I've got an Aranet4 and started tracking CO2 and submitting it to IndoorCO2Map (via https://whn.global/indoor-co2-map-co2-monitoring-and-data-co...), but after a short period of time, there aren't really any surprises. Carrying a CO2 detector everywhere seems like mostly a way to give yourself anxiety.
If it's crowded now, or was recently, the CO2 is going to be high. If the building is old, or low volume, the effect will be worse.
Nightingal, and Robertson before her, argued for better designs in hospitals to overcome these issues. We are over 150 years on from this arguement which has already been proven.
Using a digital sensor isn't required. The spread of various Corona viruses and others increase during colder weather and are more likely to spread in enclosed environments with limited air flow.
Cafe door shut, no air exchange in place, it's winter and half the clientele are reaching for hankies. Your probably catching a cold.
Buying a (relatively expensive) CO2 monitor is one of those purchases that I was pensive about at first, but have zero regrets about a few years later. I was ignorant of a lot of things related to air quality, CO2 in particular. We were foolishly running a gas stove in a house with no ventilation, which probably had us up in the 1500+ range every time. This may seem like an obvious no-no to most of you but it was not a lesson we had ever learned.
You also get to see some other interesting observations, like how local construction digging up dirt on your street can cause elevated radon levels for months on end.
The article linked in the first paragraph is almost more interesting to me[1]. Some of these places, like the subway, have air frequently circulated that can filter aerosols but leave CO2; this limitation makes me somewhat doubt its usefulness as a proxy for disease transmission risk.
Apart from disease transmission, since I've gotten a CO2 monitor in my apartment I've noticed that running the gas stove or oven for even a little while will make a huge spike in CO2.
Very interesting article, but remember, making a room more airy will not mitigate the long term effects of CO2 on the Earth.
Older people may remember the push to make your house more energy efficient. So, seems you have a choice, higher energy bills or higher indoors C02.
So what is needed, move off fossil fuels. I remember seeing during the covid lockdown, C02 Levels did not raise for the first time in decades and I think they may have fell a little. That is because auto traffic decreased a lot. Right now I believe we are on our way to +2.5C :(
The tension between an energy-efficient building and a well-ventilated one is real, but energy-recovery ventilation (ERV or HRV) is a thing and apparently works pretty well. Some kinds use counter-flow heat exchangers, some use an oscillating flow over a thermal mass (sometimes also a sorbent to keep moisture in or out).
The reason it is high is because you fucking breath out in a closed room. Fossil fuel my ass.
That’s why at least in my part of the world the recommended standard of what is considered great ventilation (meaning in and out) is at least 1 cubic meter of fresh air per minute for every person inside.
Half a cubic meter (or something around that) per minute per person is considered an absolute minimum. Less than that and the room is considered not valid for any working conditions.
1000+ co2 and you get fatigue, slow brain, drowsiness, heavy head, etc.
But be my guest, eco-brain yourself to a slowpoke IQ.
I've got an Aranet4 and started tracking CO2 and submitting it to IndoorCO2Map (via https://whn.global/indoor-co2-map-co2-monitoring-and-data-co...), but after a short period of time, there aren't really any surprises. Carrying a CO2 detector everywhere seems like mostly a way to give yourself anxiety.
If it's crowded now, or was recently, the CO2 is going to be high. If the building is old, or low volume, the effect will be worse.
Nightingal, and Robertson before her, argued for better designs in hospitals to overcome these issues. We are over 150 years on from this arguement which has already been proven.
Using a digital sensor isn't required. The spread of various Corona viruses and others increase during colder weather and are more likely to spread in enclosed environments with limited air flow.
Cafe door shut, no air exchange in place, it's winter and half the clientele are reaching for hankies. Your probably catching a cold.
Buying a (relatively expensive) CO2 monitor is one of those purchases that I was pensive about at first, but have zero regrets about a few years later. I was ignorant of a lot of things related to air quality, CO2 in particular. We were foolishly running a gas stove in a house with no ventilation, which probably had us up in the 1500+ range every time. This may seem like an obvious no-no to most of you but it was not a lesson we had ever learned.
You also get to see some other interesting observations, like how local construction digging up dirt on your street can cause elevated radon levels for months on end.
The article linked in the first paragraph is almost more interesting to me[1]. Some of these places, like the subway, have air frequently circulated that can filter aerosols but leave CO2; this limitation makes me somewhat doubt its usefulness as a proxy for disease transmission risk.
Apart from disease transmission, since I've gotten a CO2 monitor in my apartment I've noticed that running the gas stove or oven for even a little while will make a huge spike in CO2.
[1] https://grieve-smith.com/ftn/2026/02/so-you-want-to-monitor-...
Gas stove, oven, and clothes dryer with polyester/nylon will all cause my air quality sensor to go into the red.
Some takeaways:
- be very careful of what oils you're using when cooking food to ensure they are not turning volatile
- try to avoid using a dryer for non-natural poly clothes and use hang drying instead
Very interesting article, but remember, making a room more airy will not mitigate the long term effects of CO2 on the Earth.
Older people may remember the push to make your house more energy efficient. So, seems you have a choice, higher energy bills or higher indoors C02.
So what is needed, move off fossil fuels. I remember seeing during the covid lockdown, C02 Levels did not raise for the first time in decades and I think they may have fell a little. That is because auto traffic decreased a lot. Right now I believe we are on our way to +2.5C :(
The tension between an energy-efficient building and a well-ventilated one is real, but energy-recovery ventilation (ERV or HRV) is a thing and apparently works pretty well. Some kinds use counter-flow heat exchangers, some use an oscillating flow over a thermal mass (sometimes also a sorbent to keep moisture in or out).
>So, seems you have a choice, higher energy bills or higher indoors C02.
An HRV or ERV can help with that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_recovery_ventilation
What is wrong with you?
You literally breath co2 out.
The reason it is high is because you fucking breath out in a closed room. Fossil fuel my ass.
That’s why at least in my part of the world the recommended standard of what is considered great ventilation (meaning in and out) is at least 1 cubic meter of fresh air per minute for every person inside.
Half a cubic meter (or something around that) per minute per person is considered an absolute minimum. Less than that and the room is considered not valid for any working conditions.
1000+ co2 and you get fatigue, slow brain, drowsiness, heavy head, etc.
But be my guest, eco-brain yourself to a slowpoke IQ.
The problem isn't to breathe CO2, it's pumping it in the atmosphere... This article really misses the point.
Elevated CO2 levels reduces your cognitive abilities fairly significantly.
The article has nothing to do with atmospheric CO2, it is about using CO2 as a proxy measurement for virus transfer.