Home Assistant Podcast AirGradient: From Thai Wildfires to Open Source Hardware feat Achim Haug
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Oct 14, 2025 Achim Haug, founder of AirGradient and an open-hardware advocate, shares his journey from a volunteer project in Northern Thailand to creating a mission-driven company. He discusses the critical need for air quality monitoring tools during the 2019 burning season. Achim highlights the transition to open-source hardware, emphasizing repairability and user ownership. He also details collaborations with UNICEF for air quality forecasting and reveals future plans for new devices and features, showcasing the power of community and open culture.
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Volunteer Project Sparks Company
- Achim built the first monitors as a volunteer project for his children's school during Northern Thailand's severe 2019 burning season.
- He and parents used workshops and simple dashboards so the headmaster could monitor classroom air easily.
Open Hardware Encourages Repair And Trust
- Open-source hardware enforces repairability, data ownership, and avoids vendor lock-in.
- Achim argues openness reduces legal overhead and builds trust with users and researchers.
Monetize Open Designs With Kits And Testing
- Sell the same open-source design as assembled units and kits to capture users who prefer convenience.
- Use scale purchasing and in-house testing to stay competitive and justify customers paying a small premium.