Tag: CO2

Bridging the Gap: AirGradient and GO AQS Announce Webinar on the Future of Indoor Air Quality Standards

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

As the global conversation around indoor air quality (IAQ) intensifies, the industry is moving toward a critical realization: data is only as good as our ability to understand it. Currently, the world of air quality monitoring is often fragmented, with different manufacturers and regions using varying metrics, languages, and benchmarks.

To address this challenge, we are thrilled to announce that AirGradient organized a special upcoming AirGradient Forum featuring the Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS), alongside AirGradient.

Moving Toward a Unified Language

The centerpiece of this discussion will be the practical application of the GO IAQS Score. Developed to move away from fragmented communication, the GO IAQS methodology aims to provide a unified benchmark that allows for global understanding across diverse indoor environments—from classrooms in Bangkok to offices in Dublin.

During the session, Sotirios Papathanasiou and Achim Haug will take a deep dive into the strategic decisions made during the development of these standards. They will address one of the most significant challenges in the field: how to balance complex, high-resolution sensor data with the need for a simplified, actionable output that everyday users can trust and act upon.

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AirSpot Review: The Wearable CO2 Monitor That Delivers Real-Time Clarity

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

The world of air quality monitoring has long been dominated by bulky, desk-bound units. The AirSpot, a revolutionary small CO2 monitor, shatters that paradigm. Given to me by the CEO of The Safer Air Project, this device is not just a monitor—it’s a truly wearable environmental sensor that brings crucial air quality data right to your wrist or backpack.

Design, Portability, and Hardware

The AirSpot’s most immediate selling point is its diminutive size and featherlight weight. Measuring a mere 3.6cm x 4.8cm x 1.15cm and weighing only 17g (0.6 ounces), it is, to my recollection, the smallest CO2 monitor currently available. This size isn’t just a gimmick; it’s the foundation of its usability.

The device’s true genius lies in its ecosystem of accessories. AirSpot is unique in offering a wide range of mounting options, including a wristband that makes it genuinely wearable. I personally prefer the carabiner-style key ring case, which allowed me to easily clip it onto my backpack or belt—perfect for on-the-go monitoring.

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aranet: Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring for a Healthier Home

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

In an era where indoor air quality and environmental safety are of a high importance, aranet has emerged as one of the leaders in providing reliable and intuitive monitoring solutions. See The Air has thoroughly reviewed several of aranet’s innovative products, each designed to empower individuals with crucial insights into their living spaces. From carbon dioxide levels to radon gas and even radiation, aranet offers peace of mind through precise and accessible data.

Most aranet monitors stand out by providing a holistic view of your environment, often including temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure alongside their primary measurements. This multi-parameter approach helps users understand the interplay of various factors affecting their indoor comfort and health.

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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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AirDummies: A Breath of Fresh Air for Indoor Environment Simulation

Sotirios Papathanasiou3 Comments

AirDummies emerges as a highly intuitive and powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, purpose-built to demystify the complex world of indoor air dynamics. Designed with a clear focus on accessibility, it caters to a broad spectrum of users, offering invaluable insights into air patterns within diverse indoor environments, including school classrooms, offices, and domestic settings. Its ability to simulate everything from CO2 concentrations, particle contaminants, and temperature gradients to air velocity makes it an indispensable tool for optimizing comfort, health, and energy efficiency.

AirDummies is built upon the OpenFOAM open-source library. This foundational relationship means AirDummies leverages OpenFOAM’s extensive capabilities for simulating fluid flow, heat transfer, and related phenomena. By utilizing OpenFOAM, AirDummies benefits from a robust, well-validated, and continuously developed CFD engine, providing users with a powerful and flexible platform for their simulation needs.

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Introducing FantaMix: An Innovative DIY Ventilation Solution

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

At See The Air, I am always excited to share innovative approaches to improving indoor air quality. Today, I am highlighting some fantastic articles by Nathalie Roussy that delve into the world of DIY ventilation with her in-depth work on the FantaMix.

FantaMix Review: A Look at Performance and Impact

Nathalie’s comprehensive review, titled “FantaMix Review,” was originally published on Medium. You can read her full article here.

The FantaMix is a compact, open-source ventilation system designed for home construction at a low cost. Nathalie, who is the designer and tester of the FantaMix, explains how this hybrid device filters a mix of fresh outdoor air and stale indoor air through an H11 HEPA filter, all while recovering lost heat. It functions as both a source of fresh air and an indoor air purifier.

