Honeywell, a leader in Connected Home technologies, is launching a public awareness-led campaign to educate people about the relatively unknown hazards of indoor air pollution. Featuring leading Indian actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, the launch also introduced two new additions to the company’s indoor air purifier portfolio for Indian homes.
Today, India is home to half of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Rapid urbanization, construction, dependence on coal for energy, vehicular pollution, and dust contribute to rising pollution levels. 10 percent of the world’s asthma patients are from India, and the country has registered a nearly 50 percent increase in premature deaths from particulate matter between 1990 and 2015.
The Air Quality-Life Index (AQLI) recently developed by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago reveals that if India reduced air pollution to meet WHO air quality standards, its people could live about four years longer on average. Average lifespan could be as much as nine years longer in Delhi, and 3.5 years longer in Kolkata and Mumbai.
However, even more poorly understood is indoor air pollution, which can be up to 10 times higher than outdoor air pollution and yet, invisible. Honeywell research across key Indian metros shows most people associate poor air quality and health risks with smog and dirty air found in the outdoor environments of large cities across India. But there is little or no awareness about indoor air pollution and the health hazards it poses.
More than a million people in India die due to indoor air pollution annually. Cooking, including on wood- or coal-fired stoves, incense, pet dander, aerosols, fumes from paints and upholstery – all contribute to air pollution inside Indian homes. This is hazardous particularly for those who suffer from respiratory ailments, or are susceptible to allergies.
Honeywell is launching this integrated marketing campaign aiming to draw attention to, and raise public awareness about indoor air pollution and purification.
“I’m glad to be associated with Honeywell for its strong technology heritage,” said Kareena Kapoor Khan. “Honeywell understands air pollution and purification inside our homes. That is important for me and my family, and I think I’m helping address an important issue with this campaign.”
Honeywell technologies are already in 150 million homes with connected thermostats, smoke detectors, advanced security systems, and air and water purification systems. The company developed its Air Touch range of air purifiers to address the ever-growing problem of air pollution inside Indian homes. These purifiers are designed based on research that took into account the unique issues with indoor air quality in Indian homes, and consumer needs and behaviors:
•The range, including the new Honeywell Air Touch I8 and A5 models, comes with the assurance of the pre-filter, HEPA filter, and the company’s patented HiSiv technology, or an activated carbon filter. The three-layer filter combination eliminates large dust particles, bacteria, formaldehyde, harmful gases, volatile organic compounds, and offers a PM2.5 removal efficiency of greater than 99 percent.
•The touch panel offers features like variable fan speed, an air quality indicator, child lock, and sleep mode.
•The products’ award-winning design offers intuitive and user-friendly features like 3D airflow, anti-fall design, and prevents exposure to filters that have absorbed pollutants. The latest feature is real-time ambient air pollution measurement, which most air purifiers do not offer.
Speaking at the launch, Vikas Chadha, president, Honeywell India, said, “Most of us are unaware that indoor air pollution poses a serious health hazard. We want to educate people that staying indoors doesn’t necessarily mean the air you’re breathing is safe. However, there are affordable technologies available now to help tackle this issue, even more for those who need relief from respiratory ailments, asthma, allergies, and other long term breathing and health problems. The technology used in our products is recommended for homes by the Indian Medical Academy for Preventive Healthcare.”
Dino Asvaintra, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Home and Building Technologies, Greater China/High Growth Regions for the Homes business, said, “Dino Asvaintra, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Home and Building Technologies, Greater China/High Growth Regions for the Homes business, said, “We have the best technology available today, to provide ready-now solutions that work for Indian conditions. The Air Touch purifiers are designed to help every family immediately improve the air they and their loved ones breathe inside their homes. One of our goals has been to make our products more accessible – both in terms of superior user experience as well as affordability. We were very clear when we started to develop our residential air purifiers three years back, that clean air should be a basic right, not a luxury.”
Honeywell is a leading brand in the indoor air purification space with one of the widest portfolio available to address pollution inside homes, cars, and institutions. Its complete range of air purifiers is available on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and PayTM, and offline channels, including large and small format retail stores.
