Priligy online now, save money

AUG 08

Recent Comment

"Yeah, the helium would leak out - I think it's more the idea that this..."

View all Comments

DIY Balloons Glow to Show Air Quality

Written by Philip Proefrock on 08/08/10
AirQuality

Instructables has a great project to build an inexpensive air quality sensor that can be embedded into a helium balloon that will change color according to the level of pollutants it detects. A three- or four-foot diameter glowing sphere isn't necessarily a precision scientific instrument, but making information readily available can be useful for raising awareness of a topic.

Operation of the balloon is quite simple. According to the site, "Inside each balloon is a tri-colored LED. This LED reacts to data from an air quality sensor, turning green, yellow or red based on low, average, and high values." And the materials for this project only cost $30 to $40, depending on the sensor that is used. It is a simple project requiring only a small amount of soldering and assembly.

via: BoingBoing

Email this
Hits: 13548
Comments (4)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
0
Polluting balloons!
written by growler, August 08, 2010
Surely if enough morons build these silly toys they will add even more pollution and trash to the environment. Unless they are tethered, they will float away, to deposit their poisonous batteries, gallium arsenide LEDs and whatever else into the environment.

0
...
written by Doc Rings, August 09, 2010
Doesn't the helium leak out in just a day or two?
0
wow
written by Linda Sullivan, August 09, 2010
What a clever idea to use these a barometers of air pollution. And I personally use LED lights at home because they last such a long time. Longer than CFLs in fact, and without the mercury too smilies/smiley.gif
0
...
written by J, August 19, 2010
Yeah, the helium would leak out - I think it's more the idea that this is a way to get a few people interested in air quality. I'm not sure if people would want a glowing balloon floating around their house for years to come. I think it's clever just to show that air quality is something we can easily and cheaply monitor ourselves.

Write comment

security code
Write the displayed characters


busy
< Prev   Next >
 

Are you an EcoGeek?

We've got to keep 7 billion people happy without destroying our planet. It's the biggest challenge we've ever faced....but we're taking it on. Are you with us?

rss Subscribe via RSS
at
solarenergy youtube
Twitter Follow Us on Twitter
Stumble Follow Us on Stumble Upon




The Most Popular Articles






Categories