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Potted-plants Can Significantly Reduce Urban/Indoor Air Pollution

Mary Golden - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Potted-plants Can Significantly Reduce

Urban/Indoor Air Pollution

July 2012

Margaret D Burchett PhD,

Director, Plants and Indoor Environmental Quality (PIEQ) Group, and

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

Summary statement

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. For example:

A University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) study⁴⁷ with 60 offices (avr. area ~12 m²) in three buildings, found that threeDracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ (300 mm pots), or Spathiphyllum wallisii ‘Sweet Chico’ (200 mm pots):
-reduced total volatile organic compound (TVOC) levels by up to 75% (steadily maintaining values below 100 ppb; ie near external ambient, and regarded as of negligible respiratory health risk)⁴⁰, and
-lowered CO₂ levels by from 10 to 25% and
-carbon monoxide (CO) levels by 90%³⁷.
An English survey of family homes (avr. area 100-110 m²) found that those with six or more potted-plants (various species and sizes) had nitrogen oxides levels more than one third lower than those without indoor plants⁹.
A Canadian project^10,11found that a building space fitted with plants maintained total VOC (TVOC) levels at or below those of the rest of the building, but with a ~50% lower air ‘refresh’ rates.
A Norwegian study¹⁷ found that introducing indoor plants into the workspace reduced sick-leave absences by more than 60%, and the improvement was maintained over the subsequent year of testing.
Studies across four primary schools and some 18 classrooms in the Brisbane area (Aust.), recorded that placement of three potted-plants (mixed species, in 200 mm pots) over the school term, resulted in 11-15% higher performance in mathematics and English than for those without plants^51,52.

These results are in line with numerous other studies showing the capacity of indoor plants to remove urban/indoor air pollutants and improve wellbeing of building occupants.

A background and summary of examples of the growing world body of evidence, are presented below.

Indoor plants can remove all types of urban/indoor air pollution

International research shows that, like other plants, indoor potted-plants can remove all major types of urban/indoor air pollutants (90% of which come from fossil fuel emissions), including nitrogen oxides^9,43,49sulfur oxides²⁴, ozone^30,33, carbon monoxide^12,20,26,43, carbon dioxide^4,7,8, ‘air toxics’ (i.e. VOCs)^6,44-48,50, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)¹⁹, and particulates²⁸.

And indoor air pollution is almost always from 2 to 10 times (and sometimes 100 times) higher indoors than outside^15,42, because of two main classes of air contaminant which are always in higher concentrations indoors, since they also arise from indoor sources. They are: more VOCs, from low, continuous emissions from plastic/synthetic furnishings, fittings and equipment^5,19; and higher CO₂, because of occupant respiration^1,16. The cocktail of air contaminants, even at imperceptible levels, can produce symptoms of sick building syndrome/ building-related illness (eg sore nose, eyes, throat, wheezing, loss of concentration, slight nausea and/or dizziness)^16,40.

Potted plants remove VOCs and CO₂ from indoor air

All biotechnology research needs a combination of complementary laboratory and real-world field studies, as presented below. Field studies report correlations (eg plant presence and lowered air pollution levels), while laboratory studies are needed to establish cause-effect and dose relationships (eg with different species, specific test VOCs, and measured concentrations and exposures).

(a) VOC removal

(a.1)Field studiesThe US EPA has identified over 900 VOCs that have been found in indoor air³⁹, and in any one building it is common to find a mixture of between 10 and 300 different substances^5,47. As mentioned earlier, an initial UTS field study showed that plant treatments reduced TVOC loads by up to 75%, always to below 100 ppb; meanwhile, ambient (non-planted) indoor levels were sometimes as high as 350-500 ppb⁴⁷. However, a second UTS office study⁷, in two newer buildings, with similar plantings, recorded much lower removal rates (maxima of 5-10%) for either type of contaminant, because of the more up-to-date, hence efficient air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The results of the two studies, taken together, indicate that plant installations could be used to lower building ventilation needs, and hence reduce ‘building hyperventilation’.

(a.2) Laboratory studies A range of test-chamber studies, including altogether over 200 species and 20 test VOCs, demonstrate conclusively that indoor plants have a universal, very high capacity to remove any type of VOCs^{3,6,23,27,44-48,50}. Several detailed studies at UTS (ie lasting weeks, rather than the more usual testing time of several hours), using a total of 16 species and four test VOCs, have been able to demonstrate conclusively that the main VOC removal agents are normal root-zone bacteria (functioning steadily in light and dark - 24/7); the plant is acting symbiotically to nourish and maintain its root-associated microorganisms, and influences small species-specific differences in VOC removal rates^{6,7,31,32,47,48}. The fact that removal is primarily brought about by the substrate microorganisms explains why a robust capacity for VOC removal is to be found in every species tested, and with every VOC tested, which strongly suggests that most other species would share this ability.

