Test & measurement
change. Indoors, CO₂ affects the comfort and performance of the people inside a building. Occupied spaces with good air exchange may contain 450-1,000 ppm CO₂, but anything above this can induce drowsiness. Levels above 2,000 ppm CO₂ cause headaches, sleepiness, poor concentration, loss of attention, increased heart rate and slight nausea. Exposure to very high levels (from oil/gas burners or gas leaks for example) can even result in fatalities from asphyxiation. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the operations of buildings account for 30 per cent of global final energy consumption and 26 per cent of global energy-related emissions (8 per cent being direct emissions in buildings and 18 per cent indirect emissions from the production of electricity and heat used in buildings). The climate crisis is therefore challenging all sectors, and the building industry in particular, to find ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Building Biospheres’ therefore seeks to investigate the opportunities presented by the integration of plants into indoor environmental management, and to engage with the architecture and building design community, to challenge traditional approaches to building design and operation.
The ‘Building Biospheres’ exhibit will serve as a living laboratory, exploring the ways in which plants can be used to complement traditional energy-intensive building management technologies. Vaisala’s CO₂ sensors have therefore been deployed at different locations throughout the exhibit: one outdoors, one in the entrance hall of the pavilion and one within the plant canopy in the ‘Building Biospheres’ room, to monitor how effectively the plants help regulate indoor CO₂ levels.
This year, visitors to the Belgian Pavilion of the Biennale Architettura will be able to view live data from the ‘Building Biospheres’ exhibit. “This is one of the most prestigious architectural events in the world,” Prof. Steppe adds. “So, it represents a fantastic opportunity to inspire building designers from around the globe. The most obvious applications – you could call them the lowest hanging fruit! – are large buildings such as train stations and airports.”
The objectives of the Biennale Architettura 2025 align with Vaisala’s sustainability objectives, including the company’s core purpose, which it describes as: taking every measure for the planet. “We were delighted to be invited to participate in this highly respected event,” comments Vaisala’s Pekka Ravila, vice president, Industrial Measurements EMEA. “Not just because it highlights the performance of our CO₂ sensors, but mostly because this represents a very exciting opportunity to help create a paradigm shift in the way that buildings are designed and managed. If we can achieve that, the potential beneficial impacts on climate change will be enormous.” Summarising, Prof. Steppe says: “If we are to convince building designers to incorporate plants into their design, it is essential that we are able to supply them with data to support our ideas. Vaisala’s carbon dioxide sensors are therefore playing a vital role in helping us to demonstrate how plants are able to help regulate indoor CO₂ levels naturally, without the need for a heavy carbon footprint, and with the added benefit that the plants look great!”
Vaisala Instrumentation Monthly June 2025
www.vaisala.com 65
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