Her article covers the origins of the FantaMix, how it works, and the results of various field tests, including airflow rate, noise level, heat recovery, and power consumption. She also provides a comparison with similar devices and a visual analysis of CO₂ levels to demonstrate its impact on air quality. Nathalie emphasizes that the FantaMix is a DIY project, offering an accessible solution for enhancing indoor air quality, particularly for renters or those with budget constraints, and is especially beneficial during events like wildfires.

Building the FantaMix: Your Step-by-Step Guide

For those inspired to build their own FantaMix, Nathalie has also published a detailed DIY guide titled “Building the FantaMix: Fresh Filtered Air at Home — No Exhaust, Under $200,” also available on Medium. Find the complete guide here.

This step-by-step open-source guide outlines how to create this affordable and effective home ventilation system. The FantaMix aims to provide fresh, HEPA-filtered outdoor air with partial heat recovery, costing under $200 and requiring no major construction or exhaust system. The project is 100% open source, promoting accessible knowledge over opaque products. The article covers the detailed construction process, including building the base, assembling the top section, preparing the outdoor air intake panel, and installing components like fans, insulation, and wiring. It also includes a detailed cost breakdown, a list of essential and optional tools, and crucial safety precautions, especially when working with materials like heated foam. Maintenance tips for filter replacement and fan cleaning are also provided.

I am particularly proud to note that Nathalie’s work on the FantaMix was inspired by our very own article, “DIY Ventilation Solution for Renters.” It’s wonderful to see how shared knowledge and innovation can lead to such practical and impactful solutions for healthier living spaces.

We highly recommend reading Nathalie’s articles to learn more about the FantaMix and consider it as a potential DIY project for your own home!

Review: InBiot Mica Plus – A Comprehensive IAQ Solution for Green Buildings and Beyond

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

The inBiot Mica Plus is a robust indoor air quality monitor designed squarely for the B2B market, catering specifically to buildings aiming for top-tier Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and compliance with stringent green building certifications like WELL, RESET, and LEED. With a promised 10-year lifespan and minimal maintenance thanks to automatic calibration, the Mica Plus is a compelling long-term investment.

Equipped with a comprehensive sensor suite including Temperature, Relative Humidity, CO₂, TVOC, Particulate Matter, and Formaldehyde, the Mica Plus provides a detailed picture of indoor air conditions. Its connectivity options are equally impressive, spanning basic Wi-Fi to advanced protocols like Power over Ethernet (PoE), LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT/LTE-M, and local communication options such as Modbus RTU/TCP/IP, API, BACnet, and MQTT, ensuring seamless integration into existing building management systems.

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A DIY Ventilation Solution for Renters

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

Renting an apartment often means limited control over modifications, especially when it comes to essential systems like ventilation. Poor indoor air quality can significantly impact health and well-being, but drilling holes for traditional ventilation systems is usually out of the question. This article presents a simple, affordable DIY project using a standard air purifier to bring fresh, filtered air into your rented space without any permanent alterations.

The Problem: Stale Indoor Air and Renting Restrictions

Old apartments but also modern, energy-efficient apartments can sometimes suffer from poor ventilation, leading to a buildup of indoor pollutants like CO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. While opening windows is a simple solution, it’s not always practical due to weather, noise, or outdoor air pollution. Renters often face the added challenge of not being allowed to make structural changes, ruling out traditional ventilation installations.   

The DIY Solution: Air Purifier Ventilation

This project uses a standard standalone air purifier in a novel way to introduce fresh, filtered outdoor air. The key components are:

  • A Standard Air Purifier: Choose one with a HEPA filter for particulate matter and a carbon filter for gases. Programmable models are highly recommended for automation.
  • Flexible Tubing and Window Adapter: These connect the air purifier’s intake to a slightly opened window. You can find suitable tubing and adapters at most hardware stores for around €15.
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Book Review: “Indoor Air Quality in Buildings for Well-being: Practical Application Strategies”

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

A 2023 published book in Spanish, “Calidad del aire interior en los edificios para el bienestar: estrategias de aplicación práctica” (Indoor Air Quality in Buildings for Well-being: Practical Application Strategies), is poised to become an essential resource for improving indoor air quality globally. Authored by Miguel Ángel Campano, Jessica Fernández-Agüera, and Juan José Sendra, this comprehensive guide delves into the critical aspects of indoor air quality (IAQ) and offers practical strategies for creating healthier indoor environments.   

Relevance to Global Initiatives

While currently available in Spanish, this book’s content is highly relevant to international efforts such as the development of Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS). The GO AQS initiative aims to establish universal benchmarks for air quality, and the book provides valuable insights and data that can orient the initiative.

Comprehensive Coverage of Key IAQ Factors

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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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