For San Francisco-based company Awair, “knowledge is power” when it comes to air quality. Co-founder Ronald Ro first had the idea for a smart air quality monitor when he discovered his daughter’s eczema complications were linked to the air around her. After pairing up with friend Kevin Cho to find new ways to observe the air quality in his home, Awair was born.
Awair’s Element air quality monitor provides advanced technology in a stylish, compact device that blends seamlessly into any room design. The handy gadget can track five different factors affecting air quality: temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and microscopic particulate matter (PM2.5). By using the free Awair app, consumers can learn more about their overall air quality, manage individual sensor readings, track changes in their environment and even turn on alerts for sudden changes. Perhaps most important, the app also provides personalized tips to help users reduce their indoor pollution levels.
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Though air quality often goes unnoticed inside the household, the air we breathe at home can impact productivity, comfort and even long-term health. Most of us understand the dangers of unhealthy levels of carbon dioxide, and many home smoke alarms already come equipped with CO2 detectors. Awair goes above and beyond by also measuring VOCs, which are toxic chemicals emitted by common building materials, furniture and cleaning products, as well as PM2.5, the microscopic particulate matter that can emerge from cooking, wildfire smoke or vehicle traffic. Temperature can affect sleep quality and immune system functions, while humidity can aggravate conditions such as asthma and eczema, according to the company.
The Element models also have the capability to integrate into a smart home ecosystem, including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Ecobee Thermostat and Sensi Smart Thermostat. With Ecobee and Sensi Smart Thermostats systems, the Element will respond automatically to air quality measurements and turn on the home’s HVAC system if it detects a certain level of air pollution.
Images via Awair