This conclusion is also consistent with the results of a UTS comparative study of three species, using benzene as test VOC, in bench-top test chambers (216 L). The rates of benzene removal in plants in 200 mm pots were identical with those of larger plants in 300 mm pots, and a batch of two to three smaller plants in 125 mm pots also worked just as fast⁶. In all of the treatments, once the response had been induced by initial exposure to the VOC, repeated 5 ppm doses were completely removed in an average of 22 hours. (The dosage was chosen because 5 ppm benzene is equal to the maximum allowable occupational 8-hr averaged exposure concentration in Australia). The findings are a further indication of the robust capacity of the substrate microorganisms to absorb and degrade VOCs. And the most recent UTS study shows that the indoor plant VOC removal system works in hydroculture as well as in standard potting mixtures²¹.

(b) CO₂ removal - findings

(b.1)Field studiesIt is well known that, with adequate light, any green plant will photosynthesise, in the process absorbing CO₂ and emitting equimolecular amounts of O₂ – a two-way air-freshener system for the planet. Indoor plants, being very shade-tolerant, can absorb CO₂at very low light intensities, but even so, getting adequate light inside buildings can be problematic. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, in the first UTS office study the plantings used resulted in CO₂ reductions of from 10 to 25%³⁷. However, in the second study⁷, as with the VOCs, only very low reductions (~5%) were recorded. The two UTS office studies taken together show that plant installations could be used routinely to reduce the HVAC energy load of city buildings, saving money and lowering the carbon footprint of the city.

(b. 2) Laboratory studies Precise light/shade tolerances and photosynthesis rates are species-specific³⁸; and even within any one species, CO₂uptake rates depend not only on leaf area, but also on factors such as substrate moisture, surrounding humidity, etc. The interior planstscape industry has categorised species into grades of shade tolerance. A recent UTS study of nine indoor species⁸, across three different industry-based grades of tolerance, found that the three potted-palm species trialled were the most tolerant of ‘normal’ (i.e. low) indoor light intensities (in the range 10 - 30 µmol PAR* m^-2 sec^-1, as found among spaces with or without windows) namely: Howea forsteriana, (Kentia palm); Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour palm); Dypsis lutescens (Golden Cane Palm). It was also found that Aspidistra elator (Cast Iron Plant), Aglaonema commutatum (Chinese evergreen), and Dracaena deremensis ‘Compacta’ performed satisfactorily, as did Spathiphyllum ‘Petite’ in an earlier study⁴.

(*PAR – quanta of photosynthetically active radiation – a slightly narrower spectrum range than that of visible light; intensity of full sunlight is about 2000 µmol PAR m^-2 sec^-1,)

Conclusions

Indoor plantings already in use are helping cleanse indoor air, though their contribution may be masked by modern building HVAC systems; they could readily be designed and fitted specifically to reduce building energy costs and the carbon footprint of the city.
It has been demonstrated also, from other studies, that indoor plants improve occupant health and wellbeing, reduce illness symptoms and sick leave percentages, and more than pay for themselves in increased productivity^{7,13,14,17,22,25,29, 34,36}.
Indoor plants can therefore be used to contribute in achieving the triple-bottom-line of city sustainability: social-environmental-economic.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to my PIEQ group colleagues, Dr Fraser Torpy, Jason Brennan and Peter Irga, who carried out most of the recent UTS work cited here. Thanks also to numerous other UTS colleagues, past and present, many of whom participated in our office studies. Thanks also to the funding bodies that have supported this research: the National Interior Plantscape Association (Australia), Ambius, Horticulture Australia Ltd, and UTS.

References

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25-Jul-12 12:00 PM

Interior landscape plants for our well-being

Mary Golden - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Find the article here: http://nerej.com/56046

28-Jun-12 11:00 AM

Interior Plants

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 GMT

http://theinteriordesignstyles.info/interior-plants/

13-Jun-12 3:00 PM

Quantification of Carbon Assimilation of Plants in Simulated and In Situ Interiorscapes

Mary Golden - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Read the full article in pdf form here.

http://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/attachments/contentmanagers/25/Project%20Carbon%20HortScience%2047(4).pdf

26-Apr-12 10:00 AM

Green Roofs: Living Architecture Monitor - A Green Space is a Clean Space

Mary Golden - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Amanda Culver wrote an article on Green Plants for Green Buildings panel at the CitiesAlive conference in 2012.

Below is a link to the online version of the Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor 2012. Turn pages by clicking and dragging the corner of the page you wish to turn.

http://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/greenroofs/lam_2012winter/#/34

12-Mar-12 12:00 PM

Interior Gardens Increase Productivity

Mary Golden - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

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.

Oftentimes, however, colour and furnishings are the main focus that designers use to create a mood. This is only logical, due to the highly visible and high impact nature of these two interior design features.

However, one surprisingly subtle addition to our interiors is proving to lift both the mood and productivity of those in the space.

That is the common plant.

In the self-explanatory report ‘Interior plants may improve worker productivity and reduce stress in a windowless environment’ by Virginia I. Lohr, Caroline H. Pearson-Mims, and Georgia K. Goodwin of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Washington State Unversity, this increasingly influential topic is explored.

The report covers a study that the authors performed by which plants were added to a college computer lab. Blood pressure and emotions were monitored of those participating in the study who used the the room both before and after the plants were added. The outcomes were incredibly surprising.

They found that by including the plants into this confined, bland and incredibly function orientated space that the participants showed a 12% quicker reaction time in the computer tasks they were undertaking and their systolic blood pressure, on average, dropped by one to four points. They also reported feeling more attentive with the addition of the plants.

