Jun 29, 2023 21:00:00

The CEO of an air quality monitor manufacturing startup talks about the ``hidden cost'' of air quality monitors

Introduce an 'air quality monitor' that can measure the degree of air pollution in the same way as thermometers and hygrometers, and try to obtain information about the atmosphere such as PM2.5 and yellow sand, which are often talked about in Japan. Not a few people. However, AirGradient, a startup that manufactures and sells air quality monitors, explains the problem that it costs more than imagined for the general public to check such air quality.

The Hidden Cost of Air Quality Monitoring

https://www.airgradient.com/blog/hidden-costs-of-air-quality-monitoring/

From around 2023, it seems that there are an increasing number of cases where major manufacturers that handle air quality monitors will no longer provide free APIs and will recommend upgrading to a paid plan. Achim Haug, CEO of AirGradient, said many users believe that the cost of an air quality monitor is only 'the cost of purchasing the hardware' or, in some cases, the 'subscription cost' to access the data. It is said that there is, but in reality it may cost more.

CEO Haug said, ``Since many manufacturers in the industry are showing a worrying trend of charging for APIs, I would like to focus on the various costs that come with owning an air quality monitor. ',' and introduced the invisible cost of air quality monitoring.

First of all, there is an important point that almost all air quality monitors in the price range up to about $ 1000 (about 140,000 yen) use 'sensor modules' from companies such as SenseAir, Plantower, and Sensirion. Some of these modules have a limited lifespan, and in many cases they may need to be replaced every two to three years. It is originally very easy to directly replace such modules, but in fact many companies sell the modules in dedicated cartridges, so it seems difficult to replace them when they break down.

Furthermore, although the price of the sensor module should normally be $ 2 (about 290 yen) to $ 15 (about 2170 yen), the cartridge incorporating the module is often sold at a price up to 10 times the original price. yes. Haug also points out that there are products that display messages that frequently purchase replacement cartridges even though the module is working properly. From the above examples, we can see that there is a problem of 'availability' that internal parts cannot be easily replaced.

In addition, CEO Haug also mentions the durability of the air quality monitor itself. Since

the air quality monitor and open source DIY kit developed by AirGradient were designed with a focus on product life, CEO Haug said, ``Designing a repairable and long-life air quality monitor is It's actually very easy,' he said. However, some companies believe that increasing durability will not lead to profits, and in fact, more fragile products are on the market. ``Unfortunately, many air quality monitors break down after a few years of use, and are often difficult or impossible to repair,'' Haug said. .

Another big cost is the 'ecosystem'. ``Many companies seem to have a strong desire to make money from subscriptions, and often the ecosystem is closed,'' Haug said. If the ecosystem becomes closed, it will be difficult for third-party apps to obtain free data via APIs, and third-party apps will not be able to keep up with APIs if they are not updated. The adverse effects of chilling will appear.

by ehpien

Haug also questioned that even if a customer gets data from an air quality monitor, the ownership of that data lies with the company, not the customer. We strongly believe that it should belong to the monitor owner.' ``Because AirGradient is a self-funded startup, the emphasis on sustainability and loyalty to customers sets it apart from other companies,'' he said.