Elon Musk’s Involvement in Air Quality Tech Will Put the ‘Hype Into HVAC’

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22 July 2022

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has long hinted at a desire to enter the smart HVAC system market, a move that BESA argues will inject a much-needed boost into the industry.

On 18 July 2022, Elon tweeted in response to Tesla shareholder Owen Sparks’ complaints of airborne allergies: “It’s on the future product list. Especially important in places like Austin, which has next-level amounts of pollen in the air.”

It’s on the future product list. Especially important in places like Austin, which has next-level amounts of pollen in the air.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 18, 2022

Chair of BESA’s Health & Wellbeing in Buildings group Nathan Wood said this intervention showed just how far the debate about IAQ, health, and energy efficiency had advanced in recent times. 

“We have been battling away in this market for years and making slow, steady progress – but the intervention of the world’s most famous and wealthy businessman should certainly take it up a notch or two.

“He seems to understand the importance of driving the market for improved ventilation and IAQ alongside the push for net zero – and that really is key to its future success. This will definitely put the ‘Hype into HVAC’. Tweeting him now…” 

The History of Elon Musk’s Interest in Indoor Air Quality

The Tesla Co-Founder’s interest in air quality was previously demonstrated in the development of his Model S and Model X electric cars. Known as “Bioweapon Defence Mode”, these vehicles have HEPA filtration systems allegedly “hundreds of times more efficient than standard automotive filters”.

At a 2020 Tesla shareholders meeting, Elon spoke about entering the indoor air quality market:  “Oh, you mean home HVAC. That's a pet project that I'd love to get going on — maybe we'll start working on that next year. I just think you could really make a way better home HVAC system that's really quiet and super energy efficient, has a way better filter for particles, and works very reliably.”

In April 2020, he tweeted: “I’m dying to do super efficient, quiet home HVAC with HEPA & water distillation. It’s weird, but I really want to do it.”

I’m dying to do super efficient, quiet home HVAC with HEPA & water distillation. It’s weird, but I really want to do it.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 23, 2020

Picture: a photograph of a smartphone showing a tweet notification with the words "Elon Musk". Image Credit: Shutterstock

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 22 July 2022

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