The Role of Zephyr® in Delivering Trustworthy Air Quality Data

Why Trust in Data Matters

Across towns, cities, and school communities, the need for reliable air pollution data is growing. Whether it’s for supporting environmental strategies, encouraging behavior change, or building trust with the public, data plays a vital role in helping people make better decisions.

While reference-grade monitors offer the highest level of accuracy, they are often too expensive or too few in number to show what’s happening at a local level. That’s where indicative monitors like EarthSense’s Zephyr® come in. These sensors provide local, real-time air quality data that helps users understand air pollution in the places that matter most to them.

We covered this in more depth in our earlier blog:

👉 Why Data Quality Matters in Indicative Air Quality Monitoring

Why Indicative Air Quality Data Matters

Air quality data doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful. When the data is reliable, consistent, and the uncertainty is known and managed, it can support real-world decisions—especially when reference stations are too costly or too limited in coverage.

For example, around schools, indicative data can be used to help children understand pollution and how their actions, like walking or cycling to school, can make a difference. This can influence how parents travel and even lead to wider changes like support for micro-mobility or traffic-free zones.

Councils may use this type of data to screen for pollution hotspots as a first step before making more detailed studies. It’s a quick and cost-effective way to identify places where improvements might be needed. Long-term, these sensors can help track air quality trends and support policy evaluation. Whether it’s checking how a clean air zone is working or studying the effect of new transport changes, having access to local, ongoing data can make a big difference.

These are just a few examples. The real value lies in the ability to use the data with confidence, and that’s where Zephyr® stands out.

Why Zephyr®: Reliable, Scalable, and Built for Confidence

Certified for Indicative Monitoring

Zephyr® is certified under the UK’s MCERTS scheme for pollutants like PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅. This means the sensors meet set performance standards, giving users greater confidence in the data quality for important tasks like planning, community monitoring, or health studies.

Subscription-Based, Budget-Friendly Model

With Zephyr®, there’s no need for big upfront costs. The subscription model provides a clear, all-in-one service—including the sensor, access to the MyAir platform, updates, and support. This makes it easier to plan budgets and grow your network over time.

Automated Fleet Reviews

Zephyr® networks are supported by EarthSense’s automated QAQC system, which continuously checks each sensor for unusual readings, drift, gaps in data, or technical issues. The system identified 89% of issues in-house during April 2025, meaning repairs are faster and fewer faults go unnoticed. The result is high data capture rates and consistent performance—without the need for constant manual intervention.

Flexible Power for Flexible Deployment

Zephyr® sensors are made for a variety of locations and needs. They can run on mains, battery, or solar power, which means they can be used in busy streets, near schools, or in more remote areas—wherever data is needed.

Conclusion: Making Air Quality Data Actionable

Whether it’s helping school communities understand local pollution, or supporting councils with long-term planning and screening, indicative air quality data plays an important role.

Zephyr® delivers this data in a way that’s trustworthy, cost-effective, and easy to manage. With certified performance, real-time QAQC, and a flexible subscription model, it helps users take action based on data they can rely on.