AirZen: AI Vision-Based Automatic HVAC Control System for Enhanced Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing demand for improved air quality and enhanced residential environments, driven by heightened consumer awareness of personal hygiene and cleanliness. In Korea, the quarantine market has expanded significantly, reaching an estimated value of approximately ₩3 trillion annually. This highlights the increasing importance of air quality management as a critical factor for enhancing the health and productivity of individuals, as well as for maintaining the value of buildings.
In addition, in the global quarantine market, the pandemic heightened awareness of the importance of indoor air quality, as people spent more time indoors and became more concerned about hygiene and airborne contaminants. Studies show that globally, poor indoor air quality is now associated with increased risks of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and even COVID-19 severity, driving efforts to improve air purification and ventilation in residential spaces (European Environment Agency, 2020; Zhu et al., 2020).
A 2021 survey on dining-out consumption behavior by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation revealed significant shifts in consumer priorities post-pandemic. The survey, which involved 1,341 consumers aged 20 to 69 who had dined out at least 10 times within the previous month, indicated that 92% of respondents emphasized certain factors more. While food taste, price, and accessibility remained the top three considerations, cleanliness rose sharply in importance, ranking fourth and coming very close to food taste in priority.
In response, many countries have expanded their markets for indoor air quality solutions, including air filtration systems and smart home technologies. For instance, cities around the world, from Europe to South Asia, have recorded increased sales in air purification technologies. Governments and environmental organizations have emphasized the need for better indoor air quality management, linking it directly to public health outcomes (Wu et al., 2020).
The rapid adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-based home systems, which help regulate air quality, heating, and cooling, is becoming a key market trend. This technological shift, combined with an increasing emphasis on health, hygiene, and well-being, has driven both consumer and institutional demand for more advanced environmental control systems (Altan, 2024). As the market grows, solutions addressing specific environmental concerns, such as fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have emerged as essential in both urban and residential settings.
This ongoing shift suggests that the quarantine and air quality markets will continue to expand, not only in Korea but globally, as demand for safer and healthier living environments remains high.
This trend reflects not only an increased awareness of personal hygiene since the pandemic but also a growing emphasis on safety and cleanliness in various service sectors, including the food industry. It is particularly noteworthy that in a market where food quality traditionally dominated consumer concerns, cleanliness has become almost equally important, signifying a dramatic shift in consumer expectations.
Further underscoring the significance of environmental quality, a 2021 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 70% of the global population now lives in urban areas, where many are exposed to health risks related to poor indoor air quality. Studies have shown that substandard indoor air contributes to a higher incidence of respiratory diseases, allergies, and cardiovascular conditions. In Korea, air pollutants such as fine dust have been classified as first-class carcinogens, posing severe public health threats, as evidenced by a 2023 survey by the Ministry of Environment.
Additionally, changing demographics, particularly the rise in single-person households, have fueled growing interest in smart home technologies that enable automatic and efficient control of living environments. According to data from the National Statistical Office, younger generations (those in their 20s and 30s) account for a significant portion (about 40%) of single-person households and exhibit a strong interest in IoT devices. However, older generations, particularly those in their 50s and 60s, face challenges in adopting these technologies, despite being frequent users of electronic devices, often influenced by their children’s preferences.
Given these trends, the demand for personalized environmental control systems is increasing, yet current services and technologies for managing air quality, heating, and cooling on a room-by-room basis remain limited. As a result, AIoT-based automatic cooling and heating management systems are expected to emerge as an effective solution to address these growing needs.
