Product: Humanscale ZŌN Personal Air PurifierPrice: $239.00 (Amazon)Rating: Recommend* Doesn't it seem like every allergy season seems to be the worst ever? So when I was offered an opportunity to review the ZŌN Personal Air Purifier, I leapt at the chance. Initially previewed at the New York International Gift Fair 2013, the ZŌN stood out on the show floor, yet inaudible amongst the din of the show floor. Advertised as extremely quiet, yet effective for combatting allergens, I was definitely curious as an allergy sufferer myself about the ZŌN's effectiveness... Coming in at 13” wide, 9” deep, and 14” high, the ZŌN and its box were a bit larger than I remembered on the show floor. Inside was the paper filter, carbon filter, the air purifier itself, and power cord. Setting up the ZŌNonly required gently popping in the paper filter in and placing a carbon filter over it. The carbon filter is optional, but since my allergies are severe, the promise of any additional filtration is welcome.

The set up was simple, taking less than 3 minutes, and the 6.6 pound product was easy to lift and place where I needed it to be. The ZŌN has a small footprint, which is practical considering it's designed specifically for a compact zone of filtration. Unlike most air filters, the ZŌN does not filter the air of a whole small room, but instead is focused on creating a clean air zone with an effective radius of around 3 feet. This means that if you want cleaner air near you when you sleep, the ZŌN needs to be placed on a nightstand on your side of the bed; if you wish for cleaner air while you work, it needs to be placed on your desk. While not quite silent, the ZŌN is significantly quieter our other small room HEPA filters and air purifiers in our home (we have 4 for 600 square feet). As the allergy sufferer in the household, this means having an air purifier that's quieter during bedtime is extremely beneficial and makes a big difference in the overall happiness of our home. Unfortunately, the ZŌN is outfitted with an incredibly bright LED light which was so bright, that it made sleeping impossible for those of us who are light sensitive.

If you purchase the ZŌN for your bedroom I highly recommend covering the LED light with one of these, or working out a DIY option like we did using an IKEA cork coaster to block the light.reme by rgf air purification systemOne of my biggest pain points during allergy season is getting to sleep through the night without waking up to sneeze or cough. therapure hepa-type uv germicidal air purifierBecause this was my biggest area of concern and easily quantifiable, I chose the bedroom nightstand for the primary test site of the ZŌN. sharp air purifier kc930ewPrior to the arrival of the ZŌN, I tracked the quality of my sleep for 15 days with the usual assortment of air filters to serve as as baseline/ control. 

To evaluate the air purifier, I tracked my sleep quality over the course of 15 additional days with the ZŌN as the only air purifier running in the bedroom.  After testing with just the ZŌN, I then tracked sleep quality with the usual air filters and included the ZŌN for 15 days. After taking into consideration the pollen counts during the testing period, what I found was the the ZŌN alone did not make a large difference when it was the only air purifying device in the bedroom. However, when it was added to the usual group of air filters, my sleep quality improved dramatically, by an average of 65%. In addition to the testing on the nightstand, I also brought the ZŌN to my home office. The ZŌN did a great job of filtering out the occasional smoke smells that waft up from those who smoke on the sidewalk (we live in a low rise pre-war walkup off of an avenue) and made for an improved work day. Admittedly my home office is located in my living room and so the space for the ZŌN is quite limited.

However, on high pollen days the device proved worth the space it took up. Does the ZŌN replace your HEPA filter? No, but if you're in the market for a desk-side or nightstand air filter that will improve the air quality around you, then I can recommend it as a supplementary solution. The ZŌN is extremely quiet, uses very little energy, doesn't create a breeze (so no worries of it making papers blow off your desk), and has a small footprint making it easy to locate just about anywhere you need it. Pros: quiet, small footprint, energy efficient, and elegant air purifier design Cons: small cleaning radius; non-adjustable bright LED light (Images: Humanscale & Joelle Alcaidinho)Ductless mini-split systems are increasing in popularity because they offer effective, efficient cooling in one or multiple areas. They provide greater temperature control since each indoor unit works independently and can be set to different temperatures—allowing you to cool certain parts of your home without cooling the entire space.

