Preventing air pollution in the smart home

1. causes of air pollution at home

Indoor air pollution, also referred to as "indoor air pollution", can be caused by various sources.

Identification of common sources of air pollutants

The most common indoor air pollutants are particulates, VOCs and nitrogen oxides such as carbon monoxide. However, excessive moisture content can also lead to air quality problems, for example through the formation of mould. particulates is produced during cooking, is released when electronic devices such as laser printers are used, is emitted by poorly maintained heating systems and air conditioning systems or enters the home through air exchange. Scented candles, perfume, aggressive cleaning agents and alcohol, on the other hand, are sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, combustion processes such as fireplaces and stoves produce carbon monoxide, particulates and other pollutants that have a negative impact on air quality.

Health effects & importance of preventing air pollution

The health effects of indoor air pollution can be diverse and range from short-term discomfort to long-term health problems. In addition to the air pollutants described above, there are other air constituents that impair well-being or even pose a health risk. In our table below, we list these and show which health effects can be caused by poor air quality.

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Residential Toxic	Health effects	possible sources
particulates	Respiratory tract inflammation, carcinogenic, allergies, impairment of the cardiovascular system, heart attack, irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose & throat	Cooking, fireplace & oven operation, laser printer, electrical appliances
VOC	altered perception of smell and taste, irritation of eyes and mucous membranes, lack of concentration, exhaustion, dry skin, eczema, headaches, carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive inhibitor	Paints, adhesives, plastic floor coverings, furniture, floor coverings, room air fresheners, varnishes, building materials
Carbon monoxide	Cold-like symptoms, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness & permanent brain damage	Road traffic, leaking or malfunctioning fireplaces & stoves, gas stoves, radiant heaters powered by propane gas
Mold	Reduced quality of life & well-being, mucous in the airways, feeling of having a cold, headaches, reduced performance	behind furniture/window niches: wherever there is moisture, stagnant moisture, cold bridges
Formaldehyde	Allergies, respiratory/eye & skin irritation, concentration problems, sleep disorders, carcinogenic, mutagenic	Insulation materials, adhesives for chipboard/wood materials, varnishes, wall paints, carpets & other home textiles
Plasticizer	carcinogenic, toxic for development, toxic for reproduction	Toys, cosmetics, paints, varnishes, building plaster, floor coverings, carpets
Wood preservative	Carcinogenic, nerve-damaging, skin irritation	Wooden furniture, chipboard & construction timber, paints (e.g. for windows & doors), varnishes, glazes
Pesticides	carcinogenic, reproductive disorders, heart & respiratory diseases, obesity, diabetes, neurological disorders	Furniture (with textile covering), floor coverings, facade paint, primers, wood stains, insect spray, insect/pest traps.
Tobacco	Chronic lung diseases, carcinogenic, damage to eyes/ periodontium/ digestive tract/ skeleton/ reproductive organs, infertility	Smoking "normal" cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the home

2. tips for avoiding air pollution in the smart home

By reducing air pollutants through the implementation of preventive measures in your smart home, you minimize their impact on your health at the same time.

Selection of environmentally friendly devices

Use devices that emit fewer air pollutants. For example, prefer an inkjet printer to a laser printer, as they release significantly less ultrafine particles (you can find exact measurement data in our practical test). Modern kitchen appliances, especially those with energy-efficient technologies, can help to reduce air pollution. This also applies to extractor hoods, which efficiently dissipate cooking fumes. Air purifiers with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters also help to filter particles such as dust, pollen, mold spores and animal hair from the air.

Hand turns a heating control, next to it is a scale for electrical appliances — You can reduce indoor air pollution with suitable electrical appliances

Regular maintenance of heating & cooling systems

Poorly maintained heating systems and air conditioning units can release dust, dirt and other particles into the air, especially if the filters are not cleaned or replaced regularly. Demand-oriented ventilation based on the current measured values can also save heating costs.

Air analysis & air measurement

A one-off air analysis or, ideally, a constant air measurement are crucial tools for understanding air quality and taking targeted measures to improve it. Through accurate air analysis, for example with the air-Q, you can identify specific indoor pollutant sources and recognize potential health risks, allowing you to take targeted action against these sources. An air quality analysis raises awareness of the impact of certain behaviors and can encourage behavioral change. Based on the air measurement, you can detect sudden changes in your smart home and react quickly to increased pollutant emissions. In addition, continuous air monitoring serves as an early warning system for potential dangers such as a leaking gas pipe.

Effective ventilation strategies in the smart home based on air measurement data

Air measuring devices such as the air-Q can be integrated into your smart home. When certain pollutant levels are reached, the measuring device shows you this using an intuitive LED traffic light. It also sends you warning messages such as push notifications and can trigger automatic actions for your smart ventilation system or air purifier. Smart ventilation systems can also be programmed on the basis of the measured values so that they ventilate automatically either at specific times or as required.

Use of air purification devices

If you are already taking air purification measures, e.g. with air purification devices or an air purification system integrated into your smart home, an air analysis can monitor the effectiveness of these measures. The air-Q can be linked to many air purifiers. Compared to the purifiers, the measuring device has significantly more and higher-quality sensors to detect air pollutants. This enables targeted air purification. Furthermore, the coupling ensures that the air quality continues to meet the desired standards.

3. smart technologies for air quality monitoring

For the ventilation strategy of your smart home, the air measurement of the air-Q provides data on various air quality parameters such as CO₂ content, particulates, VOC, humidity and temperature. By analyzing these parameters, the air measuring device evaluates the air quality and you can react to potential problems. The air-Q also transmits its measurement data to your smart window opening, central ventilation control or heat recovery system (HRV) so that these are also automatically controlled to let in fresh air when needed.

Sensors for the detection of air pollutants

Compared to other air measuring devices, the air-Q offers you the most sensors so that you can measure a variety of air components in real time. Depending on the model selected, from air-Q light to air-Q science, you can examine the room air for up to 15 different measured values: particulates (PM₁ - PM₂,₅ - PM₁₀), carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen (O₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOC), methane (CH₄), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), relative & absolute humidity, dew point (Td), air pressure (p), air temperature (T), noise (Lp), nitrous oxide (N₂O), ammonia (NH₃), chlorine (Cl₂), radon (Rn), formaldehyde (CH₂O), hydrogen (H₂).

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Integration of smart home platforms

The indoor air data provides your smart home with important information and acts as a signal transmitter for a variety of smart functions such as automatic window opening, controlling air purifiers or switching heaters on and off. Among other things, the air-Q air measurement device is compatible with IFTTT, Amazon Alexa, Home Assistant, Google Assistant, Apple Homebridge for Apple HomeKit as well as HomeMatic and soon also Matter.

Further information and connectable home technologies can be found on our separate information page on the air-Q smart home standards.

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