Plants cleaning the way to a greener future?

'Living Machines' processing cosmetic waste water from Body Shop products

Plants are taking us back to our roots and helping to prove that the ecological way is a functional option, which saves energy and water. Evidence of this can be seen at Watersmead in Littlehampton where COSI manufacture some products for the Body Shop. Here, a 'Living Machine' processes waste materials naturally.

Plants working hard to help us
Plants can bring positive benefits to our lifestyles now and in the future. Processing waste matter, which is the function of a Living Machine, is only one area where plants can help, but it is an important one as it helps reduce the impact on our environment and prepares water for recycling.

Microbes living in the root systems of plants extract the chemicals from the effluent and use it to feed the plant's roots. In this way, waste matter is processed and cleaned naturally. The cleaned water, known as grey water, can then be used to water plants or flush toilets.

Waste from manufacturing
At the Watersmead cosmetic manufacturing plant in Littlehampton, the grey water from the Living Machine, installed to recycle commercial wastewater from the manufacture of The Body Shop products, is fed to the sewers.

The Living Machine at Watersmead is believed to be the first installation of its kind by a cosmetics company anywhere in the world. It was established in 1991 to process commercial waste used in the manufacture of the cosmetics.

How it works
The Watersmead Living Machine was especially adapted to process The Body Shop wastewater materials. The eco-system which processes the waste is contained in two identical parallel 'trains' of eight tanks in an insulated greenhouse. The effluent takes up to five days to pass through the system.

Before it enters the eco-system, the effluent enters a filtration tank, which removes particles and oils. Once in the system, the waste is split between the two trains for processing.

The first two tanks in the trains contain natural aquatic bacteria in vast numbers which slowly break down the organic pollutants using the carbon freed in the process to reproduce and increase their own bio-mass.

When the effluent enters the third tank, it is clean enough to allow the growth of some hardy species of aquatic plants. It is the micro-organisms that live in the root zones of these plants, which process the pollutants in this tank.

By the fifth tank, the water is clean enough to support five or six plant species, which continue the cleaning process through the micro-organisms in their root zones.

Four days later ...
After approximately four days in the system, the waste reaches the last stage in the treatment process. By now, almost all of the dissolved organic pollutants have been broken down. Even at this stage, the waste is still cloudy with bacterial matter but now, the particles settle at the bottom of a small clarification tank. Bacterial sludge is removed automatically once an hour; half is recycled into the first tank to re-seed the system, and half is returned to the ultra-filtration system for processing.

The water is now suitable for discharge but before it leaves the Living Machine it must undergo a further half-day biological filtration in a special tank known as an Ecological Fluidised Bed. Here it is rapidly re-circulated through a column of recycled blast-furnace slag, a perfect habitat for bacterial slimes, algae, worms, snails and waterfleas which consume any of the remaining fine particles of bacterial 'floc'.

When the waste is finally discharged into the sewer, it contains less than ¼ of 1% of its original pollutants and less than 1% of its original detergent content.

Back to our roots
With growing concern from various well-respected bodies about the speed with which we are devouring natural resources, it is little wonder that we are returning to a reliance on the natural environment. Grey water recycling and Living Machines follow the trend to care for the earth and extend its natural life support systems.

Alex Walker of international company, Living Technologies who are responsible for several Living Machines in the UK commented, "Although we are some way behind our Continental neighbours and the USA, awareness for green issues is rising, particularly in the private sector."

As more and more businesses take heed and look to natural ways to improve their working environments and waste management, so plants will play a big part in shaping this new future for buildings and not just in Living Machines. Planted interiors will help improve humidity levels and noise absorption, reduce the symptoms of minor ailments and by implication, absenteeism, reduce stress levels thereby increasing productivity.

The latest Living Machine to be installed is at Earth Works in Doncaster.
Other Living Machines can be found at
The Watersmead site of COSI in Littlehampton - by prior arrangement The Findhorn Eco Village in Scotland National Botanic Gardens in Wales

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Scottish brewers drink in the benefits of plants

At Fountain House in Edinburgh, Scottish Courage Ltd is not only thinking beer - they're thinking plants! In the four-year-old building, the central atrium over-looked by three floors, is filled with three large modular units planted with large specimen trees.

Investing in workforce's health and well-being
By recognising that plants have more than just aesthetic appeal, Scottish Courage have invested in the health and well being of their workforce. Research into the positive benefits of plants, circulated by Plants for People, shows that plants are known to reduce minor ailments by improving the quality of the air and reducing stress, consequently improving productivity.

The benefits of the 'calm oasis' at Scottish Courage is well recognised now, but Administration Manager, Alan Bell told us, "When the original space planning options were being considered, there were designs to overfloor the atrium to maximise the work space. Thankfully these were dropped at a very early stage." Alan added, "Scottish Courage management were extremely supportive of the oasis concept." A forward-looking and productive decision which was subsequently proved correct by the high profile the planting has given the building - amongst others, it has featured in The Times - and the appreciation of staff and visitors.

Planting the calm oasis
The planting is impressive. Specimen Ficus, Cocus palms and Washingtonia reach for the glass roof of the atrium. The under-planting is textured and colourful and boasts Hedera, Spathiphyllum, Maranta and Bromeliads amongst the species included.

James Gilchrist of GP Plantscape responsible for the installation and maintenance of the plants commented, "The choice of plants was dictated by the light levels. The glass roof is fitted with an automatic blind which shades the area when the sun reaches certain levels, so the plants were chosen for natural habitats which resembled those of the atrium."

The open plan offices at Fountain House surround the planting on three sides and three levels, with the upper two forming mezzanines with walkways around the edge. The view for everyone looking up or down is one of a calm green oasis.

A staff member at Fountain House commented, "I think on a sub-conscious level, the plants have an effect on how we feel. I certainly enjoy them being here."

Go-ahead landscapers
"We always use the positive benefits of plants as a selling tool," explained James Gilchrist of GP Plantscape, a year old company from Kirkfieldbank, Lanark. "We explain how plants clean the air of toxic chemicals and consequently reduce headaches, fatigue and other minor ailments."

This go-ahead, family-run, wholesale and landscaping company is also responsible for interior landscaping at Scottish Courage Brands Ltd at South Gyle Business Park,

Working side by side with plants
At Scottish Courage Brands Ltd at South Gyle, there isn't an impressive atrium but each open plan office has purpose-designed filing cabinets which feature planters on top as an integral part of their design. These are used as dividers between desks or sections.

Workers at Scottish Courage will benefit from these planting schemes because the plants offer more than just aesthetic appeal. Not only will the plants absorb noise, but according to research, workers will also suffer less stress and be more productive. Beneficial effects which should please both workers and management.

Certainly those who work at the South Gyle unit enjoy the presence of plants. One worker commented, "Now we are used to having plants around us, we wouldn't want to work without them."

South Gyle Shopping Centre
It isn't unusual to see planters or planted areas in shopping centres these days. Perhaps this isn't surprising when you consider some research which was undertaken in Norway where it was found that shoppers stayed between 30-35 minutes longer and returned more often once plants were introduced to a shopping centre. The retailing rule that the longer they stay, the more they spend proved true in Oslo and should prove true in South Gyle.

At South Gyle Shopping Centre, which is built in the shape of a cross, the aisles are planted with tall Cocus palms under-planted with Ficus benjamina. The under-planting can be removed in their containers to be replaced with seasonal plants as necessary, such as Euphorbia pulcherrima at Christmas.

In the café, shoppers take well-earned rests surrounded by large specimen Ficus 'Alii', under-planted with delicate Jasmine, whilst the entrance and exit are screened by brightly flowering Hibiscus hedges. It looks self-evident that shoppers will be encouraged to stay longer in this attractive centre.

Plants are here to stay
Commercial interior landscaping is becoming the requirement in Scotland. Thanks to pro-active landscapers and forward-thinking businesses with a broad understanding of the benefits of plants in the working environment it is being built into the essential fabric of building.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Plants at the place of work increase productivity

Indoor plants have their set place in many flats, offices and companies. People intuitively feel that the contact to plants and nature have a calming effect on them. Many are also of the opinion that productivity and satisfaction of workers increases, if the place of work has indoor plants incorporated. Up until now there was no scientific proof of this assumption, but now the assumption has been supported by a study carried out by the Washington State University.

Ever since urbanisation, we spend more time indoors - over 90 per cent - for example in the office and at home. The indoor climate is of eminent importance for our health and our well-being. Above this: when our work becomes technically more complex, the amount of illnesses caused by stress increases. Due to this fact it is important and sensible to study the relationship between plants and the well-being of humans. Up until now there were only definite studies that underlined the above mentioned assumptions that plants are good for a healthy indoor climate and increase the well-being and the productivity of work.