In essence, they were more productive and less stressed just by entering a room that had the small addition of plants.

This is however not the first time studies of this nature have been undertaken.

The report also explains studies that were undertaken in Germany in the 1960’s where employee morale was lifted, absences decreased and work efficiency increased all due to the addition of plants in ‘traditional, unplanted offices’.

Further studies have shown that including windows that show flora can actually improve our health, so it stands to reason that being in the presence of plant life would at a bare minimum improve workplace productivity.

Including a plant into an office’s interior is possibly one of the least invasive and simplest design additions that can be made. In order to get the best out of these interior spaces long after the design and construction stages are over, designers have to truly understand the function of the building, and just what they can do to maximise this, especially if that can be achieved through the easiest of means.

By Jane Parkins

24-Feb-12 5:00 PM

A Superhero Scrubs the Air: The Mighty Houseplant

Gwendolyn Bounds - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:00:00 GMT

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 & benzene. Wendy Bounds explains.

A growing body of global research is showing plants can reduce dust particles and contaminants, such as formaldehyde and benzene, that come from cigarette smoke, paint, furniture, building materials and other sources. Big growers such as Costa Farms, based in Goulds, Fla., and retailers Lowe's and Home Depot now sell plants with tags promoting their air-cleaning abilities.

"The advantage of plants is you can sometimes solve your problem with $100 of plants or propagate your own," says Stanley J. Kays, a horticulture professor at the University of Georgia, which is spearheading plant research with scientists in South Korea. In addition to studying existing plants, researchers there are trying to see if certain species could be bred to create super-efficient air cleaners.

Interest in plants as air purifiers—what's called "phytoremediation"—comes amid mounting concerns about the quality of indoor air. People spend more than 90% of their time inside, where levels of a dozen common organic pollutants can be two to five times higher than outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Associated health problems range from headaches and asthma to respiratory diseases and cancer. The agency says it is particularly concerned about air quality in homes that have taken steps to be more energy-efficient by adding insulation and other weatherization techniques.

That said, plants aren't yet recognized as a mainstream air-filtration tool. The EPA says "there is currently no evidence … that a reasonable number of houseplants can remove significant quantities of pollutants in homes and offices." The U.S. Green Building Council, which certifies buildings based on environmental standards, says while "using plants to help clean air is a great strategy…we've had difficulty quantifying the results."

That could be changing. Studies conducted over the past five years by the University of Technology, Sydney found that small groups of the Janet Craig and Sweet Chico plants placed in offices with high airborne concentrations of volatile organic compounds consistently reduced total VOC levels by up to 75%. Reductions to negligible levels were maintained over the course of five- to 12-week periods studied. "Potted plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation system for indoor air pollution," researchers concluded.

In another study at Washington State University, dust was reduced as much as 20% when a number of plants were placed around the perimeter of computer lab and small office for one week.

Enlarge Image

Margaret Burchett, a professor who led the Sydney studies, estimates that six or more plants in a 1,200- to 1,500-square-foot house could achieve noteworthy contaminant reductions. At work, "if you have a couple of nice plants sitting on your desk, it will help purify the air you breathe," says Bill Wolverton, author of the new book "Plants: Why You Can't Live Without Them," and one of the NASA scientists who studied plants.

Indoor-air pollutants come in two primary forms: particle pollution, such as dust, pollen, animal dander and smoke, and gaseous pollutants such as VOCs that are emitted from sources such as building materials, dry-cleaned clothing and aerosol sprays.

Plants clean the air, researchers say, primarily by absorbing pollution through small leaf pores called stomata, and via microorganisms living in the potting soil or medium that metabolize contaminants. Scientists believe plants can begin removing pollution the moment they're placed in a room and can be particularly useful in spaces where there's little outside ventilation.

Pinpointing specific air quality problems can be tricky. Do-it-yourself kits and environmental companies can conduct air-quality tests at consumers' homes. But interpretation of the results can be confusing because there's no universal national standard for acceptable levels of many VOCs, according to the EPA.

As for remedies, ventilation often works best, but not every climate is suitable for open windows and doors. Mechanical ventilation units that remove stale air from a home and provide fresh outdoor air can cost $600 to upwards of $2,500, not including installation. Indoor air-cleaning devices using HEPA and activated carbon or ultraviolet-light technology have some limitations and may require filter changes.

That's why researchers see opportunity for indoor plants, which are inexpensive and relatively easy to find and maintain. In 2009, UGA scientists identified five "super ornamentals"—plants that showed high rates of contaminant removal when exposed in gas-tight glass jars to common household VOCs, such as benzene (present in cigarette smoke) and toluene (emitted from paints and varnishes). They are: the purple waffle plant, English ivy, asparagus fern, purple heart plant, variegated wax plant.

UGA's Dr. Kays and his colleagues aim to broaden their findings by developing a simple test kit homeowners can use to check for VOCs, as well as an expanded list of plants and their associated pollution-fighting abilities. The university also sees a potential market for enhanced potting soil and other media.

"I envision this research helping producers enrich plants' soil with microorganisms that are optimized to metabolize, say, five bad VOCs," says Bodie Pennisi, a UGA associate professor.

