Air Support Project's Quarter 3 update
Table of Contents
OVERVIEW
The third quarter of 2024 has been an exciting and transformative period for Air Support Project, filled with noteworthy advancements and meaningful growth across all our initiatives. From pushing the boundaries of product innovation to engaging deeply with the communities we serve, we remain steadfast in our commitment to improving indoor air quality (IAQ) for all. Our focus has never been clearer: making clean, healthy air not just a luxury for a few, but a fundamental right accessible to everyone, regardless of location or circumstance. As we navigate the evolving landscape of environmental health, we are continually refining our technologies, expanding partnerships, and listening to feedback from individuals. In this update, we’re proud to share the tangible milestones we’ve reached, offering a closer look at how these efforts are moving us closer to our goal.
Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished this quarter.
Driving Innovation: Open-Source Air Purifier
This summer, we officially kicked off our collaboration with ATOM Inc., a leading product design and manufacturing firm, to bring our vision of an open-source air purifier to life. Our goal? To make clean air more accessible by designing an efficient, easy-to-build air purifier that anyone can use.
By prioritizing airflow efficiency and reducing noise, we aim to create a purifier that’s powerful, practical, and comfortable to use.
We’re thrilled to have airflow experts on board to guide our design improvements. They’ve been conducting efficiency tests on popular DIY fan-and-filter systems, including the Clean Air Kits Tower of Power and the Air Fanta 3PRO, to help us refine our designs.
Our timeline for beta testing remains on track, with plans to begin in Spring/Summer 2025. We’re already connecting with community organizations interested in participating—if your organization wants to join, please get in touch!
Airwareness Support App: Bringing Clean Air Tools to Your Fingertips
We’ve made incredible progress on the Airwareness Support App, our groundbreaking tool designed to empower individuals to monitor and optimize their IAQ with ease. This app represents a significant leap forward in making air purification more accessible and user-friendly. With real-time air quality data and personalized recommendations, the Airwareness Support App puts the control of your indoor environment right at your fingertips. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or managing a shared space, the app provides actionable insights to help you maintain cleaner, healthier air for you and your loved ones.
We believe that creating healthier indoor environments shouldn’t be complicated, and the Airwareness Support App is our answer to that challenge. With an intuitive interface and powerful features, it allows users to make various estimates for cleaner air. This tool is designed not just for tech-savvy users but for anyone who wants to take control of their indoor air, making clean air management as easy as checking the weather.
Key Features at a Glance
- Air Purifier and CO₂ Estimators: Determine the optimal settings for your space to ensure clean, healthy air.
- Transmission Risk Calculator: Understand the potential risk of airborne diseases in different environments.
- Room Aggregator: Manage multiple spaces, making this tool perfect for schools, offices, and public facilities.
The app is being built with React, ensuring it’s accessible across web browsers, mobile devices, and desktops. To make the experience even more interactive, we’ve integrated 3D room simulations using Three.js, providing users with engaging, real-time visualizations.
In line with our commitment to transparency and collaboration, and our App is opensource. We invite developers and tech enthusiasts to contribute to this project—let’s improve indoor air quality together.
Big Milestones for Air Support Project
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status
We’re thrilled to share that our application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status was submitted in early October with the help of Wagenmaker & Oberly. This is a significant step toward expanding our reach and impact.
Noteworthy Mentions
Air Support Project is honored to be featured in The Psychologist article “The Mosaic of COVID-Consciousness”, which highlights the role of collaborative communication in finding solutions for the ongoing COVID-19 and long COVID crises we face, and the special role psychology plays in connecting “knowing” and “doing”. Read the full article here.
Welcoming New Board Members
This quarter, we welcomed three incredible new members to our Board of Directors:
- Dr. Stephane Bilodeau brings his expertise in Cleantech, a passion for clean energy solutions, and experience in public health advocacy.
- Michael Olesen offers decades of experience in infection prevention and analysis, providing key insights into our work around disease transmission.
- Hilary Thorsen is dedicated to enhancing public library services and has a particular passion for improving air quality in educational settings.
Expanding Community Outreach
In Phoenix, Arizona, we partnered with the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network to provide support during the summer’s extreme heat events. We’ve also been engaging with local shelters, libraries, and community centers to lay the groundwork for beta testing our air purifiers. It’s exciting to see three organizations already stepping up to participate!
We’ve also teamed up with Balvi grant recipients to further our goals. Notably, we’ve worked with Anthony Douglas (OpenERV) on airflow efficiency and product design, and we’re exploring future collaborations. We are also brainstorming ways to enhance our educational outreach with Jon Jon Animation, renowned for their boundary-pushing, multidisciplinary content. Their work often features artistically designed, highly stylized respirators and themes that align with our mission of cleaner indoor air and better public health. Notably, Jon Jon is developing an art piece that combines a working boombox with a functional air purifier, creatively merging art and technology to promote awareness in an innovative way.
"My approach is always to find ways to combine enjoyability and fun with something functional that I know I'm going to need. With air filters, I've always thought they have some similarity in how they look to audio speakers. The ability to select and play music could be a bridge to those who aren't particularly concerned with air quality at this time. The music becomes the focus and clean air delivery becomes a secondary bonus. This could be a way for people to access dance spaces or create a relaxing ambience for their friends."
Educational Initiatives: Spreading Knowledge on Clean Air
We’re constantly looking for ways to share the importance of indoor air quality with the community. This quarter, we launched a new webpage, “COVID and Other Airborne Germs,” packed with information on how to protect against airborne diseases. We also rolled out a 7-part blog series on COVID mitigations and published articles on the health impacts of heat illness and hurricanes/floods.
moving forward in 2024
As Air Support Project continues to grow and evolve, we are thrilled to welcome three outstanding individuals to our board of directors. Each of these new members brings a wealth of expertise, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to improving indoor air quality and advancing sustainable solutions. Please join us in welcoming Stéphane Bilodeau, Michael Olesen, and Hilary Thorsen to Air Support Project’s family.
Our Deepest Thanks
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our partners, donors, and the communities that have supported and believed in our mission from the very beginning. Your contributions not only fuel our work but also make a tangible difference in advancing indoor air quality and improving public health. A special thanks goes out to our key partners at Balvi and Kanro, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in driving our innovations forward and expanding the reach of our clean air solutions. Together, we are making significant strides toward a healthier, cleaner future for everyone, and we couldn’t do it without you.
Stay in Touch
Want to stay updated on our progress and be the first to hear about the latest advancements in air purification? Follow us on Twitter (@AirSupportBox), connect with us on LinkedIn (Air Support Project), or join the conversation on Mastodon (Air Support Project). Let’s continue pushing forward together as we work to create cleaner, safer environments for all.
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
KNOW BETTER, BREATHE BETTER.
“I must fight with all my strength so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution. The only real reason for living.”
FRIDA KAHLO