Category: Air Quality Monitor

Review: AIR-1 Air Quality For Home Assistant

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Breathe Easy and Tinker Freely: A Review of the AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor for Home Assistant

For the privacy-conscious and perfectionist homeowners who crave customization, the AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor by Apollo Automation is a breath of fresh air (literally). This sensor goes beyond simply monitoring air quality; it empowers you to take control of your indoor environment.

A little background about Home Assistant: Home Assistant is an open-source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of DIY enthusiasts. Think of it as Apple’s HomeKit with the ability for endless customizations.

Specifications

  • Particulate Sensor
  • CO2 Photoacoustic NDIR Sensor (Optional)
  • Gas Sensor MOS Package (CO, NO2, C2H5OH, H2, NH3, and CH4) (Optional)
  • TVOC Sensor
  • Temperature and Humidity Sensor
  • Barometric Pressure
  • 3 RGB LEDs
  • USB-C
  • WiFi 2.4 GHz
  • Bluetooth 5

All the specifications and sensor manufactures are listed here.

Built for the DIY Enthusiast

Unlike many smart home devices, the AIR-1 doesn’t lock you into a proprietary ecosystem. It leverages the open-source power of Home Assistant, giving you complete control over your data and how it’s used. This is perfect for those who want to tinker and integrate the AIR-1 into their existing smart home setup.

Unmatched Data Granularity

The AIR-1 isn’t shy when it comes to data. It tracks a wider range of air quality metrics than most sensors, including CO2, CO, VOCs, and multiple PM sizes. This detailed information allows you to pinpoint exactly what might be affecting your indoor air quality and take appropriate action. Keep in mind, that low-cost gas sensors have limitations as they are prone to cross-sensitivity.

Expandability at Your Fingertips

The modular design of the AIR-1 is a game-changer. You can build the device based on your needs with different sensor modules. This is a great way to keep costs down initially and tailor the system to your specific concerns.

Privacy First Design

With the AIR-1, your data stays local. There are no subscriptions or cloud dependencies. This means you can trust that your air quality information remains private and secure within your own home network. Users can download their data for further analysis with RStudio, MS Excel, etc.

Aesthetics Meet Functionality

The compact and sleek design of the AIR-1 ensures it blends seamlessly into any home environment. It’s small enough to be discreet but still provides clear and easy-to-understand color notification on its built-in LEDs array. By taking advantage of the Home Assistant you can control the LEDs not only based on sensor threshold but from other devices in your network. E.g. You can set the LED to blink RED color when CO2 or PM values are above the recommended, but you can also turn on the RGB LEDs when it is night and you want to illuminate the room or when any other sensor is triggered in your house.

My Thoughts

I like the design choices, especially the mesh that allows air from all angles to interact with the sensors. They don’t hide what is inside and air quality sensors need as much ambient air as possible to work properly.

This product is not for everyone though as it requires a Home Assistant server that can run on a cheap Raspberry Pi, on your computer, or a plug-and-play Home Assistant device. It is an additional cost if you don’t have one, but it is worth the investment if home automation is important to you.

I didn’t do any sensor comparison tests because I have already evaluated these sensors. They are suitable for this application.

The people behind the product know very well how IoT systems work and what is needed for a useful product, in this case, an indoor air quality monitor that doesn’t compromise. 

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a powerful, customizable, and privacy-focused air quality sensor for your Home Assistant setup, then the AIR-1 is an excellent choice. Its detailed data, modular design, and open-source integration make it a perfect fit for the DIY-savvy homeowner who prioritizes both clean air and control. AIR-1 is the definition of a modern IoT.

From Boom to Bust: The Great IoT Air Quality Recession

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

The once booming Internet of Things (IoT) air quality monitoring market is facing a harsh reality check. Fueled by a surge in AI startups attracting investments and a subsequent saturation of low-cost air quality monitors, the industry is experiencing a period of upheaval. This downturn, dubbed “The Great IoT Air Quality Recession,” is forcing companies to adapt or face extinction. I see many high-profile executives leaving previously thought innovative startups in the realm of air quality in search of a more “stable” future.

A Wave of Investment and Sensor Saturation

AI startups like ChatGTP and similar, promising to leverage the power of machine learning to generate content or analyze data, became investor darlings. This new influx of cash is fueling the decline of IoT low-cost air quality solutions.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the market quickly became saturated with low-cost monitors that promised that will fix indoor and outdoor environments. Buildings were filled with cheap monitors, but actionable insights remained scarce. The promised AI-powered analysis, in many cases, failed to materialize. Consumers were left with a plethora of data points with no clear understanding of what it all meant or what to do.

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Outdoor Air Quality Monitors 2023Q4

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

What’s new? Well, some clean up of discontinued monitors and some updates. In this list you will find ambient air quality monitors for experts who want to supervise and monitor air pollutants in cities and industrial sites, and commercial outdoor air quality monitors for homeowners who want to check the air quality outside their houses/apartments. 

Air pollution can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and even premature death. By monitoring ambient air quality, governments and individuals can take steps to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants and protect public health.

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Indoor Air Quality Monitors – Comparison List 2023 Q3

Sotirios Papathanasiou9 Comments

I know, I know I haven’t updated the list for quite a long time. The main reason is the lack of innovation lately. Also, many companies have shifted their attention and they have removed their products from the market as they don’t have the desirable sales. It doesn’t make sense for new companies to reproduce the same air quality monitors with the same sensors and technology inside over and over again.

