New Greenhouse Gas Sensor Will Be Cheap, Tiny, and Effective

October 29th, 2008 by Ariel Schwartz

Good news for governments looking to measure greenhouse gas emissions: a new sensor being developed by the VTT Technical Research Institute will be tiny (less than an inch), cost-effective, and twice as sensitive as current sensors.

The European Union is funding the €2.8 million MINIGAS consortium, which has brought together numerous organizations, including Finland via Gasera, the Loffe Institute in Russia, and QinetQ.

In addition to providing greenhouse gas detection, the MINIGAS sensor will also be able to detect explosive vapors and nerve gases—so governments will have multiple incentives to install the device. Environmentally conscious consumers may also want to get in on the action, since the sensor could lead to improved air-conditioning systems in buildings.

The MINIGAS project hasn’t given a release date for the sensor, but the sooner we can more accurately gauge our greenhouse emissions, the better.

Photo Credit: Naturalhistorymag.com









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