Air Quality Index and it’s impact on Real Estate

AQI is an index used for reporting everyday air quality. The percentage of concentration of each pollutant is measured by using a standard index or a scale on an hourly basis to calculate the sub-index of each pollutant to record the AQI for that hour. The AQI is a relative scale which is indirectly proportional to the public health. In simple terms, the lower the AQI, the better the quality of air and the lesser the health concern. The concentration of each pollutant is different in different localities and it depends on the level of air pollutant in that locality. The percentage of AQI is calculated based on the presence of five major air pollutants: ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, the Environmental Protection Agency has established national air quality standards to protect the public health. In India, airborne particles and ground-level ozone are the two pollutants that create a threat to human health.

The main intention to help you understand the concept of Air Quality Index is because of the quality of the air you breathe every day is so much important to your health. AQI is measured between a scale of 0 – 500.

Values of AQI	Level of Health Concerns
0-50	Good
51-100	Moderate
101-150	Unhealthy for sensitive groups
151-200	Unhealthy
201-300	Very Unhealthy
301-500	Hazardous

The above table indicates that:

• If the AQI value is 0-50 then the quality of air is considered as satisfactory and the level of health concerns will be very less in the localities of this AQI. This values of AQI has the least possibility to affect environmental and public health.
• If the AQI value is 51-100 then the quality of air is considered to be moderate and it is necessary to reduce the outdoor activities if you are experiencing symptoms. This is the common value that can be accepted as it indicates the generally approved standards of air quality to safeguard the public health.
• If the AQI value is 101-150 then the quality of air is considered to be unhealthy for specific sensitive groups of people and in this case, you might start experiencing symptoms if you expose yourself too much to the air pollution outside. The AQI values beyond 100 are regarded to harm human health.
• If the AQI value is 151-200 then the quality of the air is considered to be unhealthy and it is necessary to consider reducing to expose yourself from outdoor activities because in this case, you might experience some serious health effects and mainly for those who belong to sensitive groups might experience severe effects.
• If the AQI value is 201-300 then the quality of air is very unhealthy and this signifies that the people might experience more severe health effects. The general health issues you face in this case are coughing and throat irritation.
• If the AQI value is 301-500 then the quality of air is extremely unhealthy and hazardous. The entire population is expected to get affected in this case.

Dos and Don’ts:

AQI Value	Do’s	Don’ts
0-50	Be extremely active and spend more time outside.	Do not encourage anyways that would contaminate the fresh air.
	Breathe as much as the fresh air you can.	Do not use vehicles that can create pollution.
	Try to use as much as eco-friendly modes of transportation in order to avoid creating air pollution.	Never burn plastic or garbage.
	Get involved in heavy and prolonged exertion.	Reduce using various types of insecticides in agricultural activities.
51-100	You can spend a moderate time in outdoors.	Avoid heavy outdoor exertions.
	Reduce doing intense workouts and heavy exercises.	Never encourage the activities that would pollute the fresh air.
	Sensitive people are suggested to carry medicines for cold and various infections caused by air pollution and take breaks more often.	Asthma patients are suggested to avoid outdoor activities as the air that belongs to this AQI might cause few breathing problems.
	People with lung and smoke diseases are suggested to reduce their outdoor activities.	Never burn garbage or plastic.
101-300	Avoid getting involved in heavy and prolonged exertion.	Do not get involved in extreme outdoor physical activities.
	While performing outdoor activities, take as many as breaks you want.
	Sensitive people and those who are suffering from respiratory problems are suggested to shift all their activities indoor.	Highly not recommended to step outside without taking any precautions.
301-500	Perform various indoor activities and try to stay indoors as much as possible	Do not get involved in extreme outdoor physical activities.
	You can reschedule all the outdoor activities and can go out when the air quality is comparatively better or shifts your activities indoor.	Asthma patients are suggested to avoid outdoor activities as the air that belongs to this AQI might cause few breathing problems.
	Sensitive people and those who are suffering from respiratory problems are suggested to shift all their activities indoor.	Never burn garbage or plastic.
		Avoid heavy outdoor exertions.

 

AQI Range over states:

AQI Range over Cities:

 

Few best ways to Reduce Air Pollution:

• Usage of public transports:

Using public transport is one of the ways to contribute to less air pollution, even carpools can contribute to it as it provides less energy and gas.

• Turn off lights:

The energy that the lights take also contribute to air pollution, it is always better to consume as much as less electricity so that it saves a lot of energy. You can always use energy-saving fluorescent lights to help the environment.

• Recycling and Reusing:

The concept of recycling and reusing does not just save the resources but also helpful for air pollution as it helps in reducing pollution.

• Do not Burn plastic and Garbage:

Burning of plastic and Garbage is very harmful to the environment and also the usage of plastic, as it takes a very long time to decompose. Paper bags have been introduced in order to eradicate the usage of plastic as it is one of the most harmful sources to pollute the earth in every single way. Also, collecting garbage and burning it by combining it with dry leaves is more harmful and is one of the huge factors causing air pollution.

• Avoid usage of crackers:

It is an obvious fact that the usage of crackers is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, the practice of no crackers should be implemented in society in order to avoid causing air pollution.

AQI and Real Estate:

In Real Estate, location is one of the most preferred factor and is the main selling point for potential buyers. Unfortunately, air quality is one of the most dangerous factors that is attached to a home. The number of deaths due to air pollution has been increasing day by day in India. According to the data of AQI India, there are 1.2 million deaths in India till 2018 due to air pollution and 92% of the world is breathing polluted air. Since technology is gaining its impact in real estate, buyers are motivated to invest in the localities and decide on the property where the AQI value is less. It is a great way to nurture potential buyers by helping them find a property in the perfect locality, where AQI is less.