I feel the saturation is noticeable nowadays. However, a change is happening and I see it unfolds in front of my eyes.

Anyway, remember there are two tabs; Air quality monitors for consumers (B2C) and for businesses (B2B). As always, I stay away from knockoffs and cheap products. An air quality monitor needs to function properly for 5 to 10 years depending the sensors − gas sensors tend to have a shorter lifespan. Keep in mind, it doesn’t matter how many sensors an air quality monitor has as long as the implementation has be done correctly.

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Tamagotchi for Air Quality

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

Do you remember the Tamagotchi from the 90s? A small and portable digital pet that you had to take care of in order to keep it “alive”?

Wouldn’t it be great to create the same pet but with the only difference that it breathes air and air quality information is taken into account in order to determine its survival chances? I think it will engage people and help them not to get accustomed to the presence of poor AQ. Poor air quality can be due to the presence of particle pollution but also high CO2 levels indoors which will make the character sleepy.

A while ago, I wrote a similar article on Gamification and Air Quality. Same approach but even more fun! Kids will definitely try to keep the character alive, and it doesn’t even require hardware as it can be an app on your phone. Outdoor air quality data are available all over the world, so there is no problem there, but we need to think about how to implement indoor AQ data into the algorithm that calculates Tamagotchi’s health. Remember we spend most of our time indoors.

In this case, a small wearable monitor would be the best. However, 3rd party companies with Indoor AQ monitors will need to give access to the application that runs the companion character. That way, the character can be updated and engage with the user more often based on real data.

A software service will rise here as the company that decides to commercialize such a feature will have to build something similar to what Amazon, ecobee, or Apple with HomeKit provides in order to feed the app with air.

I don’t like the name Tamagotchi a lot, plus there are some copyright issues there, so let’s name our character Nicholas from the titular character of my kid’s books. Nicholas has superpowers and can see particulate pollutants. I cannot imagine a better companion!

Review: Canāree by Piera Systems

Sotirios Papathanasiou6 Comments

This is a quick review of the Canāree. An indoor air quality monitor that you can carry around thanks to its compact size.

Specifications

  • 7-Bin Optical Particle Counter Sensor (PM1.0/PM2.5/PM10)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  • Temperature Sensor
  • Humidity Sensor
  • Air Pressure Sensor
  • USB-A
  • WiFi Module
  • RGB LED AQ Indicator
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Air Quality Monitors – Comparison List 2022 Q2

Sotirios Papathanasiou4 Comments

The famous list with all the available indoor air quality monitors is finally updated. In this version there are two tabs. Air quality monitors for consumers (B2C) and for businesses (B2B). As always, I stay away from knockoffs and cheap products. An air quality monitor needs to function properly for 5 to 10 years depending the sensors − gas sensors tend to have a shorter lifespan.

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Review: View Plus by Airthings

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

View Plus is the flagship air quality monitor from Airthings which was designed to address as many indoor parameters as possible and it complies with Green Building Certification.

The philosophy behind Airthings air quality monitors is simple. They try to make B2C and B2B clients’ life easy. One clear example is that all monitors, including the View Plus, work on simple AA batteries in order to avoid installation fees (from construction workers) and ugly cables running all over the walls.

Specifications

  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Laser OPC Sensor 0-500 μg/m3
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) NDIR Sensor 400–5000 ppm
  • Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) Metal-oxide Sensor 0-10000 ppb
  • Temperature Sensor
  • Humidity Sensor
  • Air Pressure Sensor 500-1100 mBar
  • Light Sensor
  • Hand Gesture Sensor
  • Noise Sensor 35 – 120 dBA SPL
  • E-Ink 2.9″
  • RGB LED Indicator
  • 6 AA batteries or USB-C
  • Mesh SmartLink and Bluetooth LE
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Review: Senstate Urban Air Quality Station

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

I was given the chance to review an air quality monitor from a European company that is located in one of the most contaminated countries with the highest concentrations of particulate matter − the notorious pollutant which causes premature deaths and many illnesses.

Each year during the cold winter months, Bulgaria has the highest PM2.5 concentrations of all EU-28 member states in urban areas (I have the chance to experience it in person in Sofia). The reason is wood and coal burning. Senstate Technologies SC is a Bulgarian company with experience in the field of environmental issues.

The Senstate Urban Air Quality Station is a versatile and configurable air quality monitor with cutting-edge technologies on board, I will give you more information about it in a hot minute.

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CO2 Trio Side by Side: Single Beam NDIR vs Dual Beam NDIR vs Photoacoustic

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

So many different types of sensors have become available in the market. For years we have seen and used Single (mainly) and Dual-Beam NDIR sensors for CO2 detection, but now another technology has surfaced, the Photoacoustic.

I decided to do a quick comparison of the different technologies in order to determine which one is the best and what are the differences if there is one. Price always affects the Bill of Material BOM, so we need to make a wise choice depending on the application of the sensor (commercial, real estate, industrial, scientific, etc).

Single and Dual Beam NDIR

CO2 is a gas with an asymmetric molecular structure that has strong absorption of infrared. This is the reason we use a Non-Dispersive Infrared NDIR sensor which is based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy.

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