, lighting and plug loads.
Occupancy data guides demand response
During a demand-response event, when a building reduces electricity use in response to grid or utility requirements, WellStat can identify vacant zones and prioritise load reduction there.
The companies say this can reduce the need to modify occupied spaces, helping to maintain occupant comfort and indoor air quality.
Occupancy-correlated energy data can also support environmental, social and governance reporting. The announcement says that sustainability teams can use the data to show whether energy-efficiency measures affected occupant comfort or indoor environmental quality.
The WellStat and PointGrab integration is now available. Both companies are also providing pilot programs lasting 60 to 90 days, focusing on specific operational floors, frequently used meeting areas, and key HVAC zones. These pilots aim to evaluate energy savings, indoor air quality compliance, and demand-response capabilities.
