How to use Google's Nest Hub display to get air quality alerts for your area

(Pocket-lint) - Google is introducing a caller diagnostic for its Nest Hub astute displays: Air Quality Information.

Air Quality Information tin supply you with much accusation astir however overmuch hazard you mightiness look from fume and contamination successful the area. For instance, the Western US wildfires not lone impact the West broadside of the state but person been proven to wounded aerial prime connected the East Coast, arsenic well. New York State adjacent issued a health advisory successful July 2021 erstwhile fume arrived from the Bootleg Fire successful Oregon, which is thousands of miles away.

Many Americans whitethorn beryllium unaware of this fact, but if they owned Nest Hub, they'd beryllium capable to get information alerts and beryllium much informed. 

How does Air Quality Information enactment connected Nest Hub?

AQI badge and dependable command

An Air Quality Index badge, oregon AQI badge, volition amusement up connected the timepiece and upwind widget connected the Nest Hub’s Ambient screen. Google said you volition beryllium capable to opt-out. So, erstwhile the diagnostic rolls out, Pocket-lint volition update this usher with steps connected however to opt-out for those who whitethorn not beryllium interested.

In areas wherever Google’s caller aerial prime diagnostic is available, Nest Hubs volition contented an alert erstwhile contamination reaches an unhealthy level - including a level that’s unhealthy for “sensitive groups". The Nest Hub volition besides respond to the pursuing dependable command: “What’s the aerial prime adjacent me?”

How AQI is calculated

AQI information comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency. It rates aerial prime connected a standard from 0 to 500, with zero being the champion aerial quality.

The EPA besides offers colour-coded class ratings ranging from “good” to “hazardous” aerial quality. The EPA determines your aerial prime hazard by assessing pollutants specified arsenic c monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, smog, and particle contamination similar soot and smoke. 

Do you request Nest Hub to larn astir your area's aerial quality?

No. The EPA has a web of thousands of aerial prime sensors crossed the federation that way and supply Air Quality Information done the AirNow website. Just participate your determination to get an AQI rating. There’s besides the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map that shows however acold wildfire fume tin reach. 

When volition Air Quality Information beryllium disposable connected Nest Hub?

Air Quality Information, astatine launch, is lone disposable successful “select” US markets. It's rolling retired "over the coming weeks" - truthful by aboriginal September 2021.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 14 August 2021.