Plants were sidelined as minimalist architecture prevailed in recent years, says Mike Lewis, president of the not-for-profit Green Plants for Green Buildings advocacy group. "Now when you talk to architects and designers, they want plants back."

When designing the new Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in Michigan, the hospital's CEO Gerard van Grinsven says he placed $150,000 of live plants in the atria of the facility. "The plants are doing what they are supposed to do—produce oxygen and filtering all these bad elements from our environment," Mr. van Grinsven says.

International plant grower Costa Farms LLC, has spent more than $1 million in the past two years on its "O2 for You" marketing campaign touting plants' air-purifying abilities. In its Michigan store, Planterra Corp. touts plants as "low-maintenance air cleaners."

Dr. Wolverton, who continued his plant research after leaving NASA, has helped develop a $199 planter dubbed the "Plant Air Purifier," which uses an electric fan and activated carbon in a ceramic growing medium (no soil) to filter and trap pollutants around plants' roots more efficiently so microbes can metabolize them. It goes on sale in April. A similar product, the Andrea Air Filter, was co-developed by a Harvard University professor and has sold 8,000 units since its launch two years ago.

Norman Ankers, a 54-year-old trial lawyer in Beverly Hills, Mich., says he and his wife Janet have filled their 5,000-square-foot home with plants, such as ferns and orchids. "We don't pretend to understand the complex chemistry of it all," Mr. Ankers says. "But having something that's a cleaning agent or filter is an extra benefit."

Write to Gwendolyn Bounds at wendy.bounds@wsj.com

Corrections & Amplifications
A photograph in a previous version of this article incorrectly identified two University of Georgia professors conducting plant research. In the picture, Mussie Habteselassie appears on the left, and Bodie Pennisi appears on the right.

12-Oct-11 2:00 PM

Plants Improve a Home Aestethetically, Emotionally, Physically and Economically

Joshua Senneff - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Think about it! We all recognize how our mood can change when we are surrounded in an environment with living vegetation. It's the reason we take trips to the park, spend time in our backyards, desire the coveted corner office with windows or have a yearning desire to be out in nature. 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.

Given our affinity for nature, it is hardly surprising that many large facilities invest in bringing the outdoors in. By creating indoor parks with large trees, plants, water features, daylight and comfortable retreats, they are able to impact the experience we have while in the facility. Builders, developers and commercial realtors would not invest in this if they didn't believe that such amenities have positive payoffs.

In most cases, plants are often placed within spaces merely for their aesthetic benefits: to soften hard surfaces and to provide ambience. A few well-placed plants in a room can dramatically change the look and feel of a space. Plants can be that final touch that ties everything together and makes a space more inviting and comfortable. It is that intangible benefit that we pick up on when we enter the room that renders a subconscious attraction to the space.

The bottom line is the most important interest of most home buyers and sellers. Also, as the agent trying to sell a home at a fair price, you have to find that edge over your competition. What are you doing to create an environment that produces a positive experience to a prospective buyer aesthetically, physically and emotionally while benefiting you economically? Plants cover them all!

A Clemson University study documented the impact of landscaping on the resale value of single family residences. A house that obtained an excellent landscape rating from a local landscaping professional could expect a sale price 4 to 5 percent higher than equivalent houses with good landscaping. Homes with landscaping ranked poor relative to neighboring homes with excellent landscapes could expect a sale price 8 to 10 percent below equivalent homes with good landscaping appeal.

Other research finds that plantscaping both inside and out can add as much as at 14% to the resale value of a building and speed its sale by as much as six weeks. You can see that small improvements with plants can produce large economic returns to the seller. And, of course, you know the importance of the first impression, so just imagine how magnified the improvements by plants are on the front porch.

Interior plants are a very cost-effective way to dramatically change an indoor environment. When you evaluate what it costs for remodeling a space or to install new furniture and fixtures, the return on an investment is much greater with the addition of plants, due to their relatively low cost. We recommend at least two significant, healthy plants per 12' x 16' room.

Notice the word healthy. We find that most people tend to over-care for their plants. In other words, they tend to give them too much water too frequently, feel the need to re-pot the plant when it is not looking well, over-fertilize it when it does not need it, or stick it outside where it is often baked by the sun. Due to the much lower available light inside (100-500 foot candles indoors vs. 8,000-10,000 foot candles outdoors), your plants are photosynthesizing at a much slower rate inside your home. The water requirements of interior plants are dramatically lower than exterior plants for these reasons. A Google search can give you many options of plants that work well inside; some favorites are Aglaonema, Spathiphyllum, Dracaena deremensis and Zamioculcas zamifolia.

So, convince your buyers and your office managers not to overlook the vital role plantscapes have in your success of enhancing the prospective buyers' and clients' experience aesthetically, emotionally and biologically. Plants Work!

Joshua Senneff, CLP, CLT, is Director of Operations for Plant Interscapes, a San Antonio-based interior horticulture firm servicing San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston and Corpus Christi. For more information visit www.plantinterscapes.com or www.greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org or contact Josh at 888-284-2257, ext. 111 or jmsenneff@plantinterscapes.com.

