Award Recognizes R-Zero's Breakthrough HVAC Filtration Technology That Delivers Energy and Operational Savings Without Construction or Complexity
SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2025 -- R-Zero, a smart building technology company focused on energy and operational efficiency, today announced it was named "Most Disruptive Technology" at the Data Center World 2025 Innovation Challenge. The award honors R-Zero's turnkey approach to using smart filtration to provide energy savings and reduce operating costs with no construction, no downtime and no added complexity.
R-Zero was named "Most Disruptive Technology" at the Data Center World Innovation Challenge.
U.S. data centers now consume over 90 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually; more than 2% of the nation's total power use. This rising demand is straining the grid and driving up energy costs for commercial buildings across the country. Even a modest efficiency gain in HVAC performance can yield outsized results. R-Zero's smart filtration platform delivers up to 0.5–0.75% total energy savings at scale, translating to hundreds of millions in potential cost reductions — a low-friction solution that helps property owners and operators improve building performance without costly capital upgrades.
"This recognition validates what we hear from customers every day — facilities teams are under pressure to do more with aging systems, limited budgets and smaller crews," said Jennifer Nuckles, CEO of R-Zero. "Our mission is to turn air filtration into a strategic lever for operational improvement. With a quick swap of a standard HVAC filter for our smart filters, we help operators reduce energy use, avoid costly HVAC upgrades and streamline maintenance, all while driving measurable savings from day one."
Smarter HVAC Starts with Smarter Filters
R-Zero's proprietary filter media delivers the performance of a MERV 13–16 filter with the airflow efficiency of a lower rated MERV filter. The result is significant energy savings and reduced mechanical strain on HVAC systems — all without retrofits or disruption to daily operations.
Core benefits include:
- 10-15% fan energy reduction
- 2–3x filter lifespan, cutting down material and maintenance costs
- Lower static pressure to extend HVAC system life
- Drop-in compatibility with existing RTU and AHU racks
- Continuous indoor air quality performance and cost savings validation when paired with comfort and energy monitoring
Optimized for Energy-Intensive Environments
While R-Zero filters deliver value across all commercial building types, they're especially effective in energy-intensive settings like data centers, where HVAC systems run continuously to protect high-value equipment. By reducing static pressure and extending filter life, R-Zero helps facilities teams cut energy use and maintenance load, all without introducing new equipment, controls or construction.
R-Zero filtration also removes harmful particles and gases that degrade wiring and circuit boards — improving uptime, reducing maintenance and extending hardware life.
Designed for Operational Simplicity
Unlike traditional efficiency upgrades, R-Zero's filters require no new systems to manage and deliver a payback period under two years in most applications. The plug-and-play design empowers facilities teams to focus on performance, not complexity.
About R-Zero
R-Zero delivers a smart building platform that reduces operational costs, modernizes real estate portfolios, and drives tenant intelligence—without capital investment, operational budget commitments or added burden to staff.
Our shared savings model makes implementation effortless and risk-free. Real-time occupancy data optimizes ventilation, delivering fresh air where people need it and turning it down in empty rooms and floors. Combined with high-efficiency filtration, these intelligent adjustments cut HVAC energy use by up to 30% while improving comfort and air quality, verified by R-Zero air quality sensors. Our platform also delivers real-time insights into tenant and suite utilization, helping property teams predict lease renewals, reduce vacancy risks, and optimize capital improvements. Learn more at www.rzero.com.
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