Benefits of Plants in Buildings

The power of plants

You don't have to be an environmental psychologist to understand that plants look attractive.

But dig a little deeper beneath their beauty and you'll discover that the value of plants goes far beyond the aesthetic.

Recent research tells us that plants are good for buildings and people in a variety of subtle ways. Plants play a vital role in providing a pleasant and tranquil environment in which to move, work or relax.

Indoor plants can help health, wellbeing and productivity in the workplace

The relationship between a person’s psychological wellbeing and the presence of plants has always been suspected. However, scientific studies from researchers around the world, shed new light on the effect plants can have on the stress levels and productivity of office workers.

Improving Wellbeing

Healthy, enthusiastic, well-motivated and empowered people work much more efficiently than those who are not. Several research studies over the last 10 years or so have demonstrated that the more the workplace environment is enriched and the more autonomy individuals have over the design of their workspace, the more productive, loyal and motivated people become. One of the most effective methods of improving wellbeing in the workplace is by the provision of interior plants. These have been shown to help reduce stress, improve speed and accuracy at tasks and help foster a sense of identity and loyalty. Also, the message given by an employer providing plants in the workplace is one of care and respect and workers notice and respond to this.

Connecting With Nature

Access to views of nature for office workers is always desirable but not always possible…especially in buildings with a deep floor plan or in buildings that they may be constructed with fewer windows. However, good interior plantscaping design in office environments can help provide a “green zone” which effectively helps to connect workers with nature indoors.

Whatever look you want to achieve, Ambius Indoor Plants can help. We are an interior plantscaping and design business, offering a range of interior plants, rental and maintenance options to suit your needs. We can also create a custom design look just for you.

And remember, plants aren’t just good for image, they are good for the indoor environment as well.  Ambius Indoor Plants offers many indoor plant design options to help create fresh green zones in your office environment, including the stylish Schiavello Vertical Garden or groups of plants to displayed to form a fresh plant screen.

Air Quality: Indoor Plants Help Remove Volatile Organic Compounds

At the University of Technology Sydney, researchers have produced positive results that show that indoor plants make a big impact on indoor air quality. So what do they do? In essence the plant system - leaves, roots and potting media - take Volatile Organic Compounds from the air such as benzene and formaldehyde released by furnishings, carpets, photocopiers, printers and many modern building materials. They also contribute oxygen back into the environment. Amazing but true!

Download more information on this topic:

• Improving the indoor environment for health, well-being and productivity, Ron Wood's paper, presented at "Greening Cities: a new urban ecology" 2003
• Pot-plants really do clean indoor air Nursery Paper, NGIA, 2001
• Using pot plants to clean indoor air Nursery Papers, NGIA October 2004
• Plant/Soil Capacities To Remove Harmful Substances From Polluted Indoor Air Wood, Burchett, Orwell, Tarren, Torpy

Plants can help Reduce Sick Building Syndrome

Another key study was carried out at the offices of the Norwegian State Oil Company by Tøve Fjeld. She examined the effect of indoor plants on health and discomfort among a group of office workers. Data about 12 different symptoms were collected, including fatigue, headache, dry facial skin and dry skin on the hands, coughing, eye irritation. After this time, half of the group were provided with a selection of common interior plants and half had none. Over three months, considerably fewer health problems were reported by those people with plants. Fatigue and headache fell by 30% and 20% respectively, hoarseness and a dry throat fell by around 30%, coughing by around 40% and dry facial skin fell by around 25%.

Help to reduce indoor pollution

Research carried out in the USA has demonstrated that plants attract more than their fair share of dust.  Particulate levels (including airborne spores) can be reduced by as much as 20% in some situations. This could lead to a reduction in the use of air cleaners (although not their replacement) and an improvement in indoor air quality.

There is also a body of recent research from the USA that shows that interior plants are effective at removing a range of pollutants at relatively low planting densities in real office situations.

Noise reduction

Ambius’ own research conducted in the UK and those conducted by Peter Costa of South Bank University in London, have demonstrated that plants can be effective at reducing background noise. Species selection and positioning are crucial to achieve these effects.

Alternatives to manufactured/engineered solutions to building problems

Indoor plant displays are usually significantly cheaper than manufactured items, employ fewer resources in their establishment and can fulfil more than one function.

Interior plant displays can be especially useful space management aids in commercial buildings as they form natural screens and partitions, ideal in open plan settings. They help guide people around a space, whilst at the same time reducing noise, collecting dust, humidifying the air and removing some pollutants.

Reducing demand on the water supply

Rain water is a free resource, which can be collected from the roofs of commercial buildings and used to water interior and exterior plant displays.

Grey water (water that’s already been used once, for instance to wash hands or dishes), once treated and recycled for re-use where drinking quality is not required, can also be used to water plants.

Additionally, interior and exterior plant displays can be fitted with water-efficient subterranean irrigation systems and planted with species with a low water requirement.

Cooling

One of the benefits of interior plants is that they help cool the air around them through the process of evapotranspiration (the movement of water from the soil, through the plant and into the atmosphere). This is especially effective in tall buildings where atrium planting can certainly help with temperature regulation.

For more information on green buildings and the benefits of indoor plants:

To find more information on the benefits of interior landscaping on our specialist web site, www.plants-in-buildings.com