31-Jul-11 6:00 PM

Health Benefits of Gardens in Hospitals

Jonathan Senneff - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Paper for conference, Plants for People

International Exhibition Floriade 2002

Health Benefits of Gardens in Hospitals

Roger S. Ulrich, Ph.D.

Center for Health Systems and Design

Colleges of Architecture and Medicine

Texas A & M University

College State, TX 77843

INTRODUCTION

This paper selectively reviews scientific research on the influences of gardens and plants in hospitals and other healthcare settings. The discussion concentrates mainly on health-related benefits that patients realize by simply looking at gardens and plants, or in other ways passively experiencing healthcare surroundings where plants are prominent. The review also briefly addresses other advantages of gardens and plants in hospitals, such as lowering the costs of delivering healthcare and improving staff satisfaction.

It might be asked at the outset: why is worthwhile to focus exclusively on gardens located in hospitals and other healthcare facilities? One important reason is linked to the fact that extraordinary amounts of money are spent internationally for construction of healthcare environments. This funding for hospitals potentially represents a major source of resources for gardens, plants, and related features such as atriums. Consider the example of only one large medical complex in the United States, the Texas Medical Center in Houston, which plans to spend about $1.8 billion on new construction during the next two years. In the State of California alone, new spending for hospital buildings will be upwards of $14 billion by 2010. Even individual buildings can be extremely costly -- Northwestern University’s recently opened main hospital in Chicago cost $687 million. Spending in the United States for new hospitals has averaged about $15 billion annually during the last decade. The United Kingdom plans to spend at least $4 billion on new hospital construction within the next three years or so. When substantial additional spending is considered for the many other types of healthcare environments – for example, nursing homes, primary care clinics, rehabilitation facilities -- it becomes even clearer that healthcare design and construction directly accounts for vast amounts of money. This reality implies great opportunities for funding and creating new gardens to enrich and improve the lives of patients and the environments of hundreds, if not thousands, of existing medical facilities.

Background: Gardens and Hospital Design

The belief that plants and gardens are beneficial for patients in healthcare environments is more than one thousand years old, and appears prominently in Asian and Western cultures (Ulrich and Parsons, 1992). During the Middle Ages in Europe, for example, monasteries created elaborate gardens to bring pleasant, soothing distraction to the ill (Gierlach-Spriggs et al., 1998). European and American hospitals in the 1800s commonly contained gardens and plants as prominent features (Nightingale, 1860).

Gardens became less prevalent in hospitals during the early decades of the 1900s, however, as major advances in medical science caused hospital administrators and architects to concentrate on creating healthcare buildings that would reduce infection risk and serve as functionally efficient settings for new medical technology. The strong emphasis on infection reduction, together with the priority given to functional efficiency, shaped the design of hundreds of major hospitals internationally -- that are now considered starkly institutional, unacceptably stressful, and unsuited to the emotional needs of patients, their families, and even healthcare staff (Ulrich, 1991; Horsburgh, 1995). Despite the intense stress often caused by illness, pain, and traumatic hospital experiences, little attention was given to creating environments that would calm patients or otherwise address emotional needs (Ulrich, 2001).

A growing awareness has developed in recent years in the healthcare community of the need to create functionally efficient and hygienic environments that also have pleasant, stress reducing characteristics. An important impetus for this awareness has been the major progress achieved in mind-body medical science. A substantial body of research has now demonstrated that stress and psychosocial factors can significantly affect patient health outcomes. This knowledge strongly implies that the psychological or emotional needs of patients be given high priority along with traditional concerns, including infection risk exposure and functional efficiency, in governing the design of hospitals (Ulrich, 2001). It also follows that conditions or experiences shown by medical researchers to be stress reducing and healthful, such as pleasant soothing distractions and social support, must become important considerations in creating new healthcare facilities. The fact that there is limited but growing scientific evidence that viewing gardens can measurably reduce patient stress and improve health outcomes has been a key factor in the major resurgence in interest internationally in providing gardens in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Importance of Health Outcomes Evidence

Healthcare administrators everywhere are under strong pressures to control or reduce costs yet increase care quality. Faced with imperative demands such as paying for costly new medical technology, administrators may often consider gardens as desirable but nonessential. Convincing the medical community to assign priority and resources usually requires providing credible evidence that gardens or plants produce benefits yet are cost-effective compared to alternatives, including not providing gardens/plants.

It should be emphasized here that most healthcare administrators and especially physicians consider evidence from health outcomes research to provide the most sound and persuasive basis for assessing whether a particular medical treatment or service (here providing a garden or plants) is medically beneficial and financially sensible. (Ulrich, 1999, 2002).

Health outcomes are numerous and varied, but most refer to measures of a patient’s medical condition or to indicators of healthcare quality. These measures include (1) observable clinical signs or medical measures, (2) subjective measures such as reported satisfaction, and (2) economic measures (Ulrich, 2002).

