The Problem
The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that our indoor air is an average of two to five times worse than outdoor air and is one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Since we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, a third of which is spent in bed, bedroom furnishings make a substantial impact on our health. For this project I sought to create a furniture piece for the bedroom that was not only made with non-polluting materials, but also worked to correct the problem of indoor air pollution.
The Problem
(master’s thesis project)
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
USE AIR PURIFIERS
Where does it come from? ELIMINATE POLLUTANTS
Can be cost prohibitive, unattractive, and take up too much space.
Not always possible or practical.
Indoor air pollution comes from pet fur, pollen, bioeffluents, dust, outdoor air pollution as well as off-gassing and particulate matter from household products. Toxic materials are widely prevalent in all consumer products; in fact, of 82,000 chemicals available for use in the US, only about 200 have been required to be tested for safety.
What can we do about it?
INCREASE VENTILATION
USE HOUSEPLANTS May not be appropriate for those with kids, pets, or poor lighting conditions. May require more plants than available space permits.
What is the health impact? 1 in 5 Americans suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. Exposure causes headaches & irritation/ congestion of the eyes, nose & throat. Many of these identified by the World Health Organization as KNOWN or PROBABLE CARCINOGENS.
The Problem
Ide ation
The form of the night stand was explored first. This lead to the realization that I needed to focus on first finding the right materials in the right quantities for maximum air purification.
Simple panels filled with activated carbon granules and zeolite were created in order to determine the right amount and type of materials to facilitate air purification. This lead to the realization that the form would need a larger amount of surface area to contain the materials.
I built this scale model of a headboard to consider the notion of using the greater amount of available surface area to contain the air filtering materials.
e arly prototyping
air vents on front activated carbon panel zeolite panels
perforated metal
zeolite drawer
air intake on back side
further ide ation
modeling
modeling
full scale prototyping
Small, quiet, energy efficient computer fans draw air into the headboard, up through the panels of activated carbon and zeolite, and push clean air out through the top vents. Cleaner indoor air results in increased productivity, elevated mood, reduced allergy symptoms and overall better health with every breath.
Within the headboard, panels filled with activated carbon and zeolite capture pollutants in the interior pore structures of the rocks and granules. These safe, naturally occurring materials can be replaced or recharged approximately every 6 months.
how it wo rks
lemonair decor lemonair decor
lemonair decor
lemonair decor lemonair decor
lem nair decor
lem nair decor Refreshingly healthy home furnishings.
lemonair decor
lemd enair cor
WHY LEMONS? These multifunctional fruits invigorate and refresh, have excellent cleansing properties, and contribute to better health, much the same as breathing clean indoor air does.
logo development
The materials and finishes used in the final product are the safest and least toxic products available. Lemonair Décor provides clean air solutions that integrate seamlessly and beautifully into your décor, saving space and requiring little energy.
final product
The Problem
(master’s thesis project)
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
USE AIR PURIFIERS
Where does it come from? ELIMINATE POLLUTANTS
Can be cost prohibitive, unattractive, and take up too much space.
Not always possible or practical.
Indoor air pollution comes from pet fur, pollen, bioeffluents, dust, outdoor air pollution as well as off-gassing and particulate matter from household products. Toxic materials are widely prevalent in all consumer products; in fact, of 82,000 chemicals available for use in the US, only about 200 have been required to be tested for safety.
What can we do about it?
INCREASE VENTILATION
USE HOUSEPLANTS May not be appropriate for those with kids, pets, or poor lighting conditions. May require more plants than available space permits.
What is the health impact? 1 in 5 Americans suffer from either asthma, allergies or both. Exposure causes headaches & irritation/ congestion of the eyes, nose & throat. Many of these identified by the World Health Organization as KNOWN or PROBABLE CARCINOGENS.
The Problem
Ide ation
The form of the night stand was explored first. This lead to the realization that I needed to focus on first finding the right materials in the right quantities for maximum air purification.
Simple panels filled with activated carbon granules and zeolite were created in order to determine the right amount and type of materials to facilitate air purification. This lead to the realization that the form would need a larger amount of surface area to contain the materials.
I built this scale model of a headboard to consider the notion of using the greater amount of available surface area to contain the air filtering materials.
e arly prototyping
air vents on front activated carbon panel zeolite panels
perforated metal
zeolite drawer
air intake on back side
further ide ation
modeling
modeling
full scale prototyping
Small, quiet, energy efficient computer fans draw air into the headboard, up through the panels of activated carbon and zeolite, and push clean air out through the top vents. Cleaner indoor air results in increased productivity, elevated mood, reduced allergy symptoms and overall better health with every breath.
Within the headboard, panels filled with activated carbon and zeolite capture pollutants in the interior pore structures of the rocks and granules. These safe, naturally occurring materials can be replaced or recharged approximately every 6 months.
how it wo rks
lemonair decor lemonair decor
lemonair decor
lemonair decor lemonair decor
lem nair decor
lem nair decor Refreshingly healthy home furnishings.
lemonair decor
lemd enair cor
WHY LEMONS? These multifunctional fruits invigorate and refresh, have excellent cleansing properties, and contribute to better health, much the same as breathing clean indoor air does.
logo development
The materials and finishes used in the final product are the safest and least toxic products available. Lemonair Décor provides clean air solutions that integrate seamlessly and beautifully into your décor, saving space and requiring little energy.
final product
