Community air quality monitoring expands to South Dunedin
The addition brings AKV's network to 15 community-hosted monitors across Dunedin, providing residents with more information about how air quality varies between different parts of the city.
A new area to monitor
South Dunedin was a natural next step for the network.
The area sits close to the ocean and experiences different weather and environmental conditions from many of the existing monitoring locations. Until now, however, there has been relatively limited active community air quality monitoring in the area.
Having a monitor in South Dunedin gives us another location to compare with the other 14 sites across Dunedin and helps build a better picture of how air quality changes across the city.
Sims & Blue joins the network
Local business Sims & Blue is hosting the first South Dunedin monitor.
We’re excited to support Aroha Kaikorai Valley and be part of the community air quality monitoring network. As EcoDecorators, caring for the environment is a big part of what we do, and through our Beyond the Brush initiative we’re always looking for ways to give back and support our local community. Hosting an air quality monitor is a simple way we can help provide useful information for everyone in Dunedin.
— Nathan Sims, Sims & Blue
The community air quality network relies on residents, businesses and organisations volunteering space for monitors on their properties.
This community support makes it possible for the data to be publicly available, allowing anyone to see live readings and explore how air quality changes throughout the day and across the seasons.
What we've seen so far
Two years of monitoring across the network have shown PM2.5 — fine particulate matter — rising sharply during the colder months, with domestic heating being a major contributor.
The data also highlights actions households can take to reduce pollution.
Burning dry wood and keeping a fire burning hot can help reduce emissions, while damping a fire right down overnight can also contribute to increased pollution levels in the local area.
We're looking for more South Dunedin hosts
AKV is now looking for three more South Dunedin businesses to host air quality monitors, to have four monitors spread across the area.
Hosts are recognised on the AKV website as project supporters and help contribute to a growing picture of Dunedin's air quality.
If your business could host a monitor, we'd love to hear from you:
Email: joshua.smith@akv.nz
View the live data
You can explore the network's live air quality readings at:
The data includes measurements such as PM2.5, temperature, humidity and other air quality indicators from monitoring sites around Dunedin.