In early studies, that measured the effects of plants by measuring employees' blood pressure, the test persons were shown videos of plants in their natural environment. The result: the test persons, that were put under stress and that were shown plants, lessened stress faster than those who had a view onto concrete and walls.

New scientific results
A study, carried out in 1995 by the faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture of the Washington State University and led by Dr. Virginia Lohr, on the effects of indoor plants on the office climate and the well-being of employees, proved that indoor plants in offices for one reduce stress and for the other helped to increase productivity. In this experiment the blood pressure, the heart frequency and the emotional condition of 96 test persons - mainly young men and women - was controlled.

The students, but also the employees of the university were in a computer room with bare walls and no daylight for the duration of the test. All test persons were experienced in the running of computers. 81 per cent of the test persons answered that they liked plants; the rest had either no opinion or did not like plants. 66 per cent had plants at home or in the office.

Plants and productivity at work
Another factor decisively contributes to productivity at work: the speed of reaction. In order to be able to measure this by the test persons, a special computer programme was designed for the study, which created stress by the test persons and at the same time measured productivity. Such measurements of the speed of reaction by which test persons had multiple choice options, gave a clear picture about the mental complex functioning.

For this reason they are valid as suitable means of measurement for the testing of productivity under stress, respectively tiring, conditions. The programme shows a picture on the screen selected from a range of three pictures. The test persons were told to press the key respective to the picture as soon as they had recognised the picture.

The test persons were to complete the computer tasks in two different situations: with and without plants. The plants were integrated into the test rooms in such a manner that they were visible for all test persons without distracting them from their task. After the experiment the measurements of test persons were compared with both situations.

The results were clear: people in the rooms with plants were of the opinion to have been more attentive and they felt that they had worked at a more concentrated level. This in contradiction to those who did not have plants surrounding them. The test persons that carried out the test surrounded by plants, had a lower blood pressure which again is a clear sign for a decrease in stress.

"Yes" to plants
The presence or non-presence of plants, so the study shows, had no influence on the amount of mistakes made by the test persons. Both groups in rooms with and without plants, made about the same amount of mistakes. Whereby the speed of reaction of the participants that were in rooms with plants, was 12 per cent higher. Due to these results the scientists came to the conclusion that a place of work with integrated plants leads to higher productivity.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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German Callcentre becomes Green Oasis

The recent trend for Callcentres requires a new approach to building and designing workspaces. A great number of people in an open plan office constantly under stress in a very competitive and noisy atmosphere, need an extremely well planned office space to enable them to deliver the best service possible. Plants have an important role to play in creating this atmosphere.

A large publishing company in Essen, Germany, Sutter Verlagsgruppe, employed the help of Anke Adolf, a psychologist and Stefan Fillibeck, a computer scientist, to design a callcentre which would encourage employees to give their best. Stress levels in a callcentre are understandably high, staff have to remain calm and friendly in the face of often impatient and/or unfriendly callers. Therefore trainers and managers are extremely interested in any initiative which helps to reduce stress levels. Research has shown that the use of plants provides a very cost-effective and efficient way of doing just that.

Plants reduce stress in the workplace ...
Using 3D computer models and staff interviews as feedback, Anke Adolf and Stefan Fillibeck created a green working environment for staff. Findings from John Klein Hesslink at the Dutch Institute for Health and Safety, confirmed Adolf's personal experience and showed that plants effectively reduce pollution and provide a healthier workplace, immediately noticeable to staff - they feel secure and their enthusiasm for their work is noticeably raised.

... and absorb toxins in the air
Research has shown that plants create the optimum climate at work. They not only encourage a friendlier atmosphere by providing focal points, but they reduce harmful chemicals in the atmosphere. This is especially important in recently furbished offices as new furniture and carpets result in high emissions of chemicals. In large open plan offices like callcentres, typically 150m2 or 180m2, the air filtration aspect of plants is very important in creating the ideal environment.

Plants absorb noise ...
Plants are very effective in reducing the high noise pollution in callcentres too. 20 - 30 staff all talking simultaneously on the telephone, create a very high level of background noise. Despite this, each individual has to achieve an extremely high level of concentration. Plants provide a very effective way of sound-proofing offices without having to result to extensive and costly building projects.

... and affect humidity levels
Another important contribution made by plants to the office environment is the creation of moisture. For an optimum climate a humidity level of 50-60% is required, this can effectively be created by plants without resulting to air conditioning. Creating a green oasis in your offices is certainly not a waste of money, but the best way of creating an optimum atmosphere to improve staff efficiency - naturally.

Staff eager to make the most of green working oasis
Staff at Sutter Verlagsgruppe were so pleased with their new green working environment that they have agreed to have future internal training in the newly planted offices.

Plant Maintenance
One important factor to consider is the care and maintenance of the plants. Sutter Verlagsgruppe used a professional organisation for this purpose. Staff are discouraged from watering plants - that could not only be harmful to the plants (rotting through over-watering, etc.) but also lead to devastating damage caused by overflowing water onto computer cables and other technical equipment. A professional care organisation ensures that there are no drawbacks to the new "green" office.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Do Plants in Offices promote Health ?

Prof. Dr. Tøve Fjeld, Agricultural University of Norway, Ås/Oslo

Reports from the nineteen-eighties indicate that house plants are able to reduce the level of chemical compounds in the air. Both the leaves and the stems and roots participate in this cleansing process, together with micro-organisms which live in t he root zone and the soil. Plants therefore offer an opportunity to improve the often polluted air indoors. They might therefore be able to ameliorate the negative effects on health caused by the atmosphere in public and private spaces.

However, plants do not just act as potential air purifiers. They also represent part of the original ecosystem in which mankind evolved. Plant species as we know them today have been around for some 150 million years. Human evolution only started 4 .5 million years ago, and produced homo sapiens - modern man - about 100,000 years ago. Out entire evolutionary history was therefore closely linked to nature.

It is interesting to note that there have been only very minor changes in mankind's biology, physiology or genetics over the past 10,000 years. We are virtually identical to the people who lived at the end of the ice age, when the ice sheet covered lar ge parts of northern Europe. On the other hand, our living environment has altered considerably, particularly in more recent times.

This started 250 years ago with the industrial revolution, which lead to the urbanisation of the western world. Although this has only occurred over the last 50 to 70 years, mankind appears to have forgotten about its ties to the natural world. This de velopment has cut us off from close contact with nature and has lead to us spending a large proportion of our life surrounded by artificial things.

A modern lifestyle also presents us with a new situation in terms of psychological perspectives on our health. The study of the effect which our environment has on us is called 'environmental psychology'. Studies in this field have clearly shown that o ur environment has a significant effect on our sense of well-being, our emotional stability and our stress limits. They have shown that nature as encountered in parks, open spaces and forests leads to reduced stress. This raises the question: why does nat ure have this effect?

One explanation for this appears to be provided by the concept of "psychological identity". It is not just the physical body that must ensure that we can live and survive in the wilds, but also mankind's psychological component. It is claimed that we s witch on an 'automatic pilot' when we walk - for example - in the woods, that deep within us we have some kind of inherited consciousness which recognises nature and the natural elements as something familiar. On the other hand, when we are in an unfamili ar environment, we use a great deal of mental energy to ensure that a certain distance is maintained.

Our urbanised lifestyle also means - at least in the Scandinavian countries - that we spend 80% to 90% of our time in enclosed buildings. This emphasises the importance of the quality of the indoor atmosphere, both in terms of the physical and chemical state of the air and with respect to psychological effect of the design of the indoor space.

Several studies from the past 10 to 15 years show that the view from the window can affect our sense of well-being. American studies carried out by Roger Ulrich amongst others have demonstrated that the view that a sick person has from their bed can af fect a whole range of measurable stress reactions in patients. Ulrich proved that patients who could see vegetation took far fewer painkillers and were passed as healthy far more rapidly than patients who looked out on a concrete wall. A Swedish study con cluded that office staff who looked out on areas with vegetation suffer less stress than those who look out on an area without plants, such as streets and car parks.

If the view through windows alone can affect not just the way in which mental stress is processed, but even the state of health, plants in the room should have the same effect. At the horticulture and plant institute at the Agricultural University of N orway we even found an additional effect, since plants affect the physical and chemical state of the indoor air. We therefore wanted to test whether it is possible to improve health by means of plants in the office. The study was carried out in conjunctio n with the occupational health service of Statoil, the largest oil company in Norway. A horticultural company - Greenteam - monitored the condition of the plants during the study. We also involved medical colleagues: a specialist in asthma and allergic di sorders and various occupational health experts.

