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The benefits of having plants in the workplace are endless, and the truth is having plants inside can be one of the healthiest choices anyone can make.
Plants improve air quality by naturally extracting carbon dioxide and exchanging it for fresh oxygen during photosynthesis. The levels of carbon dioxide plants remove from indoor environments increases with the amount of plants in a room as well as by increasing the amount of light those plants receive. Larger, woody plants (like Ficus) have been shown to absorb more than herbaceous species.
Can houseplants improve indoor air quality? A NASA study showed that common houseplants were able to reduce the amount of benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde in the air of enclosed spaces. Some of the most powerful effects were found from English Ivy, Peace Lily, Warneckei and Janet Craig plants. While the environments in the study were quite different from your average household indoor spaces, the results indicate that these little powerhouses are continually filtering the air around them.
As with simply being in nature, being around plants improves concentration, memory and productivity. Being “under the influence of plants” can increase memory retention up to 20 percent and increase attentiveness by up to 70 percent.
“Keeping ornamental plants in the home and in the workplace increases memory retention and concentration,” notes Texas A&M. “Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature.”
Further reading:
Studies from Oxford University have shown that plants absorb noise in busy office environments. By cutting down on the audible elements of a busy work place, plants can reduce employee distractions and increase productivity.
Several studies have found that adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms. In one study, sickness rates fell by more than 60 percent in offices with plants.
Further reading:
Retailers have long understood the importance of store environments in enhancing the shopping experience. Interior plants and landscapes create situations more favorable for retail activity. When we shop in retail areas with “tree” versus “non-tree” environments we visit more frequently, stay longer, rate the quality of the products 30% higher and are willing to pay about 12% more for goods.
Green Walls can contribute to LEED credits at all levels of certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment) certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Off the Wall Greenscapes offers a full range of living green walls, from large scale eye-catching designs to easy low maintenance living frames.
With over 20 years of experience in the horticultural field, owner Nikki Bouchier is an expert in designing and maintaining living green walls. Our team takes expert care of the design, installation and maintenance of your green walls.
We’d love to help you create a more interesting, healthier, and greener environment for your business or home.
