Do you think about the air you breathe at work, or perhaps about the air quality at your child's school? Probably not. We know fresh air boosts our mood and focus, we rarely consider indoor air quality, despite the fact we spend around 90% of our time indoors.
Why does air quality matter?
Air quality impacts health, well-being and productivity. Air quality affects health, well-being, and productivity. Many harmful pollutants, such as radon, airborne chemicals, and fine particulate matter (PM), are invisible. Without monitoring, it's impossible to know if your indoor air is truly healthy.
Turning air quality data into practical information
The Norwegian company Airthings develops smart indoor air quality monitors and radon detectors for homes, workplaces, and schools. Airthings’ products track key air quality metrics, providing real-time data to help people improve their indoor environments.
Healthier public buildings across Norway's municipalities
Over 110 Norwegian municipalities use Airthings to monitor the air quality in their schools, kindergartens, care homes, and other public buildings. Airthings monitors radon, CO2, humidity, and occupancy, providing in-depth insights to help improve comfort, health, and productivity in public spaces.
Smarter decisions to improve people’s well-being
Airthings devices provide real-time and long-term air quality insights, helping facility managers make informed decisions. Built-in features alert flag high CO2 or temperature levels, helping building or facility managers to adjust heating, ventilation or cooling (HVAC) systems proactively. This also ensures issues are addressed directly without needing to wait for complaints from building users.
Aside from creating a healthy and safe environment for building occupants, Airthings devices also help municipalities save millions of kroner on energy costs.
Tore H Rismyhr, Sales manager, Public sector, Airthings for Business, comments:
“We're proud to support almost a third of Norway’s municipalities to monitor their indoor air quality. It’s fantastic to see Norway’s public sector embracing this simple-to-use technology that has big benefits for the people using their buildings.”
Moss Municipality
Moss kommunale Eiendom began using Airthings in 2023. They have installed indoor air quality monitoring in 22 buildings, including kindergartens, with plans to expand further in 2025.
Their main goal was to simplify radon reporting. With Airthings’ data, they’ve improved indoor air quality and reduced energy costs.
Steffen Aanes, Head of the Technical Department at Moss kommunale Eiendom, comments:
"We're really happy with Airthings’ system. The setup was straightforward, and we could access our building data immediately, enabling us to collect, analyze and share data. This saved us a lot of time on reporting. In addition, the wireless, battery-powered devices have significantly reduced our installation and maintenance time and costs."
"We've set thresholds for temperature, radon, and CO2. When these levels are exceeded, our building engineers receive alerts, allowing them to make informed adjustments to maintain comfort and indoor air quality in our buildings."
Educating people about the dangers of radon
A core mission of Airthings is to educate people about the dangers that radon poses to health. This odorless, colorless and tasteless gas exists everywhere in the world. Due to Norway’s bedrock of uranium-rich granite, radon levels here are among the highest in the world.
Long-term radon gas exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The only way to know if you have a radon problem is to monitor it, preferably over time.
Radon disperses outdoors but can build up indoors, especially in sealed or poorly ventilated spaces. Levels rise in winter when windows stay closed. Radon can pose a threat in any building, including offices, schools, and homes.
Revolutionizing radon monitoring
Airthings’ devices provide live radon data, eliminating the need for traditional track film monitoring, which takes months to process. Airthings’ partner Energy Control works with Statens Vegvesen to move their radon monitoring solution from traditional track film to Airthings devices. Airthings’ devices show how ventilation and energy measures impact radon levels, providing peace of mind about exposure.
Martin Sæther, Head of Facilities Management at Statens Vegvesen (Fagansvarlig FDVU i Statens Vegvesen) comments:
"Digital radon measurement is a growing focus for us. Monitoring radon across our buildings isn't merely about compliance. It's about protecting the health and well-being of our employees.
“Continuous digital radon monitoring helps us ensure safer indoor environments throughout our buildings while making informed decisions about ventilation and energy efficiency. Our move to digital monitoring with Energy Control and Airthings is now underway, and this proactive approach gives both management and, most importantly, our employees peace of mind regarding radon exposure."
Monitor and improve your indoor air quality at home
Just as Norway's public sector and other organizations monitor and improve their indoor air quality with Airthings, homeowners can also benefit from understanding the air they breathe.
Like the devices used in workplaces and schools, Airthings' consumer monitors track various air quality parameters. The monitors send data to the Airthings app, allowing customers to view their readings in real time and see how different activities affect their air quality.
Ellen Birgitte from Oslo originally started monitoring her indoor air quality with Airthings after experiencing some health issues she thought could be linked after moving home.
She says:
"I originally purchased an Airthings monitor after moving into a new apartment. I started suffering from skin irritation and wondered if something in the air might be triggering it. After I started monitoring, I also discovered that my home had high levels of radon.
"The monitors are simple to use and help me track my air quality. When I use my gas fire, I'm concerned about air safety, but the monitors and app information help me stay informed and decide whether to run my air purifier or humidifier. The data from the monitors and app is also helping me manage my high radon levels until a mitigation solution can be installed."
Time to embrace indoor air quality monitoring
Just as Norway’s municipalities and businesses are embracing air quality monitoring, homeowners can take simple steps to ensure a healthier living environment. With real-time insights from Airthings, you can take control of the air you breathe; at work, school, and home.
Because when it comes to your health, peace of mind starts with the air around you.
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