59 Statoil employees took part in the study. They work in office cubicles each covering 10 m2. The study commenced in the autumn of 1994. At the time, there were no plants in any of the offices. The 59 subjects were split into two groups, A and B. Both were well mixed in terms of age and gender, and contained equal numbers of smokers. The average time spent working at the computer was also the same for both groups. During a control period from December 1994 to January 1995 we collected data about 12 di fferent symptoms. These symptoms are largely attributable to the working environment, such as fatigue, headache, dry facial skin and dry skin on the hands, coughing, eye irritation. The data was obtained using questionnaires on which the degree to which t he symptoms were present (on a scale of 0 to 3) could be indicated. The questionnaires were collected every other week.

The results showed no difference between the two groups in terms of the assessment of the state of health. Group A totalled the symptoms at an average of 7.8, and group B at 8.3. The P value is well above 0.05 (5%), so there is therefore no tendency to wards differentiation between the two groups. We concluded from this that the two groups are very similar in terms of their symptoms relating to the indoor atmosphere.

For the actual experiment, all offices in group A (29 persons) were provided with plants in February 1995: three flower boxes containing Oraceana deremensis, Aglaonema commutatum and Epipremnum aureum (Scindapsus aureum) were placed at each window, and a terracotta tub was installed in the corner with a 1.5 metre high Dracaena deremensis and an Epipremnum aureum as the low-level plant.

The same questionnaire was collected every other week during the spring of 1995 (from week 6 to week 17), both from group A (whose members had plants in their office) and from group B (without plants).

The plants were moved to group B in February 1996, with group A serving as the control (so-called crossover). Once again, the questionnaires were collected every fortnight. Judged on all symptoms, a significant improvement can be established when plant s are present in the office. Over the next three months, considerably fewer health problems were reported. According to the findings, symptoms decreased by 25%. If we divide 12 symptoms on the questionnaire into three main categories, the following pictur e emerges:

Group 1 covers general symptoms - fatigue, befuddledness, headache, dizziness and daze together with concentration problems. we found a significant fall in these general symptoms, particularly fatigue and headache, which fell by 30% and 20% respectivel y, when the subjects had plants in their office.

Group 2 covers symptoms of the mucous membranes - itching, burning or irritated eyes, irritated or blocked nose or a runny nose, hoarseness and a dry throat together with coughing. These symptoms were also significantly reduced by plants: hoarseness an d a dry throat by around 30% and coughing by around 40%.

Group 3 cover the head symptoms: dry or irritated facial skin, dandruff, itching scalp and ears and dry, itching skin on the hands. The presence of plants lead to a significant change in the skin symptoms if we look at the results for the face, scamp, ears and hands overall. One symptom that certainly occurred significantly less often was dry facial skin, where the reduction was around 25%.

This study was not conducted in order to examine the causes of the changes in the symptoms. Yet I would like to explore possible explanations. The presence of plants can probably result in a positive change in the psychosocial working environment. The resultant feeling of well-being also affects how the individual assesses his/her state of health. Against the background of the psychobiological identity and mankind's positive reaction to nature we can assume that plants have a particular effect on the s ense of well-being. This is evidenced by the fact that the occurrence of symptoms linked to the indoor atmosphere was reduced.

The individual experience of the subject's state of health can be at least partly explained by the following reasoning: an improved sense of well-being raises the levels of tolerance for irritation. Consequently, the individual will experience the indo or atmosphere more favourably if there are plants in the working environment.

On the other hand, we can also assume that plants can have a direct effect on the atmosphere; according to American research findings, houseplants break down a variety of chemical compounds in the air. They may also slightly raise the ambient humidity, as English studies suggest. These two factors can lead to an improvement in the indoor atmosphere, which in turn leads to fewer health problems. My personal opinion is in any case that the psychosocial effect (i.e. increased sense of well-being) has a si gnificantly greater significance for our findings as a direct consequence of the air quality.

In addition to the information, we wanted feedback on how the subjects experienced the presence of plants in their workplace. To that end, we sent a new questionnaire to all participants a month after the completion of the health stage, in which we ask ed for their views regarding the plants.

56% of participants felt that the plants took up a lot of room. The positioning of the plants in the office should therefore be done in such a way that the workplace is not noticeably restricted, for example by hanging the plants in the window or on th e wall. Only 11% felt that plants had caused problems in the workplace.

A proportionately large number of subjects felt that the air in the office had been improved when it contained plants (22% agreed with this fully, and 24% partly). The majority said that they felt more comfortable with plants (84% agreed fully or partl y). Amongst 51 subjects who participated in the experiment to the end, there was a substantial desire to have plants in the office in future. 66% were fully in favour of this, and 16% partly in favour, making a total of 82%. Only one person fully opposed it.

We can therefore draw the following conclusions. Plants in offices can improve the sense of well-being and health. Health problems affected by the indoor atmosphere occur less frequently, and the employees feel the plants to be a positive element. It i s consequently obvious to assume that plants can help reduce the costs resulting from short-term absence due to illness. Effectiveness at work can be improved both through the reduction in health problems and an increased sense of well-being. This is inte resting from a economic perspective, not least because the individual planting can easily be adapted to the workplace in question. Finally, it should not be forgotten that the individual employee's sense of well-being is clearly promoted, and that plants in the workplace can therefore also help improve quality of life overall.

These were a few of the findings of the Norwegian study. As far as we know, this is the first study in the world to directly link the use of plants to health. With medical questions, two independent studies with similar findings are always required in order to be able to make definite statements. We therefore dare to draw the conclusion that plants in offices have a positive effect on individuals' health and sense of well-being. And we hope that our study can prompt further research in this field.

Prof. Dr. Tøve Fjeld
obtained her doctorate at the Norwegian Agricultural University in Ås/Oslo in 1989. She has since worked at the Norwegian Institute for Horticulture and Botany and had been leading a study into the possible effect of plants on the health of offic e staff since 1994. Mrs Fjeld is also a lecturer at the Agricultural University and a member of the Scandinavian Society for Agricultural Research and the International Society of Horticultural Sciences.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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The Rudolf Steiner School - Learning under Palms

UK schools and government bodies for education may like to consider how one independent school in Germany is using plants to improve the atmosphere for learning, reducing stress and noise levels and improving health of pupils and staff.

Eye-catching and architecturally impressive due to its unusual structure, the Rudolf Steiner School in Chorweiler, near Cologne, immediately attracts attention. Plants are an integral part of this self-governed school, used to their full potential in achieving the school's aims to create a more natural learning environment.

At the heart of the school, in the main hall, is the 'Oasis'. Under a dome shaped glass roof, a number of large plants have been planted, filling the hall with life. Large palms, ferns and banana plants next to a pond create a tranquil atmosphere discouraging chaos and stress.

A calming haven - reducing anti-social behaviour
Dieter Horn, the director of the Rudolf Steiner School, believes that the sight of the plants relieves stress and relaxes pupils and staff. As one example, he cites that pupils' discussions conducted near or in the Oasis are much calmer and quieter. The atmosphere created by the plants is more natural, alive and stimulating - this builds a sharp contrast to 'traditional' schools where the atmosphere is often sterile and uncomfortable - counter-productive to learning.

Plants improve indoor air quality
In addition to reducing stress levels and improving the general atmosphere, plants also have an important part to play in improving air humidity, thus reducing health problems such as headaches, sore throats and colds experienced by staff and pupils alike.

The large, healthy tropical plants in the Rudolf Steiner School also reduce noise levels, providing the perfect meeting place for the school's 465 pupils. The Oasis is also popular for parties and bazaars outside school activities.

The Rudolf Steiner School makes very good use of its 'Oasis', not only does it provide all the beneficial effects plants have to offer, but it is also used as a base to teach horticulture to the pupils. Learning about the plants has improved the pupils understanding of the issues involved, as a result they treat the valuable plants with respect and do not damage them or pollute the pond.

The construction and maintenance of the 'Oasis' has been and still is an expensive exercise. Director Horn admits that spending 45000DM (approximately £15,500) is a huge investment for a school, but he insists it has been more than worth it due to all the benefits it has brought to the school.

UK schools and local governments could do worse than invest in similar planted areas to encourage healthy learning atmospheres in our schools.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Herten's Green Culture Centre

The air inside the lavishly equipped round glass cultural centre and library in Herten is fresh and humid. You instinctively want to take a deep breath, absorbing its purity - feeling like you've just walked into a health centre. All this in Herten, an industrial town situated North of the Ruhr, an industrial area that is definitely not renowned for the quality of its air!

Planting makes perfect
The difference in Herten's cultural centre is the planting, which was planned from the outset. Plants were used not only for decoration, but more importantly to improve the air quality.