• Clinical indicators that are observable signs and symptoms relating to patients’ conditions. (Examples: length of stay, blood pressure, intake of pain drugs)

• Patient/staff reported outcomes. (Examples: patient reports of satisfaction with healthcare services, staff reported satisfaction with working conditions)

• Economic outcomes. (Examples: cost of patient care, recruitment or hiring costs due to staff turnover)

Clinical and economic outcomes data traditionally have carried the greatest weight in decisions, but in recent years evidence regarding effects of treatments or services on patient satisfaction has gained much importance as healthcare providers in the United States and Europe have faced mounting pressures to become more patient or consumer oriented.

STRESS REDUCING EFFECTS OF VIEWING PLANTS AND NATURE

Several studies of nonpatient groups (such as university students) as well as patients have consistently shown that simply looking at environments dominated by greenery, flowers, or water -- as compared to built scenes lacking nature (rooms, buildings, towns) -- is significantly more effective in promoting recovery or restoration from stress. (See Ulrich, 1999, for a survey of studies.) A limited amount of research suggests that viewing settings with plants or other nature for a few minutes can promote measurable restoration even in hospital patients who are acutely stressed.

There is considerable evidence that restorative effects of nature scenes are manifested within only three to five minutes as a combination of psychological/emotional and physiological changes. Concerning the first, psychological/emotional, many views of vegetation or garden-like features elevate levels of positive feelings (pleasantness, calm), and reduce negatively toned emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness. Certain nature scenes effectively sustain interest and attention, and accordingly can serve as pleasant distractions that may diminish stressful thoughts. Regarding physiological manifestations of stress recovery, laboratory and clinical investigations have found that viewing nature settings can produce significant restoration within less than five minutes as indicated by positive changes, for instance, in blood pressure, heart activity, muscle tension, and brain electrical activity (Ulrich, 1981; Ulrich et al., 1991).

One controlled experiment, for example, measured a battery of physiological responses in 120 stressed persons (non-patients) who were randomly assigned to a recovery period consisting of one of six different videotapes of either nature settings (vegetation or vegetation with water) or built settings lacking nature (Ulrich et al., 1991). Findings from four continuously recorded physiological measures (blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance, muscle tension) were consistent in indicating that recuperation from stress was faster and much more complete when individuals were exposed to the nature settings rather than any of the built environments. The quickness of nature-induced restoration was manifested as significant changes in all physiological measures within about three minutes. The pattern of physiological data further supported the interpretation that nature, compared to the built settings, more effectively lowered activity in the sympathetic nervous system. (Heightened sympathetic nervous system activity involves energy consuming mobilization or arousal and is central in stress responding.) Moreover, data from self-reports of feelings indicated that the nature environments likewise produced substantially more recuperation in the psychological component of stress. Persons exposed to the settings with plants and other nature, in contrast to the built environments, had lower levels of fear and anger, and reported far higher levels of positive feelings (Ulrich et al., 1991).

Hartig (1991) also used both physiological and psychological measures to study restoration in non-patient subjects who were stressed because they either had driven an automobile through urban traffic or completed a series of difficult tests. His findings were broadly similar to those described above -- more specifically, blood pressure data and emotional self-reports converged to indicate that recovery was appreciably greater if persons looked at a nature setting dominated by vegetation rather than a built environment without nature (Hartig, 1991).

Nakamura and Fujii have carried out two studies in Japan (1990, 1992) that measured brain wave activity as unstressed persons (non-patients) looked either at plants or human-made objects. In an intriguing first experiment, the researchers analyzed alpha rhythm activity as subjects viewed: two types of potted plants, each with and without flowers (Pelargonium and Begonia); the same pots without plants; or a cylinder similar to the pots (Nakamura and Fujii, 1990). Results suggested that persons were most wakefully relaxed when they observed plants with flowers, and least relaxed when they looked at pots without plants. In the second study they recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) while persons were seated in a real outdoor setting and viewed a hedge of greenery, a concrete fence with dimensions similar to the hedge, or a mixed condition consisting of part greenery and part concrete (Nakamura and Fujii, 1992). The EEG data supported the conclusion that the greenery elicited relaxation whereas the concrete had stressful influences.

Benefits of Nature and Gardens in Healthcare Settings

The research examples described above, all based on non-patient groups, indicate that visual exposure to plants and other nature lasting only a few minutes can foster considerable restoration or recovery from stress.

It is important to emphasize that broadly parallel findings have been obtained when stressed patients in healthcare settings have been visually exposed to nature. A study by Heerwagen and Orians, for instance, found that anxious patients in a dental fears clinic were less stressed on days when a large nature mural was hung on a wall of the waiting room in contrast to days when the wall was blank (Heerwagen, 1990). The restorative benefits of the nature scene were evident both in heart rate data and self reports of emotional states.

In the case of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, there is mounting evidence that gardens function are especially effective and beneficial settings with respect to fostering restoration for stressed patients, family members, and staff (Ulrich, 1999). Cooper-Marcus and Barnes (1995) used a combination of behavioral observation and interview methods to evaluate four hospital gardens in California. They found that restoration from stress, including improved mood, was by far the most important category of benefits derived by nearly all users of the gardens -- patients, family, and employees. Likewise, a recent study of a garden in a children’s hospital identified mood improvement and restoration from stress as primary benefits for users (Whitehouse et al., 2001). This conclusion was supported by convergent results from behavioral observations, interviews, and surveys. The fact that stress is a pervasive, well documented, and very important health-related problem in hospitals implies major significance for the finding that restoration is the key benefit motivating persons to use gardens in healthcare facilities (Ulrich, 1999).

Well-designed hospital gardens not only provide calming and pleasant nature views, but can also reduce stress and improve clinical outcomes through other mechanisms, for instance, fostering access to social support and privacy, and providing opportunities for escape from stressful clinical settings (Ulrich, 1999; Cooper-Marcus and Barnes, 1995). Concerning the last of these, escape, Cooper-Marcus and Barnes

(1995) concluded that many healthcare employees used gardens as an effective means for achieving a restorative pleasant escape from work stress and aversive conditions in the hospital. They also included in their report statements by several patients which suggested that the gardens fostered restoration in part by providing positive escape (and sense of control) with respect to stress. For example, a patient interviewed in a hospital garden commented: “It’s a good escape from what they put me through. I come out here between appointments. . I feel much calmer, less stressed” (Cooper-Marcus and Barnes,

1995, p. 27).

In addition to ameliorating stress and improving mood, gardens and nature in hospitals can significantly heighten satisfaction with the healthcare provider and the overall quality of care. Evidence from studies of a number of different hospitals and diverse categories of patients (adults, children, and elderly patients; ambulatory or outpatient settings, inpatient acute care wards) strongly suggests that the presence of nature -- indoor and outdoor gardens, plants, window views of nature -- increases both patient and family satisfaction (Cooper-Marcus and Barnes, 1995; Whitehouse et al., 2001; Picker Institute and Center for Health Design, 1999).

The capacity for gardens and plants to heighten satisfaction, as well as reduce stress, is attracting considerable attention from hospital administrators who, as noted earlier, are facing strong pressures to become more patient/consumer oriented and improve the consumer’s healthcare experience. A nationally prominent hospital administrator in the United States recently evaluated the role of gardens in the highly competitive marketplace of managed care, and endorsed their effectiveness for increasing care quality and patient/consumer satisfaction (Sadler, 2001). Further, the administrator advocated creating gardens as an effective means for helping hospitals and providers to achieve more positive market identities and thereby improve economic or financial outcomes (Sadler, 2001).

Benefits of Healthcare Gardens for Staff

Healthcare staffing problems are a critical issue in most European countries and North America. It has been known for decades that healthcare occupations such as nursing are stressful because they often involve overload from work demands, lack of control or authority over decisions, and stress from rotating shifts (Ulrich, 1991). Workloads and pressures have mounted further, however, as healthcare providers everywhere have been forced to control or cut costs (Ulrich, 2002). These conditions have in many locations lowered lower job satisfaction, increased absenteeism and turnover, contributed to shortages of qualified personnel, increased providers’ operating costs, and eroded the quality of care that patients receive (Ulrich, 2002).

These serious staff related problems imply major importance for the aforementioned finding that healthcare staff heavily use gardens for positive escape from workplace pressures and to recuperate from stress. Additionally, it should be emphasized that evidence has begun to appear showing that hospital gardens increase staff satisfaction with the workplace, and may help hospital administrators in hiring and retaining qualified personnel (Whitehouse et al., 2001; Sadler, 2001; Cooper-Marcus and Barnes, 1995, 1999).

Effects of Nature on Clinical Outcomes

Findings from a few studies focusing on hospitals and other healthcare facilities suggest that views of nature can have important benefits in terms of improving patient clinical outcomes. At Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, Outi Lundén, John Eltinge, and I (1993) investigated whether exposing heart surgery patients to simulated nature views would improve recovery outcomes. We assigned each 160 patients in intensive care to one of six visual stimulation conditions: two nature pictures (either a view of trees and water, or an enclosed forest scene); two abstract pictures; and two control conditions (either a white panel, or no picture or panel). Results suggested that patients who viewed the trees/water scene were significantly less anxious during the postoperative period than patients assigned to the other pictures and control conditions. Moreover, patients exposed to the trees/water view suffered less severe pain, as evidenced by the fact they shifted faster than other groups from strong narcotic pain drugs to moderate strength analgesics. By contrast, a rather surprising finding was that an abstract picture dominated by rectilinear forms produced higher patient anxiety than control conditions of no picture at all.

Another medical outcomes study compared the recovery records of gall bladder surgery patients who had a bedside window view of either trees or a brick building wall with no nature (Ulrich, 1984). To keep other factors constant that could affect outcomes, the methods ensured that the tree and wall view groups were equivalent, for example, in age, weight, tobacco use, and general medical history. The outcomes data showed that those with the nature view, compared to those who looked out at the wall, had shorter hospital stays and suffered fewer minor post-surgical complications (such as persistent headache or nausea) (Ulrich, 1984). Further, patients with the view of trees more frequently received positive written comments from staff about their conditions in their medical records (“patient is in good spirits”). Those in the wall view group, however, had far more negative evaluative comments (“patient is upset,” “needs much encouragement”). Another major difference was that persons with the view of trees, compared to the wall view patients, needed far fewer doses of strong narcotic pain drugs.

