In Memory of Peter Hand: The Blueprint Behind CO2 Monitoring

Where the Mission Began

The origin of CO2 Monitoring began in Nevada, a state with some of the strictest CO2 compliance standards in the country. After installing several existing CO2 monitors, Ronald Longley, now president of the company, quickly realized that the systems on the market weren’t intuitive enough to meet the needs of real-world job sites. With no formal background in electronics but a strong foundation in building and problem-solving, Ronald decided to build a solution himself.

That search led him to Peter Hand, an electronics expert with a mind for innovation and a talent for solving complex problems. What began as one contractor’s frustration quickly evolved into a mission: to design a CO2 monitoring system that met code and made sense in the field.

The Unlikely Architect Behind the Code

Peter was an English electronics expert with a reputation for having to be interested in a project before agreeing to take it on. He had no formal business, no storefront, and didn’t consider his work a career, just a hobby that he happened to be brilliant at. Ronald and Peter began collaborating on a new kind of CO2 monitor. Working at each other’s homes, they engineered an entirely new device—one that could do what the others couldn’t.

Peter insisted on writing the firmware in a programming language called Assembly, a foundational software rarely programmed in today, that offers complete control over hardware, making it extremely reliable when done right. Peter worked with absolute control and precision. Everything he contributed came from interest, not obligation—a rare level of commitment that defined his role from the very beginning.

The work was slow but deliberate, developing logos and branding, printing stickers, constructing the early enclosures in-house from generic blanks, each unit assembled by hand. The first run of 126 monitors took six months to complete. While it was only the first iteration, it was enough to get the momentum going. As the demand grew, Ronald brought Peter on as a full-time employee. He showed up every day not out of obligation, but because he genuinely cared about the work. CO2 Monitoring became more than a project to Peter. It became his home. He helped manufacture horn strobes, revised the circuit designs, and responded to challenges with creative, sometimes unconventional solutions.

Peter was a gifted individual. With a photographic memory, he could recall exact lines of code with ease. He was also a gifted bass player who performed with a band called The Vegas Cats, able to hear a song once, instantly know how to play it, and remember it forever. He was private and particular, but those who worked with him came to appreciate his quirks and admire his genius. His passing marked the end of a pivotal era for CO2 Monitoring. His Assembly-written firmware still runs in our monitors to this day.

Peter never set out to be part of a company, but without him, there wouldn’t be one. His mind and passion helped give direction to the company vision and helped shape the foundation of CO2 Monitoring.