Tag Archives: fun facts

We’ve previously reported about efforts to recycle pollution into usable products, like paint and inks derived from captured air pollution. Now, however, researchers are reducing a carbon footprint by making a carbon footprint.

Energy company NRG has devised a way to capture carbon dioxide spewing from power plants and turning that into a polymer, which is then used to create athletic shoes.

NRG

NRG

According to the company, 75 percent of the materials for the shoes are made from this polymer, effectively making the shoes ones without a carbon footprint. The recycled carbon dioxide polymer could also be used for a variety of other products and holds promise for reducing carbon emissions.
This type of work underscores an awakening in the business sector: people are more concerned with air quality and are now looking at ways of improving it. At AeraMax Professional, we’ve known this for a long time, and have steadfastly advocated for air quality improvements via commercial air filtration.

That’s why we offer a complete line of commercial air purifiers with HEPA filters to combat indoor air pollution. Our air cleaning systems remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants, including germs, allergens, bacteria and volatile organic compounds.

https://youtu.be/a03PbC8UdqQ

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The world is becoming increasingly aware about the effects of poor indoor air quality—and that awareness has extended into the realm of wireless applications, with start-ups and tech companies rushing to produce smartphone apps, tracking and measuring devices and home-based air quality tools.

These companies are also championing a concept called hyperlocality, where measurements or tracking is done in a very short distance from the intended location. That way, people can see what’s happening in their immediate surroundings.

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Now, electronics firm Netatmo has created a hyperlocal air quality monitor called Healthy Home Coach. This cylindrical device sits on a desktop and pairs with a smartphone app via Bluetooth to provide users with air quality readings in the very immediate vicinity—and underscores the need for air purification in most cases, given that indoor air is two to five times dirtier than outside air.

netatmo-home-coach

The indoor climate monitor uses four separate sensors to continually “read the room,” with an iPhone app that displays how much air pollution is present. The device also monitors temperature, humidity and even room noise. Then, the app “coaches” you, suggesting ways to improve the surroundings.

Because of its portability, one could use the Healthy Home Coach in an office setting, or atop a cubicle, taking in readings at the office. That could make a strong case for the installation of AeraMax Professional air purifiers.

These commercial-grade purifiers also continually “read the room,” using EnviroSmart™ Technology to operate only when the air needs to be cleaned. Because the units remove up to 99.97 percent of germs, allergens, viruses, bacteria and volatile organic compounds from indoor air, the units are a perfect complement to the Healthy Home Coach—and the coaching.

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It’s common knowledge that Hong Kong has some of the world’s worst air quality, given that rampant industrial expansion, a reliance on automobiles and a lax regulatory environment mean that air pollution often goes unchecked. But a German architect is applying his design skills to do something about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTrtrNnAgIc&feature=youtu.be

Dénes Honus has founded Green City Solutions, and has come up with a novel way of “eating” air pollution. His company has designed something called CityTrees, a vertical garden of sorts that employs pollution-eating moss as its greenery. Each CityTree unit resembles a vertical ramp, with the greenery attached to the side wall and benches situated at either end.

According to Honus, German universities gave him the idea, as they were doing extensive research into moss cultures and their ability to “eat” air pollution. Bacteria on the surface of the moss attracts particulate matter, which in turn is absorbed by the moss.

The first of the vertical garden CityTrees were installed in Germany, with additional units located in Norway, France and now Hong Kong. Each unit is self-sufficient, with water tanks storing rainwater and a solar panel powering a sensor to determine when the moss needs to be irrigated.

Each CityTree is as effective at combatting air pollution as 275 planted trees, but takes up significantly less space. And, according to Honus and research from the University of Hong Kong, 200 CityTrees would reduce air pollution in a city by 30 percent or more.

An added bonus: the dense, dark green moss becomes a design element in parks and plazas, breaking up the drab look of concrete sidewalks with a splash of color.

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The latest sensation to hit the art world doesn’t involve an ascot wearing performance artist or a new kind of painting movement. It’s smog. As in air pollution.

Photo by Nikhil Kaushik

Photo by Nikhil Kaushik

That’s because a company has perfected a way to capture air pollution and turn it into consumer-safe paints, inks, pens and dyes, all ready to hit the canvas, paper or wall.

Photo by Nikhil Kaushik

Graviky Labs, a research company based in India, has developed a device called the Kaalink that attaches to car exhaust pipes, collecting pollutants. These pollutants then go through a process that removes toxicity and carcinogens, resulting in a soot-based pigment that is the basis for oil-based paint and inks called Air Ink.


So far, the lab has also created spray paint, taking the pigment and putting it into compressed air canisters. So, graffiti artists can do a better job of covering buildings than plain old soot could, developing wall art instead of grimy streaks.

Graviky Labs says that 45 minutes’ worth of car emission in one automobile produces enough ink to fill one pen; there are plans to develop larger scale versions of the Kaalink to cover boat exhausts, cranes and building chimneys. Given that India has one of the highest concentrations of air pollution, the collected byproduct for the inks could become a boon—for the world, as well as the international art community.

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Now residents in Lafayette, Louisiana can get a little something extra when they’re checking out “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”: The library system recently acquired 12 Speck air quality monitors and are making them available for loan to library cardholders.

The Speck monitors were developed by Carnegie Mellon University and built by Airviz, after introducing them at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. The monitors were designed for home use and feature a display that shows indoor air quality.

According to KATC-TV in Lafayette, library card holders can check out the units for three weeks at a time. That way, library patrons can determine indoor air quality (IAQ) in their homes.

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“We are making these Specks available in our libraries to give the tools to our patrons to make better decisions in their homes and, hopefully, make their home environments healthier,” said Teresa Elberson, Lafayette Public Library Director. “We’re excited to partner with Carnegie Mellon and Airviz to make this possible.”

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