Are you aware that certain plants can act as natural air purifiers? Indoor air pollution is a serious problem in many communities, especially in cities. But there are also issues with indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde or varnishes that can also cause problems. There are many air purifiers on the market, but why not save a lot of money and also bring some warmth to your home or office with plants that also scrub your air clean? There are three plants in particular, which you can see in this link (Natural Indoor Air Purifiers – How To Grow Indoor Fresh Air With Plants, Nature’s Air Filters). They are the snake plant, golden palm and money plant. Fortunately, these are both very common and inexpensive. This combination of plants is especially effective as they combine different functions to clean air of toxins both night and day, as well as to add pure oxygen. This was studied in a 1989 NASA study (PDF file) and was recently discussed in a TED Conference video from India, where scientists used an apartment complex as a trial and found strong improvements in people’s indoor air.

These three plants where tested for 15 years at Paharpur Business Centre and Software Technology Incubator Park in New Delhi, India. how to use nikon lens cleaning kitThe building is 20 years old, 50,000 square feet, employing over 1,200 plants for 300 working occupants. air purifier for severe allergiesThe Parharp office building is rated the healthiest building in Delhi by the Government of India. air intake cleaner toolThis study was published on September 8, 2008 by The Goverment of India, Central Pollution Control Board and Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India The study found that there is a 42% probability of increasing blood oxygen by 1% if one is inside the building for 10 hours. Compared to other non-planted buildings in Delhi, the Parharpur Office Building showed reductions of:

Eye Irritation – 52% Respiratory Conditions – 34% Lung Impairment – 12% 15% in energy costs where saved by injecting much less that the 15-20 cubic feet per minute of fresh air into the building as suggested by ASHRAE industry standards. This is significant considering how 40% of the worlds energy is used to maintain all building environments. The most surprising discovery in this study was a measured increase in human productivity of 20%, a result of fewer sick days and increased employee productivity.Nestled in the chaotic, commercial hub of Nehru Place, is an office that possibly hosts the Capital’s healthiest working environment in a city that has gained notoriety for being the most polluted in the world. This building manufactures its own air that is allegedly of 'mountain-fresh' quality and free of any toxins. Established in 1990, the Paharpur Business Centre has an unremarkable exterior: tall, greyish-white with rectangular windows spread over 50,000 square feet and six floors.

But step inside and the multitude of money plants that fill your vision are the first sign that this is no ordinary edifice. These plants, along with areca palms and snake plants are placed everywhere: “there are over 1,200 plants, or four to every employee on an average – the number of plants it takes to supply quality breathing air for one person,” says Kamal Meattle, the CEO of Paharpur Business Centre (PBC). He quotes a World Health Organisation statistic that has found indoor air to be the second-biggest killer after blood pressure in India, claiming over 1.3 million lives every year. The air inside the disconcertingly quiet building smells slightly medicinal and is completely still. It is only after some time that you realize why: the gentle breeze and general hum of air conditioning units that are present in other offices or homes are missing here. “Air conditioners are only switched on over the weekend to give the plants some rest,” says Meattle who was diagnosed with decreasing lung capacity back in 1992.

Otherwise, the air that flows throughout the building is cultivated in a fascinating system set up on PBC’s roof: outside air passes through a scrubber that washes it with water to rid it of outside pollutants. This air is then circulated through a greenhouse that holds many plants (areca palm, snake plant and money plants) to eradicate formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide and bacteria. The plants are ingeniously placed everywhere to allow as many as possible in the greenhouse: aside from the pots that jostle for space, they curl downwards from the ceiling, and stretch across the walls from layers of plastic bottles. These plants are cultivated using hydroponics — a method to grow plants using mineral nutrient solutions without soil. This, according to Meattle, heightens their oxygen-producing capabilities, and extends their life span. A glimpse inside PBC's greenhouse Meattle was advised to leave Delhi by doctors, but instead chose to fight the odds and started cultivating his own air.

He discovered the properties of these three plants to clean the air, and combined his findings with some NASA-inspired results to develop and implement his plant policy in his home, and then in PBC. “The snake plant, according to NASA, is one of the best for improving air quality as it absorbs toxins such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde,” says Meattle whose lung capacity is almost back to normal today. He also explains that the areca palm converts carbon dioxide into oxygen, instead of the other way around, while the money plant removes certain pollutants from the air, and should be planted in every home. The worldwide permissible parameters for pollutants CO2, Particulate Matter 10 and PM 2.5 for indoor air are 700 parts per million over ambient, 50 micrograms per cubic metre and 15 micrograms per cubic metre, says Meattle. Even though the plants around the office command most of the attention, other subtle measures to render the building energy-efficient slowly become apparent: LEDs have replaced ordinary bulbs, and narrow rooms feature old-fashioned teak wood and carpeting that are allegedly low in VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions.

Light-reflecting paint has been used on the outside to reduce the heat gain to the building. White jute nets covering the windows also help in keeping out the heat ('white is green' is the PBC staff's adopted motto). The building's restaurant, Café Einstein employs only organic produce and uses induction heaters to keep the food warm instead of candle burners that are comparatively more toxic. “The restaurant’s hygiene and fungal levels are lower than any hospital in India, and I confidently invite any doctor to perform medical surgeries in here without any risk of infection,” says Meattle. Café Enstein, PBC's restaurant features organic food, and is clean enough to perform a surgery in! The hall, the restaurant and different areas of the office feature monitors that display the air quality and pollution levels at all hours. Employees are also asked to record their blood oxygen levels every single day – “our records show that this is likely to rise by one per cent after spending 8-10 hours in the building,” says Barun Aggarwal, who joined hands with Meattle to establish Breathe Easy, a service that helps companies implement solutions for improving indoor air quality while reducing energy consumption.

Kamal Meattle and Barun Aggarwal with their natural air purifiers in the PBC greenhouse As a result of better oxygen levels, PBC’s occupants have allegedly shown the following results in a two-year study conducted by Chittranjan National Cancer Institute and the Central Pollution Board as compared to non-smokers employed elsewhere in 2008: while productivity levels are up by 20 per cent, health issues have gone down: eye irritation by 52 per cent, respiratory symptoms by 34 per cent, headaches by 24 per cent, lung impairment by 12 per cent and asthma by 9 per cent. An employee's blood oxygen level being measured Finally, Meattle has also converted what was a slum area outside the building into a green park, ‘Nehru Place Greens’, spread over 3.3 acres with over 2,000 trees that not only holds a visual appeal but minimises the entire area's carbon footprint. While PBC's employees continue to benefit from its excellent air, Meattle and Aggarwal are currently working on projects that will allow them to lower their indoor-air services to more affordable prices for Delhi’s masses.