Research has proved that plants absorb toxins produced by modern furnishing materials. In addition to this, the carbon dioxide gases exhaled by people in the library are filtered into the centre of the building, where the plants absorb this and produce oxygenated air, which is then filtered back into the reading rooms. No wonder the air seems pure!

Architect, Dieter Schempp responsible for the design of the building, felt it was his responsibility to plan and build in the interest of the people. The intention, according to Schempp, was to create a building in which people felt comfortable.

A remarkable sound
Green concert halls are uncommon and round buildings are renowned for their poor acoustics. However, in this building the combination of plants and glass has proved a success; additional alterations have not been necessary to improve the acoustic quality of the room, as the leaves of the plants break and reflect the sound waves. The acoustic quality here is so good that last year the WDR (West German Broadcasting Station) used this room for broadcasting.

The glasshouse was the concept of the local tradesman Ludwig Schweisfurth. About 15 years ago, he conceived the idea to build a communication centre under glass and invested 1 million marks in the venture.

Former mayor, Willi Wessel, also shared Schweisfurth's vision, however the project was not realised for a further 10 years. During that time, intensive discussions and planning took place, including funding of some 20 million Marks from the government and 6 million Marks from a local authority.

Solar architecture - culture and plants
The Tübinger planning group LOG ID found the Herten project to be a challenge. They wanted to prove that solar power not only saves energy and fuel, but is a modern technology, which has numerous other possibilities, for example providing people with a pleasant environment.

Architect Dieter Schempp and the planning group were not primarily concerned with creating a 'zero energy' building for technology's sake, on the contrary, they felt it was their responsibility to plan and build in the interest of the people. They wanted to build a building which made people feel comfortable, and using plants and the natural solar energy were obvious methods of achieving this aim.

The concept for the glasshouse was based on an ecological idea - a recognised system which uses plants, sunlight and localised heating - through which energy costs were reduced by 50%.

Perfect climate Due to its glass construction, all four floors of Herten's library offer its visitors a bright and comfortable atmosphere to read in. It's a pleasure to join fellow book lovers in the inner balcony of the glasshouse and enjoy the climate.

Temperatures inside the library can reach 22°C in winter and 30°C in summer and are controlled by opening and closing doors and ventilation flaps. Reactions of both visitors and staff confirm just how well this project has worked; they say the atmosphere is very pleasant.

Plants: introduced from the start
Plants play an essential part in the 'green solar architecture'. From the beginning, plants were on the agenda and have been carefully selected for this particular building costing around 189,700 D.M. (over £60,000).

According to Schempp, the light conditions of the glasshouse are perfect for sustaining tropical and subtropical plants. It is essential to select the correct plants in the initial planning stages. The architects of Tübingen have found a solution to this problem. For the past 25 years they have worked together with the botanical garden's manager.

On the balconies of each level of the gallery in the glass hall, stainless steel receptacles have been lavishly planted with hanging plants, dwarf shrubs and ground cover plants. When any of the 500 or so annual events takes place, the audience is seated in the gallery where, they are able to view the vast array of planting, from dizzy heights.

The sunny sides of the glasshouse are mainly planted with small leafed, variegated grey/silver varieties that need a great deal of light and can flourish without being protected from direct sunlight. The darker and bright green leafed plants such as the Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Grevillea robusta (Australian silver oak) and the Oreopanax nymphaefolia from Guatemala are situated overlooking the library, lobby and bistro.

Plant care is the responsibility of the city gardeners. Every fortnight they collect dead and faded leaves and trim the plants if necessary. The glasshouse has its own automatic irrigation system, so it doesn't take long for the gardeners to complete their work.

City in radical change
The cultural centre, known as the glasshouse, is just one example of the dynamic structural changes that are taking place in Herten. The city, once Europe's largest mining town, faces another radical change this year when the Ewald Hugo pit closes in April - it will be the end an era for Herten.

A positive response
The architecturally impressive city library and cultural centre situated in the centre of the town, provides the citizens with a cultural meeting place and a wide variety of events. However, the city's reaction to the cultural centre has been very controversial.

"Nobody wanted it" said the architect Dieter Schemmp. As far as the population is concerned, it was love at third sight.

The chef of the bistro explained that the architectural style of the glasshouse was far from classical and far too modern; five to six years ahead of it's time. However, during the last five years public opinion has changed.

So all's well that ends well and today the glass library and cultural centre is approved of and supported by the inhabitants of the city and beyond.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Are plants in offices beneficial to health?

Plants in offices are beneficial to people. They create an individual working environment and bring colour into the room. They hereby give a feeling of well-being and create a live atmosphere. They are beneficial for a positive mood and help to overcome stress. In this way, ficus, banana and co help to improve the room climate. Fact: In offices with plants, complaints about headaches, nervousness, heart/circulation-symptoms as well as colds are more seldom. In the following we would like to present to you why this is so, and how you can make use of the advantages of an office with integrated plants.

Plants regulate the climate. They influence the humidity and improve the air quality in that they take in carbondioxide and give off oxygen and they bind dust and harmful substances.

The air temperature should rather be low than too high and should have the same value at head and foot level: Normally 21°C to 22°C and with high outside temperatures maximally 26°C. The relative humidity should not drop below 30 %. This is often unavoidable during winter months because the air humidity drops without extra humidifying. This low air humidity results in the drying out of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tracts and can, in the long run, lead to chronically inflamed mucous membranes. Drying out of the skin and irritation of the eyes are the consequence. A dry nose/throat does not only negatively affect general well-being but also results in a bad defence shield against bacteria and viruses. The result: Cold-germs can easily settle in.

Using green plants with a high need for water, for example nest fern, banana, African hemp and also Cyperus alternifolius, the humidity can be increased in a natural way. The air humidity should not rise above 60 per cent to 65 per cent because under certain circumstances, this could cause mould.

Important: The room air must be free of all pungent smells and odours and toxic substances. Because parallel to the unappetising odours, the carbondioxide content also rises, as a rule. The margin of tolerable odour concentration is exceeded at 0.1 per cent vol. The more carbondioxide in the air, the more tired and listless we become. The more leaf surface a plant has, the more effectively it can discharge carbondioxide. Here, it is not the size of the single leaf, but the whole leaf surface of the plant that matters. Banana, ficus species and green-leafed wine have a large leaf surface. Dry air is always more dusty than humid air. Dust particles are always lighter when they do not hold much moisture. Furthermore, by means of electrostatic charge, the dust particles are suspended in the air.

On their own, plants are not suitable as biological air filter systems for means of reducing harmful substances indoors. In the case of reduced air quality due to harmful substances in the office, for example smoking, solvents and wood impregnation, the recognition and elimination of the source is of top priority. Airing the room at regular intervals is also of extreme importance.

An additional biological air filtering by plants was experimentally proven in two ways:

a) The ribs of the leaves of the plants take up the harmful substances, collect, process and filter them. For example, this has been scientifically proven for formaldehyde.

b) The harmful substances in the air get into the soil, i.e. a hydroponics substrate with a high content of activated carbon. The next step is that either the harmful air substances are directly absorbed by the roots of the plant and are then transported to and processed, respectively deposited, by the plant or the processing by soil bacteria, for which the harmful substances serve as a source of nourishment. Due to the normally low quantities of harmful substances indoors, it is necessary to additionally feed the bacteria which process harmful substances. Long term tests have shown that immunised bacteria survive for months even without the continual supply of formaldehyde or nicotine and become immediately "active" as soon as they receive harmful substances. However, the processing rates of plants only work out to approximately 1 per cent of the processing rate of bacteria. As the detoxifying potential of plants is relatively low, rooms must be richly decorated with plants in order to make use of this effect. Normally, the concentration of harmful substances in offices does not constitute a health hazard.

In order for indoor plants to carry out their meaningful function as a significant element of well-being, not only the right plants and design are important, but, as a matter of fact, also the right care. In practice (good lighting conditions, fertilisation of the plants without pests, no flooded roots in hydroponics tubs) this can easily cause problems.

Summary: The influence of plants on air quality for the general well-being of people has been proven. Even more important is, however, their positive psychological effect on our perception and thinking.

Author: Dr. Leona Rogler; for: 'The comprehensive office series' of the Association for Administrative Professions

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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The influence of indoor plants on the state of health of office employees

Prof. Tøve Fjeld, Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences, Agriculture University of Norway

Plants do not only serve as a means for processing air, they are also part of the original ecological system from which man evolved. In human biology, physiology and geno-type have changed very little in the last 10,000 years, whereby changes in human environment are fundamental. When looking at the last 50 to 70 years one notices that in the western world a far reaching urbanisation has taken place. At present, millions of people live with little or no contact to nature - without woods or open country-side, lakes, parks or gardens. Above this, our present life-style - at least in Scandinavia - results in the fact that 80 to 90 per cent of the time is spent indoors.

