Sunday, February 12, 2012

Make Your Own Fresh Air

Certain plants are proven to improve air quality in offices, work places, and our homes. Check this out!
According to a 15-year study by Greenspaces, certain plants will improve indoor air quality. In fact, these plants not only convert carbon dioxide into oxygen but also remove toxins, such as formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds, from indoor air!

These plants are areca palm, money plant, and mother-in-law’s tongue. The study showed that workers in the Greenspaces building reported increased productivity, 52% reduction in eye irritation, 24% decrease in headaches and 9% in asthma. For more information, please watch this video.



Areca palm converts carbon dioxide into oxygen during the day. Its leaves should be wiped daily to remove dust, and the plant should be placed outdoors every 3-4 months.

Mother-in-law’s tongue converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. Six to eight waist high plants are needed per person to improve the indoor air quality.

Money plant effectively converts carbon dioxide into oxygen and eliminates formaldehyde released from cigarette smoke and adhesives used in wooden furniture.

A team of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers tested the effect of 12 houseplants on three pollutants known to be present in spacecrafts: benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. The same compounds are present in our homes and office buildings, as they are released from the furniture, office equipment, or certain building materials. According to NASA, the plants listed below are effective in removing specific indoor pollutants.



You can read about the summary of the NASA study here.
JOANNA MICHAELS
Joanna has been a middle school science teacher for 8 years. She emphasizes ways to live an environmental friendly lifestyle in her classroom on a daily basis. For two years before she began teaching, Joanna lived "off the grid" with her husband and son. She says those two years were the hardest of her life, but also the most memorable and enjoyable. She hopes to return to that lifestyle after she receives her doctorate.

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