Urban buildings account for about one third of world energy use. International research shows that plant installations could routinely be used to lower the energy load of city building air-conditioning, saving money and reducing the carbon footprint of the city, while improving health and wellbeing of building occupants.

We've all had the opportunity to be around interior foliage plants when we walk into businesses, malls, museums, hospitals and even our homes. They can be a single stand-alone plant in a decorative container or hundreds of plants grouped together in mass plantings. Believe it or not, each plant plays an important roll by increasing worker productivity, cleaning the air, carbon dioxide reduction and inspiring creativity.

The bottom line is that to take from the modern techniques of many companies, their employees feel about themselves and society closer together, just add a little liveliness into the premises is not something to ignore. It could be in fact one of the best options available.

Abstract. Interiorscape plants have many documented benefits, but their potential for carbon sequestration is not clear. This study was undertaken to quantify the amount of carbon assimilation under growth chamber conditions designed to mimic the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) levels and temperatures of typical indoor environments and to quantify the amount of carbon assimilation in situ in a representative interiorscape composed of a variety of plant species and sizes. Quantitative data

At the CitiesAlive conference in Philadelphia, GPGB sponsored a panel of experts concerning the effects of indoor greening and its current research. Green Plants for Green Buildings actively advocates the inclusion of indoor live plants into both the LEED rating system and the IgCC in Indoor Environmental Quality sections.

It is common knowledge now in this industry that interior design has the ability to influence an individual’s mood, attitude and even their actions. There is a deep and complex psychology behind the interiors that most of us take for granted every day, and by understanding this, designers can create spaces that are truly influential.

The humble houseplant is on the attack. Building on NASA experiments for air purification in space, scientists are pinpointing plant species-from the peace lily to the asparagus fern-that are particularly skillful at cleaning indoor air of pollutants that can cause a range of health problems. A growing body of research suggests the humble houseplant boasts significant powers to clean the air in homes and other buildings of common toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia ...

Plants have an immediate and documented impact on our happiness and long-term positive effects on our moods--specifically making us feel less stressed, less anxious and less depressed. The scientific term for this connection is biophilia, which describes the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with living systems (Wikipedia). Considering that 90% of our time is spent indoors-and maybe more in the summers of South Texas-bringing the outside inside is deeply rooted in our biology.

Selectively reviews scientific research on the influences of gardens and plants in hospitals and other healthcare settings; mainly concentrating on health-related benefits that patients realize by simply looking at gardens and plants.

Being around plants helps people concentrate better in the home and workplace. Studies show that tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better and with greater accuracy, yielding higher quality results. Moreover, being outside in a natural environment can improve memory performance and attention span by twenty percent.

http://www.aboutflowers.com/health-benefits-a-research/workplace-productivity-study/research-methodology-.html

Three commonly found toxins, and the plant species that mollify their effects

People send plants to hospitals every day as get-well gifts for loved ones. Do plants do more than cheer up a sterile sick-room?

Don’t see red when you’re stressing out at work, go green.

Put on your garden gloves and join in the fun because “gardening with a purpose” is taking root.

Could a plant "intervention" improve the well-being of patients in a difficult rehab process?

The basis for the claim that houseplants can help make the indoors healthier is a series of experiments completed by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America.

Office space showcases a wide variety of ideas that an average office can implement.

The first international interior landscapers' meeting points to a promising future. GPGB's Mike Lewis recently spoke at the EILO conference held in Amsterdam.

"Sick Building Syndrome." We've all heard about it. But evaluating a health effect from mold requires both a medical diagnosis and an environmental assessment.