This zone cooling helps decrease energy usage since you're only cooling parts your home that you actually use as opposed to cooling your entire home like a central air conditioner. For quick access to the sections in this buying guide, click the links below: Ductless systems are made up of 4 components: Mini-splits have distinct advantages over other room air conditioners: A single-zone ductless split system cools an area of your home using 1 outdoor and 1 indoor unit. These are popular in bedrooms or rooms that aren't ducted for central air conditioning. The main consideration with single-zone ACs is if the unit has enough power to cover your room's square footage. View single zone ductless mini splits. Multi-zone mini splits work just like single-zone models but cool more parts of your home or business. Each indoor unit (representing a zone) connects to the outdoor unit through the refrigerant lines. There are generally up to 4 indoor zones. If you don’t have central air conditioning, consider using a multi-zone system to cool different areas of your home—which can be on multiple floor levels thanks to long refrigerant lines.

Multi-zone models are popular in basements, doctor's offices, and apartments. The single outdoor unit is equipped to handle all interior units, though usually all can't be used on the highest level at the same time. View multi-zone ductless mini splits. Each indoor ductless unit offers a set number of BTUs of cooling power. For single-zone units, you simply need to know the number of BTUs associated with the indoor unit and make sure it fits the square footage you're cooling. For multiple zone systems, both the outdoor and indoor units have a BTU rating attached to them. One benefit of a ductless split system is each indoor unit runs independently. Keep in mind if you're purchasing a multi-zone system, you need to look at the BTU rating for each unit (or zone). For example, an AC may use 30,000 BTUs total, with each indoor unit using 9,000 BTUs and the outside unit using 12,000 BTUs. Check out our square footage and BTU comparison chart below. Installing mini split ACs require professional installation since you run the refrigerant lines indoors from outside your home through a small hole in your wall.

You'll need to contact an HVAC professional to be sure your AC is installed to run as effectively and efficiently as possible. Indoor Unit Location Options Most indoor air conditioning units are hung on a wall using included brackets, while other models are hung from the ceiling. Be sure your refrigerant lines will reach each indoor hanging unit before you install them. Check where your indoor units can be installed before you purchase a mini split AC. Voltage is another important consideration for your ductless mini split's insatllation. Smaller-powered mini splits use a standard 110- to 120-volt plug, which most homes are wired for, but larger units require higher voltage. These models use a 220- to 240-volt plug; make sure your home's voltage matches your unit's before purchasing. Using the incorrect voltage can cause the circuit to break, a loss of efficiency, or even cause a fire. Mini split systems are efficient ways to cool your home. Their efficiency is measured by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).

The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. Currently, federal requirements state mini splits must have a 13.0 SEER rating to be used in the United States. Another energy rating to look out for is Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which looks at energy usage per square foot of cooling. SEER and EER both rate your product's efficiency, so keep an eye out for one or the other when comparing products. Along with SEER (and possibly EER) ratings, your model should come with an estimated yearly operating cost. This is an average dollar amount associated with your model based on operating and maintenance costs—if you're comparing 2 models, check out the estimated yearly cost before purchasing. If a model is extremely efficient, it can become Energy Star-rated. In order to become Energy Star-rated, models must prove to significantly contribute to energy savings and offers products and performance demanded by consumers. Replacing an inefficient cooling system with a mini-split can cut your heating and cooling costs by up to 30%.

The outdoor unit is the compressor, and it's one of the most important parts of a mini-split AC. The 2 main compressor types for mini splits are inverter and rotary. A rotary compressor turns on and off while working to maintain your set temperature, while an inverter compressor uses only enough power to reach the desired setting, then idles at that setting until more power is needed. A rotary compressor will turn on with full power, while an inverter compressor only uses enough of its resources to reduce the room temperature to your desired setting. Many people prefer inverter compressors because they save energy by not constantly turning on and off. Most new ductless mini splits use inverter compressors. Mini splits can include multiple modes to keep your home full of crisp, cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. Additional modes are popular for people who don’t have central air conditioners and use their mini-split AC as their primary cooling option. Keep an eye out for these modes for year-round comfort: