Good indoor air is no longer a luxury – it is a health factor. Especially in indoor spaces where we spend about 90% of our daily lives, air quality plays a crucial role for our well-being, concentration, and health.
But how can fresh, purified air be produced cost-effectively, sustainably, and with low maintenance in the long term? In this article, we compare the full costs of an AIRY system with those of a classic technical air purifier over a period of 10 years. The result is surprisingly clear – and could also influence your decision for the right system.
What are "full costs"?
In a business management sense, we understand "full costs" as the total of all costs incurred over the entire period of use – in this case 10 years. This includes:
- Acquisition costs
- Ongoing operating costs, such as electricity, water, consumables (filters, substrates)
- Maintenance and replacement costs
- Time expenditure, if monetizable
This consideration is especially important when it comes to sustainable investments – e.g., in everyday office life, in practices, or at home.
Green air purification with minimal effort
The AIRY system works completely passively: It uses the natural cleaning power of houseplants combined with a specially developed plant pot that optimizes air circulation around the root zone. This creates a natural filter system without electricity consumption, without fans, and without complex technology.
The cost factors
- Acquisition costs: one-time 139.90 € (AIRY L with 3 snake plants, most expensive system)
- Ongoing costs: No filter replacement needed, no substrate change necessary
- Water consumption: approx. 3.2 liters/month → 38.4 liters/year → 384 liters/10 years
- Ø water price in Germany: approx. 2 €/1,000 liters
- ➜ Total water consumption costs: 384 liters × 0.002 €/liter = 0.77 €
Source: Consumer Advice Center Germany
The total costs over 10 years
- 139.90 € + 0.77 € = 140.67 €
- Per year: 14.07 €
- Per month: 1.17 €
- Per day: approx. 3.85 cents
The technical air purifier – effective but costly
Technical air purifiers with HEPA filters operate with fans, sensors, and sometimes UV light or ionization. These devices are powerful, but they consume electricity, require regular maintenance, and need new filters several times a year (because they do not clean the air but filter it).
Cost factors (average values)
- Acquisition costs: approx. 250 €
- Filter replacement: 2–4 times a year, approx. 30–50 € per filter
➜ Ø filter costs per year: approx. 80 €
➜ Over 10 years: 800 €
Source: Manufacturer information including Levoit, Philips, Soehnle - Electricity consumption: Ø 30–150 kWh/year → at Ø 35 ct/kWh ≈ 11–53 €/year
➜ Ø electricity cost per year: approx. 70 €
➜ Over 10 years: 700 €
Source: www.strom.report/strompreise/
Total cost over 10 years
- 250 € (purchase) + 800 € (filter) + 700 € (electricity) = 1,750 €
- Per year: 175 €
- Per month: 14.58 €
- Per day: approx. 48 cents
The direct comparison
Less technology, more nature – at a fraction of the cost
When the two systems are objectively compared side by side, a clear picture emerges:
| System | Total cost (10 years) | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| AIRY System | 140.67 € | 3.85 cents |
| Technical air purifier | 1,750.00 € | 48 cents |
The AIRY System is not only significantly more cost-effective, but also lower maintenance and more sustainable. It requires no electricity, produces no noise, no electronic waste – and additionally brings natural aesthetics and a better spatial effect through plants into everyday life.
For many applications – from office spaces to medical practices to living spaces – it is the more ecological and economical choice.