The specialist field covering the influence of the environment on human psyches is called environmental psychology. Environmental psychological studies have shown obvious links between well-being, psychological stability, stress level, other important aspects of human life and environmental factors. All these studies indicate that nature - such as plants, lakes and woods - can offer an important contribution to the reduction of stress. An urban environment, however, causes psychological stress.

Hypothesis
The hypothesis on which this study is based, is that an integration of plants into our direct environment - inside buildings - has a direct influence on how people evaluate their well-being and state of health. In our opinion it is possible to collect data as to how a person evaluates his or her state of health and then to connect this data with the presence of indoor plants.

Short description of the study
The study on the influence of indoor plants on the state of health of office employees was carried out in the course of a co-operation between the Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences and the head-office of Statoil Norge A/S. 62 people took part in the study. The offices were standardised as to the size (10 m²) and the window area. By means of a standardised questionnaire we collected data reference how the test persons evaluated the room climate and how, in their opinion, this had an effect on 12 different illness-symptoms. These symptoms are, according to earlier studies, indicators for problems in the area of room climate. During a control period of four months in autumn 1994, background information was collected every two weeks, in order to achieve a "control-level" of the test persons.

29 offices were equipped with standardised indoor plants ("plants-group"), while the other 32 offices formed the control-group. The plants were introduced into the offices in February 1995.

During the months of February, March and April the test persons filled in the standardised questionnaires every two weeks.

Preliminary results
The preliminary results after the first year of the study indicate that plants do indeed have an effect on the subjective evaluation of the state of health. The results can be compiled as follows:
1. Office employees with plants in their offices had less subjective health complaints reference the room climate than the test persons that had no plants in their offices.
2. The symptoms, that were reduced the most in the "plants-group", were headache and skin irritation of the face, the scalp, the ears and hands.

These results could underlie different factors. At this moment in time though, we are not able to establish which are the most important factors. It is quite likely that interaction of psycho-social factors ("I am receiving attention"), environmental psychological factors (integration of a natural element indoors) and physiological factors (air filtering, increase of humidity etc) is the cause of this.

Prospect
The question is, however, whether or not the results from this study will still be valid over a longer period of time. In order to achieve permissible results, it is necessary to prolong the study. We also need information about how and in which way the effects will change during the different seasons. If these effects can still be proven after a further year, then plants are a very important factor reference the reduction of complaints in connection with room climate. Plants could, in this way, be an important means of cost reduction in the area of short term sickness due to minor ailments and would be a contribution to the effectiveness of a company. A further - and possibly more important - point is that this would increase the well-being of the employee and hereby the quality of his/her work routine.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Breathing and Indoor Air

Prof. Dr. Konrad Botzenhard, Hygiene-Institute of the Tübingen University

People must breath to extract oxygen from the air and exhale the carbondioxide produced in the body. For this gas-exchange, the human lung has an available capacity of approximately 80 m².

During breathing the air in the lung-alveolus is only exchanged with fresh air to the extent of approximately 15 to 30 per cent, so that gas concentration during breathing only differs slightly here. The oxygen partial pressure in the alveolus air lies by 98 torr as opposed to 150 torr in the inhaled air.

The oxygen content in the arterial blood changes so little, up to 80 torr partial pressure in the alveolus air, that minor deviations in the oxygen content of the indoor air have only little effect on breathing. It is almost the same with the carbondioxide concentration.

In the alveolus this lies at approximately 40 torr or approximately 5 per cent vol. so distinctly above the concentration of the outside air of approximately 0.03 per cent vol., minimal deviations in the outside air have no meaning in respect to breathing. The Pettenkofer-Value of 0.1 per cent vol. seen as the margin of acceptable CO²-concentration is only of significance as an indicator for the pollution of the indoor air regarding human evaporates, but has no significance to breathing functions.

During breathing, humidifying and warming of the air takes place in the upper respiratory tracts , where only a much smaller area is available. Especially in winter, the drying out of the mucous membranes is often complained about. Due to this, it seems sensible to guarantee a minimal air humidity of 30 to 40 per cent indoors. Furthermore, particular harmful substances in the respiratory tracts should be held back and transported out, without them reaching the alveolus and hereby passing into the body.

For this purpose, the bronchial pulmonary system including the mucous membrane of the nose has ciliary epithelia and gland cells for the production of mucous. The overproduction in this system often leads to colds, it is therefore an important quality criteria that the air is free from dust. This especially applies to biological active dust, for example micro-organisms and allergens. The dust content of the air is dependent on the relative humidity.

Chemical irritations of the respiratory tract as well as odours can have an effect on the innervation of the respiratory tracts through the autonomous nerve system. Generally this is indicated in a constriction of the respiratory tract and even involuntary holding of breath and an increased blockage of the respiratory tract.

The evaluation of the quality of odour of indoor air is the basis for the so-called Olf-Concept, which has since found its way into standardisation. It seems possible that through the increased use of plants indoors factors such as relative humidity, particle content and odour quality can be positively influenced.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Plants - A Major Influence on People's Lives

Houseplants have more to offer than mere aesthetic appeal - in a world where we spend more and more time indoors, they provide us with a much needed reminder of the kind of environment we evolved in. Research into the beneficial attributes of plants was first conducted by NASA in the 1970s. NASA scientists discovered that houseplants were able to purify polluted air and water. Since then many countries and authorities have developed their own research programmes.

In Germany a research programme, funded by the Bavarian state, was started in January 1998 by Dr Peter Reimherr of the Bavarian State Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture. The programme is scheduled to run until 31st December 1999 and is attempting to find the effect plants have on people who spend a lot of time indoors. The research focuses on general wellbeing, health and also efficiency of the workforce.

Questionnaires have been distributed to 140 people in 105 offices. Participants are asked to complete them at regular intervals. This includes a before and after comparison to find out how office workers perceive the difference achieved by plants, focusing on perceptions of space, wellbeing and health. Effects on humidity, temperature and light are also measured. All staff involved have reacted very positively to the changes and are very interested in the project.

Researchers are now also looking into the reasons why plants have all these positive effects on people. One theory is that during the last 2 million years people have evolved in open spaces, settling around clusters of vegetation. Therefore on a subconscious level plants may still signify water, food and protection and therefore, increased chances of survival.

Such diverse groups as architects, psychologists, gardeners and doctors alike eagerly await the results of Dr Reimherr's research.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Plants, an economical way to improve conditions in schools

The condition of indoor air has been a concern since the early eighties when Sick Building Syndrome was recognised. Where schools suffer from this condition, the introduction of a few plants into classrooms, staff rooms and offices is a simple and cost effective way to improve how everyone actually feels.

With constant pressures on funding, education and local government officials will be pleased to learn that using plants is a cost effective way to purify the air so making staff and pupils feel and perform better. An added bonus is that the aesthetic value of the plants will also improve the morale of staff and pupils.

Plants perform well in a Norwegian school
In research carried out at a Norwegian primary school, plants were introduced into classrooms to improve the indoor atmosphere. Findings from the research show that there were less health problems in the classrooms where the plants were located.

Pupils also reported a positive appreciation for the plants, reporting that their classrooms felt fresher, generally more pleasant and attractive. These results confirm earlier findings from similar research carried out in an office environment.

School improvements
Both surveys were conducted by Professor Tove Fjeld of the Horticultural Institute at the Norwegian College of Agriculture. The school in question in Tønsberg, Norway, had a record of serious health problems due to the indoor climate in classrooms and other areas of the school. Ventilation was poor and a lack of funds, a problem not unfamiliar to the UK, meant there was no possibility of investing in better ventilation or structural improvements.

This project was chosen as an alternative method to improve conditions. It involved the use of plants in a biological system.

The biological system
Fjeld used four metre-long containers, planted with a selection of plants and positioned in selected classrooms. The containers known as Bioprocess® units had a reservoir with both compost and water, acted as complete biological systems. The surrounding air is drawn into the system by means of a pipe and distributed throughout the compost.

The noiseless Bioprocess® system not only helps clean the air of impurities but also improves the evaporation of water, ensuring that the biological system makes a major contribution to purifying the air.

and how it works
It is well established from earlier work carried out by several researchers, that the roots of plants break down any chemicals which have been absorbed in this way or naturally through the plant's leaves, turning them into food for the plant. Similarly, in the natural process of transpiration, plants help to control the humidity of the air.

The people survey
Between February 1997 and February 1998 the research was carried out with two test groups. One group, involving 61 pupils and 8 teachers, had the planted units, whilst the other group remained in the original conditions with no planted units and was made up of 59 pupils and 2 teachers.

