The Growing Market for Altitude Simulation Systems

A Colorado company called Altitude Control Technology, based in Edwards, has developed systems that adjust indoor air to ease the effects of high elevation. Towns like Aspen, Vail, Telluride, and Breckenridge sit above 8,000 feet, where the air holds less oxygen than at sea level. That thinner air can cause dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and trouble sleeping, especially for visitors and part-time residents who aren't used to it.

The company's founder explains that oxygen makes up the same 20.9% of air everywhere, from sea level to Mount Everest. The difference at altitude is that there's simply less air overall, so each breath brings in fewer oxygen molecules. Rather than relying on portable oxygen concentrators or breathing tubes at night, the company's systems are built into a home to adjust the air homeowners breathe indoors, aiming to reduce altitude-related discomfort without medical equipment.

For homeowners in or considering a home in Colorado's high mountain towns, this points to a growing category of building systems aimed specifically at altitude, alongside standard energy-efficiency upgrades. The company has been in business for three decades and originally served residential, commercial, and industrial customers, and is now expanding into hospitality settings like hotels. If you own or are building a home at high elevation, this kind of system is worth knowing about as an option, though details on cost and how the technology works were not covered here.