Category: CO2

The CO2 Debate: A Parallel to the Egg Dilemma

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

The discussion around carbon dioxide (CO2) in indoor air quality (IAQ) often brings up a fascinating parallel to another long-standing debate: the health effects of eggs.

The Indisputable Value (Eggs & CO2 as Proxies):

Just as eggs are widely recognized for their nutritional value – a powerhouse of protein, vitamins, and minerals – CO2 in IAQ assessment holds an undeniable, practical value. We know that CO2 levels are incredibly useful as a proxy. They effectively signal ventilation rates, which in turn are crucial indicators for the potential airborne transmission of diseases and the presence of odors indoors. In this sense, CO2 is a vital tool for understanding and managing our indoor environments, much like eggs are a staple in many healthy diets.

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Personal Exposure: Tracking Air Quality with Portable Monitors – 6 Months

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

This article documents my personal experiment tracking air quality exposure for 6 months using two portable, low-cost monitors: one for PM2.5 (particulate matter) and the other for CO2 (carbon dioxide). The experiment aimed to gain insights into personal exposure levels and understand the impact of lifestyle and environmental factors on air quality.

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Review: airCoda – Pocket CO2 Monitor

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Looking for a way to monitor CO2 levels on the go? The airCoda pocket CO2 monitor might be your breath of fresh air. This compact device features a photoacoustic NDIR CO2 sensors, a technology known for its small size and accuracy in measuring CO2 concentrations in any environment.

Why the airCoda?

  • Pocket-Sized Portability: Unlike bulkier CO2 monitors, airCoda’s small size allows you to easily carry it anywhere. Whether you’re checking CO2 levels in your office, classroom, or even your car, airCoda gives you the freedom to monitor air quality wherever you go.
  • Sensor Accuracy: Thanks to the integrated sensor, you can trust airCoda to provide reliable CO2 readings. This is crucial for making informed decisions about ventilation and maintaining healthy air quality.
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Review: AIRVALENT – The smallest CO2 Monitor

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

Since I caught COVID last month (for the first time after 4 years), I’ve become increasingly concerned about the air quality in the places that I visit or stay for a long period of time like an airplane. So, I decided to try out the AIRVALENT CO2 air quality monitor to see if it could help me identify badly ventilated indoor environments.

Why the AIRVALENT?

  • Smallest CO2 monitor available: If size is a major concern, the AirValent could be a good option as it can easily fit in your pocket while traveling.
  • Aesthetically pleasing design: The AirValent appears to have a sleek and modern design that can be customizable during the purchase process. Various colors and patterns to choose from.
  • Tracks CO2, humidity, and temperature: This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of your indoor environmental quality.
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Allows for data monitoring and analysis through a smartphone app.

Technical Characteristics of AIRVALENT

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Ventilation Is Not Always An Option & Ventilation Needs to Be Done Correctly

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment


Part 1: Ventilation Is Not Always An Option

Ventilation isn’t always an option in all areas and indoor spaces. Here are some key reasons why:

Environmental challenges:

  • Extreme weather: In very hot or cold climates, opening windows can be impractical or counterproductive. In scorching temperatures, opening windows might invite more heat in, while in freezing temperatures, it can cause heat loss and discomfort.
  • Air pollution: In areas with high levels of outdoor air pollution (e.g., traffic fumes, industrial emissions, wildfires), opening windows can actually worsen indoor air quality by bringing in the polluted air.

Space limitations:

  • Windowless rooms: Basements, interior rooms, and some commercial spaces like server rooms often lack windows, making natural ventilation impossible.
  • Small or airtight spaces: Tiny apartments, trailers, and even some modern, energy-efficient houses can be so tightly sealed that natural ventilation is insufficient.
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What Is COP26 & What Does It Mean For Our Climate?

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

COP26 stands for Conference of the Parties, which are the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 2021 meeting will be the 26th meeting. Initially, it was due to take place in Glasgow in Scotland in November 2020, but it was postponed for a year because of the COVID19 pandemic.

During COP26 governments will demonstrate their commitment by showing how they will keep global temperature rises below 1.5ºC, deliver money promised to countries on the front-lines of the climate crisis, and shift away from fossil fuels.

So far and after the Paris Agreement little has been done in order to reduce greenhouse emissions. The pressure governments receive is even greater than before because the climate crisis is already unfolding in front of your eyes as more and more people demand actions.

Global Warming

Many people with a lack of understanding for the term global warming just believe that some seasons will be warmer, so what! The term global warming has indeed misled the population for many years as it doesn’t describe the real scenarios of the alteration of the climate on a global scale. Today, there are many terms available trying to describe and help people understand better the severeness of the issue.

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Study: IEQ Assessment of Classrooms in Southern Spain

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

The aim of this paper is to give a review of the indoor environmental conditions in schools that are located in southern Spain as the climatological conditions tend to be middler and mechanical ventilated systems are not used in most cases either any kind of purification. There are many scientific papers that have documented the effects of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) upon productivity and performance within the workplace, but this paper is going to focus on the conditions and the means that are being used to control indoor air in public and private schools. Poor IEQ is known to be a factor causing health issues and has been connected with sick building syndrome (SBS) and reduced productivity (9% decrease) among white-collar workers through many studies. Covid-19 pandemic forced some schools to rethink the ventilation strategies but they rely heavily on window ventilation. This is an issue that persists in developing countries because of the lack of funds, however, it has not been given the attention it deserves in developed countries like Spain. Throughout this paper, we point out the main building factors which affect productivity (CO2, PM2.5, temperature, and humidity), without taking into consideration additional factors such as the effects of lighting and noise as they form part of the IEQ. Our main focus is to raise IEQ/IAQ awareness in places that are considered safe for the general public.

Read about the results and conclusion on ResearchGate.com

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