Teachers and pupils answered 4 questionnaires before, during and at the end of the experiment, to ascertain how they felt. The findings from those who had worked in the classrooms with plants, found that symptoms were considerably reduced. 47% reduction of headaches 37% reduction of dry or hoarse throats 69% claimed they 'felt' better generally cold sufferers complained less of the symptoms rooms were perceived as bigger

Keeping the back row's attention!
For an added bonus, plants have also been found to aid concentration and productivity.

Research carried out in America showed that plants improved concentration levels. Washington professor, Virginia Lohr took two similar groups working in windowless computer labs, one group with plants and one without.

Both groups used a specially designed computer programme so that they both undertook similar work. Their emotional states, pre- and post-task blood pressures and pulse rates were measured before, during and after the experiment.

Increased productivity Whilst both groups made a similar number of mistakes, the group which worked with plants present, recorded a reaction time which was 12% quicker than those working without. In effect, this meant their production rate was greater too.

..and better concentration
The blood pressure and pulse rates of the participants also returned to normal more quickly and their scores showed significant increases in post-task attentiveness.

Professor Fjeld is continuing her research with groups in two further schools. Meanwhile, hard-up local authorities could do worse than install a few plants in their classrooms to make them not only more pleasant places to be but also healthier places in which to learn and work.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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The influence of "greened" offices on well-being, health and productivity

Considerable academic research, which shows that plants can improve health in the workplace, has been carried out. The research has shown that plants reduce complaints of minor ailments, generally improve the feeling of well-being and also reduce stress levels.

Offices in Bavaria promote plants
During a two year study in Bavaria, Engelbert Kötter working on behalf of the Bavarian State Ministry of Nourishment, Agriculture and Forestry, found that plants in offices improved employee's perception of their well-being as well as improving the comfort-factor of the offices.

Taking 94 offices and 139 office employee's, Kötter introduced plants into the offices and measured humidity and light levels which are important for plants and people; he also assessed the workers' perceptions of change to the climate of the rooms and to their own well-being by means of a series of questionnaires.

Kötter also addressed the issues of noise reduction by plants and dispelled fears that plants introduced dust and germs to the environment.*

Central heating or air conditioning can dry the air, which can cause respiratory and skin irritation. The optimum humidity level for comfort is about 60%. Kötter's findings showed that common houseplants such as Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), African violet, Epipremum (Devil's Ivy) and Ficus pumila raised the humidity levels by 2 - 5% making the office atmosphere more comfortable for inhabitants.

Office employee's also recorded that the environment offices with plants felt fresher, made them feel less stressed, made the working feel more human and in general seem to up-grade their environment.

With improved conditions and perceptions, office employee's will enjoy their work situation better; happy employees = more output and happy bosses.

Stress - a prime concern
In America, Prof Virginia Lohr found that plants had beneficial effects. For her study of two groups of computer operators, she monitored their pulse rates, their blood pressure and skin conductivity, whereby increases in these measurements show the physiological signs of increased stress. Her findings showed that the pulse rates, blood pressure and skin conductivity of the operators working in the computer lab with integrated plants, all returned to normal more quickly. Not only that, but their concentration was better enabling them to make corrections more quickly and proving them to be 12% more productive.

One would imagine that anything that reduces stress would be of interest to employers. The Confederation of British Industry last year published figures that showed that 1 in 5 of us will take time off work because of stress. In 1999 this meant that the British Industry lost 6.7 million working days due to stress or stress related illnesses. The cost of this was around £7 billion last year to British Industry (Health & Safety Executive).

Plants improve health in the workplace
In Norway, Prof Tøve Fjeld of the Agricultural University in Oslo has carried out several studies reference the discomfort of workers. Her findings have been consistent: plants reduce minor ailments often linked to Sick Building Syndrome.

Her first study was at the Statoil Offices in Oslo, where in a 2-year study using questionnaires with 2 groups of workers, she found that complaints of minor ailments decreased once plants were introduced into the offices.

Recorded improvements at the Statoil Offices after the introduction of plants:

Ailment	% reduction
Fatigue	20
Headache	30
Sore/dry throats	30
Coughs	40
Dry facial skin	25
Well-being	84

Further research consolidates positive benefits of plants
She has had similar results in three further projects, two in schools and the third in the X-ray department of the Radiological Hospital in Oslo.

In the x-ray project, not only were complaints of ailments reduced, but the mid-afternoon tiredness, common in many workplaces, ceased. On average, absence from work dropped from 15.85% to 5.55%. Last but not least, the smell of the chemicals used in the process of x-raying was reduced once the plants were introduced. All in all the plants made the x-ray department a healthier place for those working there.

Plants are a worthwhile investment
Research results are positive - plants do improve health in workplaces. For employers, investment in interior landscaping to make workplaces healthier places is a small outlay for the savings in costs, which result from reduced absence from work, and improvements in productivity.

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'Green Solar architecture' - higher quality of life in buildings

The link 'plant' has gained importance in architecture as a media against over-technicalisation and the alienation to nature. People react positively towards indoor plants. Above this, plants take on important functions of well being such as acclimatisation, the binding of dust and harmful substances and the reduction of noise. At the same time they support stress reduction. People are drawn to plants and have a close relationship to them, especially in the concrete desserts known as towns. Life has been revolutionarily changed through the cultivation of plants by humans of the early epoch. The vital comprehension of the interplay of man and plants though, has been lost due to industrialisation.

Indoor plants also influence the perception of the persons working and living in the related building. Hereby, smells play an important role. Because though, people react differently to smells, strongly smelling plants should only be used sparingly.

As the sun is the only unproblematic source of energy that we have and as it is unrenounceable for our lives, a co-operation between sun and plants should form a new kind of architecture. During the planning of a building, the guidelines of solar architecture must be taken into consideration. Which climatic zones does it have, how much light is available and how is the building constituted. To carry out the conversion in the best possible way, interdisciplinary co-operation must take place. For example, during one project, a heating and ventilation engineer, a garden layout specialist and an electric-planner are involved.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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Origins and background information - The history of the use of indoor plants

In historical sources reference the beginning of the use of indoor plants two topics become obvious: firstly the introduction of potted plants and secondly the positioning of these potted plants indoors. Where native plants can grow in pots outdoors, exotic plants have special climatic requirements and must be reared indoors.

The hanging gardens of Semiramis in Babylon (814-810 BC):

This garden demonstrates in the most impressive way, how plants were reared in stone vessels in the antique. The origin of potting plants probably lays in Greece.

From here, the idea of culturing plants in pots spread to other Mediterranean areas. Towards the end of the 4th century BC, potting plants was generally a normal thing and roof gardens were no longer classed as special. The Egyptians obviously had a great love for plants and flowers, however grave in scripts prove that bringing plants indoors only began commencing 3rd century BC. The plants were in clay vessels and were placed in inner courts for ornamental purposes.

Indoor plants even existed in Pompeii

Archaeological findings in the ruins of Pompeii show that even 2000 years ago, plants were reared indoors. There is proof that roman atriums were furnished with numerous blooming plants in hanging vessels and baskets. Emperor Tiberius had green houses whereby the sunlight did not fall through glass, but Lapis Specularis, a kind of glimmer. In these greenhouses, the warmth produced by dung was used, so that even in winter he could cultivate vegetables and exotic plants that Tiberius had gathered on his campaigns. It was only in 290 AD that glass was used and the buildings were heated.

On the way as plant hunters

The modern indoor 'greening' would be unthinkable had it not been for the enthusiastic plant hunters and collectors. Obviously, it was mostly the travellers that had the tendency to collect plants. Early on, plants were collected for nourishment or for medical values. Later, the decorative aspect came to the fore.

Egyptian kings sent their gardeners to distant countries to collect specimens of the flora there.

The Greek and Roman armies also brought exotic plants home from their campaigns.

The crusaders brought back unknown species of plants to England and Columbus came back with seeds from the new world. In the 17th and 18th century, it was often the case that a botanist was on board in order to identify plants as being edible or of having medical value.

In the 18th century, the botanist John Bartram from Philadelphia and his son William traded plants with foreign collectors. Bartram laid out the first botanical gardens in America in the year 1728.

In 1768, Joseph Banks took part in Captain Cooks "Endeavour" and brought back 3000 species of plants of which one third was absolutely unknown to scientists. Kew-Gardens became the most significant garden in the world because plants acquired on Cooks three journeys were cultivated there. In 1789, 5500 species were registered there.

The revolution of indoor plants in the 19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century, the European expeditions were carried out all over the world, leading to more and more plants being discovered, specified, sought after and collected. It was en vogue to grow plants for aesthetic and for practical reasons. This fashion led to flowers of open land plants being kept in rooms as decoration during their bloom. The breeding of indoor plants developed into a great enthusiasm in Europe. The rich people of all countries were indulged in this, especially the British. Collectors were sent to the most far distant regions of the tropics to collect plants for their rich clients - the more exotic and foreign, the better. Owning and presenting exotic plants had great prestige, and there was often a great rivalry between the plant lovers. It was at this point in time that the great greenhouses evolved.

