Rising concerns about exposure to airborne pathogens when inside is now part of the new normal, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Pinnacle Climate Technologies is addressing those concerns with an at-home an air sanitizer device that is said to neutralize germs, bacteria and viruses through short-wave ultraviolet light, or UVC.
 
By adapting similar UVC technology long used in hospital settings, the Remington Airetrex 365 Air Sanitizer offers consumers a simple, safe and effective way to deactivate many harmful pathogens, said the Eden Prairie, MN-based company.
 
UVC technology is considered more effective in sanitizing the air than conventional air purifiers and filters currently available to consumers, which rely mainly on filter material to trap and reduce the number of particulates returned to the air, according to Pinnacle Climate Technologies. The Airetrex 365 works differently, using UVC light to deactivate pathogens—without limiting airflow. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, ultraviolet energy inactivates viral, bacterial and fungal organisms so they are unable to replicate and potentially cause disease.
 
“Our company has been in the air quality and comfort business since 1951. As a global provider of heating and ventilation solutions under multiple brands, this was a logical next step. Since we were already involved in UVC technology from an R&D perspective, we were able to very quickly provide a home solution that focuses on sanitizing the air we breathe, not just wiping down surfaces,” David Osland, director of product management and marketing, Pinnacle Climate Technologies, told Happi.
 
The Airetrex 365 has a two-speed fan that draws room air into the unit, passing it over an ultraviolet bulb concealed in the unit before recirculating sanitized air back into the room. 
 
“It alters the genetic structure of the pathogen rendering it damaged or inert,” said Osland.
 
A reflective metal interior is said to further increase the light’s intensity and air dwell time. Airetrex 365 can circulate air six times an hour in a 10’ x 10’ room. It weighs about 10 pounds and can be easily moved, which, its maker says, is perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, offices or college dorm rooms.  Airetrex 365 (approximately $199) can run 24 hours, 7 days a week using about the same electricity as a 40-watt light bulb, according the firm.
 
According to Osland, awareness of the technology has grown in the past six months thanks to news stories and articles published about UVC light and its capabilities as a sanitizer. 
 
He said Pinnacle is working to educate more consumers about the benefits of UVC light through its website.
 
Osland also pointed to the Airetrex 365’s safety, too, telling Happi that there are “no concerns” regarding the UV light and exposure.  
 
“The Remington Airetrex 365 Home Air Sanitizer is as safe as other electrical devices in your home. The UVC light source is located and contained safely inside a special chamber in the heart of the unit. Unlike some other units in the market, this allows it to operate safely while parents, children and pets are in the same room,” he said.
 
Osland is bullish on the prospects of UVC light-based sanitizing in the consumer marketplace.
 
“UVC light sanitization has been around for over 100 years and has primarily been used in the medical and industrial fields, “ he said. “With the pandemic, you are seeing news stories daily about the benefits of UVC light and a recognition and familiarity with the technology from a consumer’s point of view. I don’t think that will go away when the pandemic is over.”