Improving the Air Quality in Your Home When Haze Strikes

Haze caused by forest and peatland fires in Southeast Asia is usually the result of deforestation and land clearing, most often to make way for palm-oil plantations.

The Southeast Asian Haze, as it is popularly known, is a regularity in the region, and has occurred almost yearly since the late 1990s till present day. Because of the its severity, haze has been the cause of much tension between the countries in the region. The record for air pollution in Singapore occurred in 2013 and its source was peatland fires in Sumatra.

Along with aggravating existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, air pollution is responsible for up to seven million deaths per year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Also, nearly one million out of the 3.7 million people who died from ambient air pollution in 2012 lived in Southeast Asia.

Aside from encouraging government bodies to take steps to reduce deforestation, there are measures that individuals can take to reduce the harmful effects of haze, such as by improving the air quality inside their homes or making use of technologies to prevent property damage caused by haze.

Home technologies for combating haze

The simplest and least expensive product for combating air pollution inside the home is the portable air purifier. These are the three most widely used types:

1. Ionisers impart a negative charge to particles in the air, turning them into ions, which when collided with pollutant particles in the air, spread the negative charge and subsequently purify the air.
2. Electronic air cleaners remove pollutants by giving particles a charge, which are then attracted to and neutralised by a material in an air cleaner that has the opposite charge.
3. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters work by forcing air through a fine mesh that filters out even the smallest harmful particles.

Air purifiers are considered to be useful to individuals during high haze levels, especially those suffering from chronic respiratory problems. The main drawback to all portable air cleaners is that they are energy-intensive and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

A holistic approach to improving the air quality in your home

Installing a portable air cleaning system can improve the air quality in your home, but a more holistic approach takes extra consideration. Even though haze is a recurring problem, air pollution levels fluctuate together with temperature and humidity. Hence, a holistic air conditioning system uses a variety of technologies to monitor and keep the air at home at an optimum level of comfort. This system uses energy sparingly, which helps reduce or even eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.

PanaHome's PURETECH technology is a perfect example of a green ventilation and air conditioning system. The PURETECH system uses a variety of strategies to keep the air inside a home fresh and at a comfortable temperature:

1. Cross ventilation draws in fresh air and expels hot, stale air.
2. Stack ventilation helps hot air rise naturally and expels it.
3. Air conditioning is used when needed to keep the air at an ideal temperature.

PURETECH comprises of Panasonic's energy efficient ECONAVI ventilation and air conditioning systems. ECONAVI (eco navigation) automatically controls both the natural and mechanical systems and use sensors to track movement and human activity within the home, and direct cool air to where it’s needed the most.

Panasonic air conditioners feature an advanced filtration system called nanoe-G. Not only does this system remove 99 per cent of airborne particulate matter, viruses, bacteria and mould, but the unique technology also deactivates adhesive micro-organisms that cling to carpets, furniture, curtains and other objects in the home.

Systems such as ECONAVI, when combined with other advanced technologies, can improve air quality in your home and reduce your environmental footprint. A complete system would include:

• An ECONAVI ventilation and cooling system.
• Self-cleaning tiles, such as the KIRATECH tiles used by PanaHome Malaysia. KIRATECH tiles use the natural process of photocatalysis to break down pollutants into molecules that can be easily washed off walls without resorting to harsh chemicals.
• Solar panels, to harness clean, renewable energy from the sun to power home appliances and lighting.

Asia's phenomenal growth has not only led to a higher standard of living for millions of people, but has also contributed to environmental degradation. The solution lies in moving forward and adopting greener technologies that offer an improved lifestyle without threatening the environment. Panasonic and other forward-thinking companies are providing those solutions.

[Image Source: Flickr]