Victorians

The Victorian joy of possessing goods could have been the reason for the creation of plant collecting to that time. The growing wealth of the industrials and the traders gave them enough financial backing to build up plant collections. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Victorians urge to expand and their wealth decreased.

The First World War meant the definite end of a very private lifestyle. The gardeners were recruited, coal was rationed, and luxury inevitably became a minor matter. Heaters were turned off for cost reasons, watering and care was no longer carried out and a large amount of the plants ended on the compost heap. In the 20's, a vast amount of the extensive Victorian plant world was lost. The only exceptions were some very robust types and species that had survived in the botanical gardens or in greenhouses of some enthusiasts.

Glasshouses

Many of the exotic plants that were brought back to Great Britain would not have survived outside and had therefore to be reared indoors or in a type of glasshouse. The oldest botanical gardens of Europe, in Padua Italy, had glass constructions at their disposal approximately after the year 1550. But it was only in the 17th century, that these safeguards for sensitive plants were getting common.

Greenhouses

In the 17th century ever more gardeners in Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany built Greenhouses in order to safeguard Myrtle, pomegranates, vine stocks and citrus fruits.

Orangeries

The 18th century was the century of the orangeries, which served to safeguard the citrus fruit that was, to this time, extremely popular. The trees were kept outside in the summer and were carried into the orangerie in the winter. Orangeries were mostly impressive constructions that mirrored the self-confidence and the social status of their owners. The favourite fruits of the rich, during this epoch were also, amongst citrus fruits, Pineapple, Cacti, Passionflower, guavas and papayas.

Joseph Paxton's crystal palace

The first glass roofs that let in daylight came about in England in 1717 and were developed further to the extravagant Victorian glasshouses. Joseph Paxton was knighted for the crystal palace that he created for the 1851 world exhibition. The glass panes, constructed to slide, were aligned so that they served as both ventilation and a guard against overheating. Paxton was the senior gardener at Chatsworth, the country residence of the Duke of Devonshire, and he personified the ideal type of Victorian gardeners. Chatsworth himself is a prime example of what innovative strength can do when the relationship of botany, science, technology and art comes together with a rich benefactor.

Source: http://www.Plants-For-People.org/

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CLEANING THE AIR DOWN UNDER

Australian environmental researcher finds more proof that indoor plants reduce health risks

SYDNEY - In an ongoing environmental research project, University of Technology - Sydney Research Associate Ron Wood has discovered even more beneficial facts about how plants clean indoor air. Wood and a team of scientists, including a plant physiologist / ecotoxicologist, biochemist / analytic chemist , microbiologist and environmental / urban horticulturist , conducted experiments based on Dr. Wolverton's NASA Research, but took the experiments a step further.

The project, funded by the Flower Council of Holland and the Australian Horticultural Research Development Corporation, placed three species of plants, Howea forsteriana (Kentia palm), Spathiphyllum var. Petite (Peace Lily0 and Dracaena deremensis var. Janet Craig, in sealed chambers and subjected them to two common indoor toxins, n-hexene and benzene, a known carcinogen.

The experiments repeated Dr. Wolverton's results showing that the plants removed the toxins from the chambers. According to Wood, the removal rate was slow at first, but increased substantially after a few days. He attributes this to biochemical systems that switch onto deal with the toxins - it absorbs and metabolizes them. When the level of toxins was increased, the plants maintained or increased their removal rates.

The project also included an experiment that placed the plants in total darkness - when photosynthesis does not take place and the stomata's are shut, preventing gaseous absorption into the leaves. No reduction in the removal rate occurred. Instead, in some cases, the removal rate increased and improved that light is not necessary for the removal process.

Next the research team added more toxin to the chambers to try achieve saturation or the point where the plants could no longer remove toxins. In the 7 to 10 day timeframe in which the experiments were conducted, the team could not achieve saturation of the plants. This observation led Wood's team to an additional test - on the potting medium. What role do the microorganisms play in the removal process?

For this part of the research, the plants were removed from the chambers and the potting mix was returned with new doses of toxins added. The result: The removal rates remained high, only slightly less than those obtained with the plants present. Even after 7 to 10 days without the plant, the removal rate was maintained.

According to Wood, this means that removal is a biological process and the microorganisms in the potting soil are the rapid-removing agents of the removal system.

To further his findings, Wood decided to test the plant itself. First the roots were washed in sterile water to remove any remaining potting mix and as many microorganisms as possible. The plant was placed in the chamber in a hydroponics solution (no potting mix), under the same conditions as before. Again removal activity took place. In some tests, the removal activity was the same as when the plant was in the potting mix, suggesting that microorganisms must still be present in the root system The difference in the removal rates among the plants suggest that different relationships exists between the plants and their root-associated microorganisms.

The final test was on "virgin" potting mix that has never been associated with a plant. In this test removal was still achieved, but at a much slower rate and at a level lower than with plants, and was exhausted after 9 to 10 days. Wood asserts that these results show microorganisms exists independently in the potting mix, but are unable to grow and reproduce in the absence of a plant, so toxin removal using only potting mix is short-term.

"Our research provides new information about the induction effect, or the "switching on" of a biochemical system to absorb and metabolize a chemical compound," Wood says. " This is new information showing that longer plants are exposed to toxins, the better the plant/soil system works at removing them. This is the first time that this has been demonstrated.'

Wood's team feels these findings reinforce Wolverton's research and provide ample documentation for promoting indoor plants as necessary clean air tools.

According to Wood, who is INTERIORSCAPE magazine's Clean Air Correspondent, the findings are accepted by the International Society for Indoor Air Quality and Climate, the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In a related study, the EPA recently published its draft of the "Healthy Buildings, Healthy People" report, outlining the problems associated with indoor air toxins (sick-building syndrome) and the need for aggressive programs to address indoor air pollution problems.

In a letter to INTERIORSCAPE.com's 'Scaper Talk, Wood points out, "In the EPA's final draft, among the five goals for upgrading indoor environments is: No. 4 - Create and use innovative products, materials and technologies. I think the EPA's goals present the possibility that living plants indoors enhance people's health and environment. This is more than selling pork against beef. This report should be required reading for all interiorscapers, and the uppermost in the minds of those directing the Growth Initiative."

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GREEN PLANTS FOR THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR

Research conducted by Oxford Brookes University
Interior planting has become increasingly popular in the working environment during the last 30 years, and its presence is believed to have psychological and physiological benefits. There are many claims in the literature that have not been substantiated by research. My thesis, titled Human Responses to Interior Planting, set out to establish why people need or want to have interior planting in their present-day buildings and to determine the possible psychological benefits to people of plants inside buildings.

Two separate studies were carried out:

The first study was a longitudinal case study in a hospital atrium using questionnaires and observations. This study tested the impact of interior planting on:

• the way in which people used the atrium
• people's anxiety levels
• people's perception of the atrium

The second study was a laboratory study to test the impact of interior planting on recovery from attentional fatigue and used vigilance tests, including a proof reading.

Summary of Results
The presence of interior planting plays a role in human psychological well-being because:

• Perception of an interior is more positive in the presence of interior planting.
• Even with a theoretically relaxed colour scheme, the atrium was still perceived as more relaxed and more un-stressful with plants.
• Stress might be lower because the building is perceived as more relaxed and more un-stressful.
• Although sound measurements were not taken, the plants did appear to make a positive contribution to sound absorption, which is consistent with Costa's research.
• People perceive a building with interior planting as more expensive-looking, which may enhance the feeling of well-being. This is collateral with other research.
• The atrium appeared more welcoming with plants. This is extremely important to people's first impressions of the hospital, which may affect their anxiety state.
• The plants did not affect people's perception of the size of the atrium and did not make it appear congested.

The absence of interior planting in a building elicits a more negative human psychological response because:

• People's perception of the building is less positive in the absence of plants.
• Anxiety states might, therefore, be increased in the absence of plants, thereby creating stress.

The Psychological Effects of Plants on People in Offices Research conducted by Surrey University
Two studies were conducted by M.Sc. environmental psychology students from Surrey University during the spring and early summer of 1997. The experiments were designed to examine the effects of plants on people in a simulated working environment. Study 1: The Effect of Interior Planting on Stress by Helen Russell

The first study attempted to test whether the presence of plants in a room affected the stress levels of people undertaking a complex test. Participants in the study were invited to an office that had no plants or was heavily planted. Sensors were attached to the skin of the participants to record skin conductivity, heart rate and blood pressure. The participant was allowed to get used to the surroundings for 10 minutes, during which time a base line recording of his stress levels was recorded. After this 10 minute period, the participant was asked to add up a list of 78 numbers without using his fingers or counting aloud. During the time they were allowed for the test, additional distractors, such as the sound of a ringing telephone or traffic noise, were played to them at random intervals. After the test, a further 10-minute period of rest was allowed.

