What value does air offer beyond heating and cooling?

Recently, air quality has garnered increasing attention. This is because the potential of air far exceeds its basic function as a medium for heating and cooling to create a comfortable environment.

By manipulating and controlling air elements, new values can be created—such as delivering “air that makes food taste better,” “air that helps boost concentration while working,” to “air that combats fatigue.” So, how can air quality contribute to improving our quality of life? To answer this question, we interviewed two researchers at Daikin who are conducting studies to unlock new value from air for our customers.

How Air Impacts Fatigue, Productivity, and Taste Perception

Approximately 20 kilograms. Do you know what this number represents? It’s the amount of air humans inhale daily.※1 Daily water intake is around 1.2 kilograms, and food intake is about 1.3 kilograms. This means that in our daily lives, the volume of air we use is significantly greater than that of food and water. Understanding this fact makes it easy to realize that air quality is just as crucial to human life as the quality of our food and water.

Air affects the human body in numerous ways. For instance, airborne infectious diseases caused by viruses and allergies triggered by allergens like mold and pollen are the most obvious impacts we can imagine. However, these represent only a small fraction of how various air elements influence overall human condition.

This perspective was shared by Kiyoshi Kuroi, leader of the IAQ Technologies Group at Daikin Industries, a manufacturer specializing in air conditioning systems. IAQ in the group’s name stands for Indoor Air Quality—a concept that is currently gaining significant attention and recognition on an international scale.

The group’s research theme is “Everything but heating and cooling.” For example, to deliver high-value-added air, the team conducts studies measuring how air influences humans across all daily activities, including when concentrating, relaxing, sleeping, and eating.

Based at the heart of this research hub, Kuroi aims to evolve the air conditioner—an appliance deeply embedded in daily life—from a product that merely “regulates air” to one that “creates air.”

“Historically, the value of an air conditioner has been to transform negative environments, such as rooms that are too hot or too cold, into neutral, comfortable spaces. Our next goal is to shift that ‘neutral’ state into something positive. For instance, we aim to add value through air that delivers benefits like enhanced work efficiency and maximum relaxation.”

When asked what is specifically required to achieve this, Kuroi replied:

“Air acts like an invisible sheath enveloping our bodies and minds. That’s why we strive to analyze and measure it scientifically. We want to visualize air. Visualizing air will be immensely valuable for us in crafting air and enhancing environments. Our daily research is driven by a belief in the limitless possibilities of air.”

Air That Helps Reduce Fatigue and Enhance Taste Perception

The IAQ Technologies Group conducts daily research to deliver high-value-added air. The team comprises diverse talent, including biology researchers, air component engineers, and advanced information analysis specialists utilizing AI. One key expert within the group is neuroscientist Shota Hori.

The presence of a neuroscientist is entirely logical, given the strategic shift from mere “heating and cooling” to the next phase: creating new value in air that provides “optimal conditions to support all of human daily activities.”

Hori initially conducted research at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University. He shared his reasons for joining Daikin:

“I recently learned that Kyoto University and Daikin have established a comprehensive partnership aimed at creating new value, and that Daikin is developing technology to measure human brain activity. I wondered, ‘Why would an air conditioner manufacturer like Daikin get involved in this?’ The broad scope of Daikin’s research intrigued me, and I wanted to contribute. The true strength of air lies in its ability to exert positive effects on humans over extended periods. Therefore, I want to measure air’s impact on people and deliver air that adds value to improve human quality of life, behavior, and comfort.”

What exactly does Shota Hori mean by “the possibilities of air”? He provides two concrete examples:

“The first example is ‘air that combats fatigue.’ In joint research with RIKEN, we numerically defined ‘indoor air quality (IAQ) and ambient environments (AE) that reduce fatigue’ by measuring fatigue levels in individuals under various temperature and humidity conditions. Our findings show that comfort can increase even at 28°C if humidity is maintained at ≤55%, and fatigue can decrease※2 when humidity drops to ≤40%.”

This means that by using an air conditioner equipped with humidity control functions, you can create a comfortable and refreshing indoor environment, even during the peak heat of summer. If humidity cannot be controlled, lowering the room temperature to 26°C can also enhance comfort while reducing fatigue.

Additionally, “air that makes food taste better” is another possibility. For example, adjusting the environment by raising the temperature during the main course and lowering it for dessert can enhance flavor profiles. At a previous event, Daikin hosted an exhibition with precisely controlled room temperatures, allowing visitors to experience how variations in the air environment altered the taste of wine.※3 By focusing on air quality, everyday life becomes not only more comfortable but also enriches various experiences.

Air Environments That Enhance Well-being

Air quality directly influences daily behavior and human comfort. To expand air’s potential, researchers at the IAQ Technologies Group continuously explore the concept of “Air” every day.

In recent years, the concept of well-being has become a global priority, and the IAQ Technologies Group quickly recognized it as a crucial keyword for discussion. Their objective is to create air value that supports not only physical health but also social well-being, inner richness, and happiness.

As the leader of the IAQ Technologies Group, Kuroi elaborates on this vision:

“An indoor environment consists not just of air, but of everything that fills that space. That’s why we must consider many factors beyond just air conditioners to deliver higher-value air for humans. In the future, I hope to envision entire spaces through collaboration with various companies.”

Furthermore, Kuroi shares his perspective on the importance of pursuing superior air quality:

“Air quality is deeply intertwined with human happiness and well-being, and efforts to improve air quality are the key to achieving greater happiness.”

Pursuing human happiness through air—that is something uniquely possible for Daikin, a manufacturer dedicated to air conditioning systems. This corporate initiative is likely to become increasingly vital to society in the future.

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*1 Data according to Daikin research

*2 Press release dated May 28, 2020. Joint research aimed at creating comfortable and healthy air environments demonstrates that lowering humidity even at a room temperature of 28°C is effective in reducing fatigue. Link

*3 Press release on October 10, 2018. An announcement is made to publicize the company’s first exhibition at CEATEC JAPAN 2018 and its 20 ideas for creating new value for air and space environments. Link

  • This page was originally published on September 30, 2021, with some additions and revisions made on June 20, 2022.
  • Some revisions were made on December 13, 2023.