How IoT Technology is Revolutionizing Air Pollution Solutions for Smart Buildings
Looking across the horizon on a winter day and seeing a thick layer of smog makes you keenly aware of air pollution. You probably think you’re safe once you’ve made it inside. But indoor air pollution exists, too, and it can negatively impact your health.
Your indoor environment may also be making the air outside more polluted. Whenever you’re heating or cooling a space, or using any kind of power, you may be polluting the air. Thankfully, air pollution solutions can help you track how much pollution you’re throwing into the atmosphere so you can do your part to clean up the environment for everyone.
How Can Buildings Help Reduce Air Pollution?
Air pollution negatively impacts human health. In the short term, you can suffer ear, nose, and throat irritation or breathing difficulties. In the long run, it can contribute to strokes, lung cancer, COPD, and other chronic issues.
You know that riding solo to work every day in a less-than-fuel-efficient car releases more carbon emissions than carpooling or taking a bus, but you might not consider how your indoor habits are impacting the air quality.
Here's how you can help lower the air pollution in your area.
Conserve Energy
Consuming less energy lowers the overall demand. When you and everyone else on your block have the lights on, are watching TV, and are using multiple devices, more electricity needs to be generated to keep up. If your area uses fossil fuels to generate electricity, this process releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other particulates into the air.
Making efforts to conserve energy reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned at power plants. Reduce your energy consumption by using efficient appliances and building materials, and check your windows and doors for cracks so hot or cool air isn’t seeping outside.
Plant Trees
If you haven’t hugged a tree lately, go find one. These majestic beings absorb pollutants and catch particulates on their leaves, which keeps them out of the air. When trees “inhale,” they remove carbon dioxide from the air to build their leaves, trunks, and branches.
They “exhale” the oxygen we breathe as a byproduct of this process. Trees are also pretty and calming, so it makes sense to plant more of them in your neighborhood.
Monitor Air Quality Warnings
National and local governments monitor the air and issue warnings when the air quality deteriorates. Sign up for these alerts and take action on days with low air quality. Avoid burning wood or running a gas fire during the winter.
Install air quality sensors in your building to keep the indoor air clean and healthy. These sensors can alert you to HVAC issues as soon as they happen. Use them to properly ventilate your building and reduce your energy consumption.
Implement IoT Technology
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors collect and transmit data to a platform on your phone or computer. Use them to monitor indoor levels of air pollution and identify common pollutants in your building.
IoT technology also makes your building smarter. Your HVAC and lighting systems can be adjusted based on the building's occupancy and usage. In turn, you use less energy and positively impact public health by keeping your indoor air clean.
The Impact of IoT Technology in Indoor Air Pollution Solutions
Monitoring your indoor air quality impacts the outdoor air quality as well, and IoT technology is one of the best solutions you have at your disposal. Here’s why.
Monitor Real-Time Air Quality
Signs of poor air quality include breathing issues and headaches, but you don’t have to wait for it to reach that level. Attune’s custom IoT solutions for indoor air quality show you how your building is impacting human health in real time. These sensors measure the air for volatile organic compounds, common air pollutants, and other indicators of air pollution.
You can monitor your air quality in real time and take action if your pollution levels exceed safe amounts. Indoor air pollution is a risk factor for asthma, migraines, and other health conditions. By not waiting until the pollution has reached critical levels, you can keep your building's occupants healthy.
Send Alerts for Pollutant Spikes
You’re probably not going to be monitoring your indoor air quality 24/7, because you have other responsibilities. IoT solutions will alert you when indoor air pollutants spike so you can take action in the moment.
A spike in indoor air pollutants can mean your building isn’t being properly ventilated. When you notice the spikes, it could be time to check the HVAC system. These spikes also come from cooking, cleaning, cigarettes, and mold. You might get alerts every day when the cleaning crew arrives. If this is the case, you can try using an air purifier or switch cleaning supplies.
Integrate With HVAC Systems
Whether you’re heating a building or cooling it, your HVAC system is launching pollutants into the air. Integrating IoT technology into your HVAC system makes it smarter. Your HVAC system can adjust the internal temperature based on occupancy so it’s not on all the time.
IoT-enabled HVAC systems also monitor air pollution in real time and adjust the ventilation as needed. When your smart sensors detect pollutants, the fan kicks in and clears the room. These systems can also activate an air purifier if you have one.
Since IoT sensors collect and transmit data, you can see trends and patterns over time. This data helps you identify and mitigate common sources of air pollution.
Integrate IoT Technology Into Your Smart Buildings
While IoT technology can’t plant trees for you, it can impact your efforts to reduce air pollution. If you’re asking yourself what the solutions to air pollution are, consider Attune’s IoT solutions for indoor air quality.
Our customizable solutions give you insights into every aspect of your building’s indoor air quality. You get real-time insights into temperature, humidity, and indoor air pollution. Stay informed and make adjustments as needed to keep your tenants happy and healthy. Our IoT solutions integrate with supported devices, including some HVAC systems.
The data you collect is stored in the cloud, and you can access it through an app on your phone or PC. Take advantage of dashboards with your specific floor plans to monitor every part of your building.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you reduce your air pollution.