This study was an attempt to find objective measurements of what was already widely perceived, namely that plants in offices can reduce stress. Of the tree types of measurements made, skin conductivity showed the greatest difference between the group exposed to plants and the group in the unplanted office. The results showed that, for this measurement, stress was reduced in the planted office. The other tests showed very little difference between the two situations. The results also showed that those people in the planted office recovered from their stress more quickly than those in the unplanted office during the 10-minute post-test rest period.

The reasons for the difference between the groups were also discussed. It is thought that the presence of plants made the office more interesting. A comparison with other decorative objects in an office would have to be made to see whether there was something inherently special in plants that has an effect on perception.

The effect of plants on stress may well be small and not apparent in those situations where the task performed is especially complex. In these situations, a person will be concentrating so much on the task in hand, that the surroundings make little impact. However, in situations where the task being performed is less complex or boring, the soothing effects of plants may be more noticeable and have a greater effect on the people doing the task. This could be the subject of further study and may have implications on workplace productivity.

Study 2: Human Responses to Office Interior Planting by Matthew Hampshire

This study examined the levels of plants needed in an office to evoke a response. The experiments tested a hypothesis that said as interior planting presence increases, so will the positive perception of that space up to an optimum level. An office was furnished and plants were positioned in the office at six different densities, ranging form zero to very heavily planted. The room was photographed at the different densities so that each incremental increase in plant density was approximately 6 percent greater than the previous in terms of the area of the photograph containing plants. The photographs were shown to a group of individuals, who were asked several questions about the pictures they saw.

First, participants were shown a picture for 30 seconds, after which they were asked to recall the objects other than plants in the picture. The results of this experiment suggest that planting density had no significant bearing on short-term recall.

The second test was an examination of the perception of the office at the various planting levels. Participants were asked to judge the office using bipolar adjectives. This means that participants were asked to score the room on a scale of one to seven for each pair of opposite adjectives, such as friendly and unfriendly or complex and simple. Eighteen such pairs of adjectives were chosen for the test. The results showed that, generally, the positive perception of the office increased as plants were introduced.

The final test asked participants to rank the photographs in order of preference. The clear result from this experiment showed an aversion to the unplanted room, whereas the preference for the other planting levels was less obvious. Very dense planting levels were disliked, as it was thought that such high levels of planting might make the office impractical to use. The results suggest that the arrangement of the plants in the office may have a dramatic effect on perception independent of the quantity of plants. The introduction of a dominant trough into the scene had a disproportionate effect on perception for the increase in plant density it caused.

This study demonstrated a positive perception toward plants in an office, although it is hard to extract the reasons for such perceptions. Further work on this is required to find out what it is about plants in offices people like and whether good design of plant displays is as important as the number of plant in an office.

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WHAT IS SICK BUILDING SYNDROME?

Numerous studies conducted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) over the last 25 years have shown measurable levels of over 107 known carcinogens in modern offices and homes. The presence of these VOC's (volitile organic compounds) is due to the switch from open windows to energy efficient living and working environments, made necessary in the 1970's due to the energy crisis atmosphere that had developed.

Combined with the advent of modern building methodology and products, the result has been energy efficient homes and offices that contain amounts of known cancer causing chemicals. In extreme cases, some buildings have such high levels of contaminants that they are known as "Sick Buildings" because exposure to them results in multiple symptoms of sickness exhibited by the inhabitants who try to use them.

The fact that concerns most scientist and doctors is the unknown effects that could occur in humans over long periods of time, being in contact with low dosages of these cancer causing VOC's such as are found in modern offices and homes. Scientists say it is still too soon to tell whether increased incidences of cancer can be attributed to exposure to modern living and working stations.

The NASA research suggest that by including indoor house and office plants, one may reduce substantally the amount of exposure to now common VOC's one experiences daily routine. On going research indicates that lessening prolonged exposure to VOC's and other commonly found indoor polutants (secondhand smoke, ozone, etc.) can substantilly to your long term quality of life.

In summary, the NASA research combined with increasing large amount of corroborating research indicates that it is beneficial to have live plants in modern office and home environments. Plants and the accompanying benefits they bring, can help to improve indoor air quality in any building. Combined with increased ventalation rates and other recommended remedies, plants even help clean up 'Sick Buildings"

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PLANTS CLEAN THE AIR!

Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings.

NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) have announced the findings of a 2-year study that suggest a sophisticated pollution-absorbing device: the common indoor plant may provide a natural way of helping combat "SICK BUILDING SYNDROME".

Research into the use of biological processes as a means of solving environmental problems, both on Earth and in space habitats, has been carried out for many years by Dr. Bill Wolverton, formerly a senior research scientist at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

Based on preliminary evaluations of the use of common indoor plants for indoor air purification and revitalization, ALCA joined NASA to fund a study using about a dozen popular varieties of ornamental plants to determine their effectiveness in removing several key pollutants associated with indoor air pollution. NASA research on indoor plants has found that living plants are so efficient at absorbing contaminants in the air that some will be launched into space as part of the biological life support system aboard future orbiting space stations.

While more research is needed, Wolverton says the study has shown that common indoor landscaping plants can remove certain pollutants from the indoor environment. "We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places, " he concludes.

Each plant type was placed in sealed, Plexiglas chambers in which chemicals were injected. Philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos were labeled the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the chamber atmosphere. Other good performers are Dracaena Massangeana, Spathiphyllum, and Golden Pothos. "Plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves," Wolverton said. "But research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors".

"Combining nature with technology can increase the effectiveness of plants in removing air pollutants," he said. "A living air cleaner is created by combining activated carbon and a fan with a potted plant. The roots of the plant grow right in the carbon and slowly degrade the chemicals absorbed there," Wolverton explains.

NASA research has consistently shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors. You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work - where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more.

TOP 10 plants most effective in removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air:

Common Name	Scientific Name
Bamboo Palm	Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Chinese Evergreen	Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy	Hedera Helix
Gerbera Daisy	Gerbera Jamesonii
Janet Craig	Dracaena "Janet Craig"
Marginata	Dracaena Marginata
Mass cane/Corn Plant	Dracaena Massangeana
Mother-in-Law's Tongue	Sansevieria Laurentii
Pot Mum	Chrysantheium morifolium
Peace Lily	Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa"
Warneckii	Dracaena "Warneckii"

Chemicals Used

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commercial product found in a wide variety of industrial uses. Over 90 percent of the TCE produced is used in the metal degreasing and dry cleaning industries. In addition, it is used in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, and adhesives. In 1975 the National Cancer Institute reported that an unusually high incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas was observed in mice given TCE by gastric intubation and now considers this chemical a potent liver carcinogen.

Benzene is a very commonly used solvent and is also present in many common items including gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. In addition it is used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyes.

Benzene has long been known to irritate the skin and eyes. In addition, it has been shown to be mutagenic to bacterial cell culture and has shown embryotoxic activity and carcinogenicity in some tests. Evidence also exists that benzene may be a contributing factor in chromosomal aberrations and leukemia in humans. Repeated skin contact with benzene will cause drying, inflammation, blistering and dermatitis. Acute inhalation of high levels of benzene has been reported to cause dizziness, weakness, euphoria, headache, nausea, blurred vision, respiratory diseases, tremors, irregular heartbeat, liver and kidney damage, paralysis and unconsciousness. In anima tests inhalation of benzene led to cataract formation and diseases of the blood and lymphatic systems. Chronic exposure to even relatively low levels causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances and diseases of the blood system, including anemia and bone marrow diseases.

Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous chemical found in virtually all indoor environments. The major sources which have been reported and publicized include urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and particle board or pressed wood products used in manufacturing of the office furniture bought today. It is used in consumer paper products which have been treated with UF resins, including grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels. Many common household cleaning agents contain formaldehyde. UF resins are used as stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellents, fire retardants and adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes. Other sources of formaldehyde include heating and cooking fuels like natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke.

Formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat. It is also a highly reactive chemical which combines with protein and can cause allergic contact dermatitis. The most widely reported symptoms from exposure to high levels of this chemical include irritation of the eyes and headaches. Until recently, the most serious of the diseases attributed to formaldehyde exposure was asthma. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently conducted research which has caused formaldehyde to be strongly suspected of causing a rare type of throat cancer in long-term occupants of mobile homes.

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