Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a transparent gas and natural component of air, that acts as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It is generally harmless in small quantities but can affect severely as the quantities rise, especially indoors where ventilation is low and indoor air cannot recirculate. It can impact sleep patterns, productivity, concentration levels, etc.
CO2 helps plants in the process of photosynthesis, a process through which plants make their food. Many animals and humans both depend on plants for their survival, therefore photosynthesis is important for the survival of plants, animals, and humans.
CO2 helps in trapping the heat and energy from the sun within the earth’s atmosphere. This helps in preventing the temperature from getting inhospitably cold and oceans from freezing into solid.
CO2 is commonly measured in PPM (Parts Per Million). ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommended that carbon dioxide levels indoors should be maintained below 1000 ppm.
Good – 300-600
Moderate – 601-800
Poor – 801-1000
Unhealthy – 1001-1200
Severe – 1201-1500
Hazardous – Above 1051
The main source of CO2 indoors is respiration, as we inhale oxygen and release CO2. In the modern age, homes are becoming more airtight, ventilation does not happen that frequently and fresh air cannot enter indoors. Many ventilation systems that are used nowadays recirculate the air indoors rather than bringing less CO2 contaminated air from outdoors. As a result, the same air is recirculating and recirculating. This increases the carbon dioxide contamination indoors.
High levels of CO2 are responsible for
High CO2 affects concentration and
attention and in turn productivity.
When limits exceed, one can have
difficulty in their sleeping patterns as well.
High CO2 levels can trigger high BP
problems due to the vasodilating effect.
CO2 levels highly influence cerebral blood
flow, which can cause headache problems.
Disorders such as hypercapnia can
happen when CO2 levels are high.
At high levels, CO2 is known to cause
dizziness, vertigo, and other symptoms.
10 tips to reduce carbon dioxide levels indoors:
1. Ventilation makes it easy for the flow of air and is the
easiest and most economical way of reducing CO2.
2. Filtration – Air filters with activated carbon filters
will help reduce the CO2 concentration indoors.
3. Plants – Indoor plants such as Snake Plant, Aloe vera,
and money plant are known as the natural air filters.
4. Decreasing the number of people in a room
also helps in reducing CO2 concentrations.
5. Use an air quality monitor – This will help in tracking
and keeping a check on the CO2 levels indoors.
6. Control CO2 emissions – The usage of gas-powered
heaters, coal burning, etc. must be controlled.
7. Avoid smoking indoors as smoking contributes
to the overall CO2 concentrations indoors.
8. Air purification – It does not help in reducing the CO2
levels but filtered air is better than unfiltered air.
9. Open flames must be limited as CO2 is the primary
pollutant emitted by an open fire, such as fireplaces.
10. Keep a check on fuel leaks – CO2 is released
when fuels are burned improperly.
Prana Air CO2 monitor has an embedded sensor that is a Non-Dispersive InfraRed (NDIR) sensor with 1 PPM resolution and a 10,000 PPM range. With an LCD screen and multiple data displays, monitor the carbon dioxide levels indoors as well as outdoors.