According to a survey conducted by CommonFloor, the below is the population% of home buyers who consider AQI as one of the most important factors to consider in the home buying process.

City	Population%
Ahmedabad	34%
Bangalore	11%
Chennai	20%
Delhi NCR	18%
Hyderabad	18%
Kolkata	9%
Mumbai MMR	9%
Pune	13%

 

The above table explains that the population % in Ahmedabad are more considerate about choosing the localities based on the values of AQI. However, Ahmedabad has very less AQI value in each locality and this factor is expected to boom the real estate this year in the city. As technology is creating more awareness to people, AQI becomes one of the most important home-buying factors while investing in a property.

The above pie chart represents the data of the percentage of age groups that consider AQI as one of the most important factors while choosing a property. AQI is expected to create a huge impact on the resident’s health, also each and every factor is very important when you choose a home.  However, it is a great way to reconnect with nature by choosing the localities that have less AQI. Considering air quality while choosing a house, is always an advantage to your health.

The relationship between property prices and the Air Quality Index:

Property values can be explained based on numerous factor because it involves a huge amount of money and owning the rights of that property. Air quality is related to the cleanliness and safety that will not cause any harm to public health. It is an obvious fact that the homebuyers have knowledge about the property and also are concerned about the environment. Living in the topmost localities of the city cannot guarantee more about the environment because these localities are filled with rapid developments and encroachments. Property value is the dependent variable. The property price is directly proportional to the environmental condition. The better the environmental condition, the higher the property prices. The involvement of the property market in such localities with good environmental conditions can be considered as one of the sensitive factors to develop the social infrastructure and economic drive of the locality.

How can AQI data help Real Estate Companies?

New home buyers in the market always want as much as information they want to know about a property. If the real estate companies can help home buyers with all the details regarding the property buying procedure, the higher the chances of making a sale. If the real estate companies will offer information to the home buyers that matter their health by reducing their exposure to the polluted areas.

Top residential projects in the localities where AQI is less:

Chennai:

The average AQI in Chennai is noted as 50, which means the air quality is good and healthy. AQI is one of the reasons why Chennai’s real estate has been doing well in the last few years.

Locality	AQI Value
Alandur Bus Depot	44
Manali Village	43
Manali	64
Velacherry Residential Area	49

 

Pacifica Aurum Villas:

Pacifica Aurum Villas is the epitome of fine living in a truly global lifestyle city. Pacifica Company had designed this project in Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai. This project satisfies the resident’s needs in every single way possible. Pacifica Aurum Villas is located in one of the top most residential localities in Chennai. This area enjoys good demand due to its proximity to important centers of the city and beyond. The price appreciation in this locality is expected to be very good in future. The average AQI in this city is noted as 50, the level of health concern is considered as good in this case. The air quality is extremely healthy in this locality and this attracts a lot of home buyers to choose this locality.

Navin’s Springfield:

Navin’s Springfield enables the best utilization of the space from stylish flooring to spacious balconies, standard kitchen size and high quality fixtures, every little detail in this project gives an attractive look. This project offers various amenities such as landscaped garden, Indoor games, CCTV Cameras, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, etc.  This project is located in Medavakkam, this locality has been witnessing various ups and downs, but this locality is witnessing the highest demand and supply at present. Its proximity to various prime localities adds to the advantage of being a prominent locality.

Ahmedabad:

Ahmedabad is one of the topmost residential city in India where the quality of air is noted to be good and the Average AQI value is 67, that is noted as good.

GSG Orchid Sky:

GSG Orchid Sky is a luxurious residential project located in Shela, Ahmedabad West that offers all the required amenities to live a perfect life. The real estate market of Ahmedabad West is on a positive trajectory and the beautiful city appeals to homebuyer’s interest and the developers in this city are coming up with new developments.

Bangalore:

The quality of air is verified in Bangalore is average but in a few localities, the AQI value is less than or equal to 60 and these localities are noted as the prominent localities in Bangalore though these localities witness various ups and downs, the price appreciation of this locality in the future might be very good.

Locality	AQI
BTM layout	60
Sarjapur Road	62
Hebbal	95
Jaya Nagar	98
Whitefield	67

 

NVT Life Square:

NVT Life Square is a new experience in living in a villa in a community that has been designed to give you twice the life. It is a home that reflects a careful design, meticulous planning and an obsession with the quality of the workforce. Each villa is designed with two access points, one in the front and one in the rear. These magnificent living spaces with high ceilings and skylights converge in the informal rear that NVT Life Square villas have been designed to create a lifestyle that you have always desired for.  NVT Life Square villas are located in Whitefield which is noted as one of the prominent localities in Bangalore.

Mumbai:

The quality of air is verified in Mumbai is average but in few localities the AQI value is less than or equal to 60 and these localities are noted as the prominent localities in Mumbai though these localities witness various ups and downs, the price appreciation of this localities in the future might be very good because of the quality of air.

Locality	AQI
Bandra	69
Borivali East	69
Colaba	70
Kurla	99
Worli	88
Vile Parle West	58
Powai	88

 

Godrej Prime:

Godrej Prime is a luxurious residential project located in Chembur, where the AQI Is noted as 58 and that resembles that the air quality is good in this locality, which is why this locality is noted as one of the best locality in Mumbai. This project consists of all kinds of topmost amenities required to live a perfect life. Chembur is one of the prominent localities in Mumbai. The price trends in this locality have been witnessing various ups and downs. This area enjoys good demand due to its proximity to important centers of the city and beyond. The price appreciation of this locality in the future might be very good.