Airthings indoor air quality sensors make buildings smarter and greener

Buildings consume massive amounts of energy. In the EU, they are responsible for 40 per cent of energy consumption and 36 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. About three-quarters of European buildings are energy inefficient.

In non-residential buildings, building managers often lack the data to optimise a building’s energy consumption. They do not have an overview of specific needs in rooms at any given time and rely on calendar-based settings to control heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting – all major areas of electricity consumption.

Airthings for Business is a system of indoor air quality sensors for non-residential buildings.

The sensors provide real-time data on eight key metrics: CO₂, humidity, temperature, radon, airborne chemicals (VOCs), pressure, occupancy, and relative light intensity. Two virtual sensors are also available, a mould risk indicator and a virus risk indicator, that combine data from existing sensors into a proprietary algorithm to calculate the risk level of virus transmission and mould growth. Together, these physical and virtual sensors allow for automation of core building systems such as heating, ventilation and lighting based on air quality and occupancy levels.

The sensors are small, battery-driven and economical, and can be connected to the building management system through an open API. A central dashboard allows building managers to view, compare and export data, as well as to receive alerts, advanced analytics and reports.

Airthings for Business allows building managers to monitor and control indoor air quality to provide occupants with the best possible air quality while at the same time optimising ventilation and building maintenance based on need, resulting in energy savings.

With the recent acquisition of Airtight, Airthings for Business can also be integrated into building management systems to control airflow, which minimises energy waste and contributes to reducing carbon emissions.

Most of the buildings that will be in use by 2050 are already built. With 46.3 million non-residential buildings in the EU and non-residential buildings in the US covering an estimated 8.2 billion square metres of floor area, Airthings’ potential addressable market is huge.

Founded in 2008 by scientists from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Airthings launched its sensors for non-residential buildings in 2018. The company has customers in Europe and the US, and offers related products for use at home and by professional home inspectors.