Abstract: A gas monitoring system can include a chemical concentration secondary gas sensor, with a conductive heater element, which can be heated to a standby temperature slightly above an ambient temperature level of a gaseous ambient environment. A thermal characteristic of the environment can be monitored by a thermal property primary sensor and configured to provide a triggering output in response to a physical characteristic of the conductive heating element meeting at least one criterion. In response to the triggering output, the heater is controllable to heat the chemical concentration secondary gas sensor to a secondary operating temperature at which the chemical concentration secondary gas sensor can detect the presence of a specified gas in the environment.