The above findings not only indicated that views of nature in hospitals could enhance clinical or medical outcomes; as well, the results suggested that nature could improve economic outcomes by reducing the costs of care. The findings clearly implied that by providing nature it would be possible to achieve cost savings, for instance, because length of hospital stays might be shortened, and some patients would have reduced need for costly injections of strong pain drugs.

QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE RESTORATIVE GARDENS

Few studies have examined rigorously how different design approaches and specific environmental characteristics affect hospital garden performance with respect to fostering restoration from stress or improving medical outcomes. No well controlled experiment has investigated, for instance, whether designing flowers beds with curvilinear in contrast to rectilinear forms or edges influences a garden’s effectiveness in producing stress recovery. Nonetheless, the studies described in earlier sections have yielded a few broad conclusions and general guidelines regarding design directions for creating successful healthcare gardens.

The limited evidence to date suggests that gardens will likely calm or ameliorate stress effectively if they contain verdant foliage, flowers, water (not tumultuous), congruent or harmonious nature sounds (birds, breezes, water), and visible wildlife (birds) (Ulrich, 1999, pp. 74-75). Additionally, nature settings with savanna-like or park-like qualities (grassy spaces with scattered trees) are known to foster restoration. In their study of users of four hospital gardens, Cooper-Marcus and Barnes (1995, p. 55) found that the most frequently mentioned positive garden qualities were visual nature elements, especially trees, greenery, flowers, and water. Respondents strongly associated these nature features with restorative influences on their moods.

By contrast, a characteristic that usually worsens garden effectiveness in reducing stress is predominance of hardscape (concrete, for example) or other starkly built content (Ulrich, 1999). Whitehouse and her associates (2001) found that users of a children’s hospital garden disliked and avoided areas having a high percentage of concrete ground surface and/or starkly built features. Persons interviewed in this study consistently recommended that the garden should have “more greenery and flowers” and less concrete (Whitehouse et al., 2001). Based on this evidence the administration of the hospital directed that the garden be reconstructed to include many more plants and less hardscape, in order to become more effective in promoting restoration.

In addition to predominance of hardscape rather than vegetation, other garden qualities that can hamper recovery or even aggravate stress include: cigarette smoke; intrusive, incongruent urban or machine sounds (traffic, for example); crowding; perceived insecurity or risk; prominent litter; and abstract, ambiguous sculpture or other built features that can be interpreted in multiple ways (Ulrich, 1999). Regarding abstraction and ambiguity, there is mounting evidence that designers of hospital gardens should exercise considerable caution before including abstract art works or ambiguous design features. It appears that acutely stressed patients may be vulnerable to having stressful rather than positive reactions to ambiguous art or design (Ulrich, 1991). Current evidence suggests that the safest, most consistently effective general strategy for designers of hospital gardens is simply to feature the restorative, unambiguously positive qualities of greenery, flowers, and most other nature content (Ulrich, 1999).

A documented example of adverse patient reactions to ambiguous features occurred when a major university hospital installed a large-scale series of sculptures and other artworks to form a “bird garden” in a rooftop space overlooked on all sides by rooms for cancer patients (Ulrich, 1999). Although called a “garden,” the space actually contained no greenery, flowers, or other nature. Soon after this sculpture garden was installed, administrators and physicians began to receive many anecdotal reports of strong negative reactions by patients. Accordingly, a questionnaire study was conducted of patient reactions to the artwork (Hefferman et al., 1995). The study showed that more than 20% of the cancer patients reported having a negative emotional or psychological reaction to the “garden.” Several patients had strongly negative responses, interpreting some rectilinear metal bird sculptures, for instance, as frightening predatory animals (Ulrich, 1999).

The administration and medical staff decided that the rate and intensity of negative effects on patient outcomes was too high, so the art installation was removed for medical reasons (Ulrich, 1999).

SUMMARY

Findings from several studies have converged in indicating that simply viewing certain types of nature and garden scenes significantly ameliorates stress within only five minutes or less. Further, a limited amount of research has found that viewing nature for longer periods not only helps to calm patients, but can also foster improvement in clinical outcomes -- such as reducing pain medication intake and shortening hospital stays.

Well-designed hospital gardens not only provide restorative and pleasant nature views, but also can reduce stress and improve clinical outcomes through other mechanisms such as increasing access to social support, and providing opportunities for positive escape from stressful clinical settings. As well, evidence from studies of a number of hospitals strongly suggests that gardens and other nature helps to heighten patient and family satisfaction with the healthcare provider and the overall quality of care. Research has begun to appear suggesting that hospital gardens also increase staff satisfaction with the workplace, and can be advantageous in hiring and retaining qualified personnel. The potential for hospital gardens to improve medical outcomes, satisfaction, and economic outcomes is notably increasing the attention and priority accorded to gardens, as administrators and providers everywhere face strong pressures to increase quality, become more consumer/patient oriented, control costs, and in some locations establish a positive market identify in the face of strong competition from other providers.

REFERENCES

Cooper-Marcus, C. and M. Barnes (1995). Gardens in Healthcare Facilities: Uses, Therapeutic Benefits, and Design Recommendations. Martinez, CA: The Center forHealth Design.

Cooper-Marcus, C. and M. Barnes (1999). Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations. New York: John Wiley.

Gierlach-Spriggs, N. Kaufman, R. E., and S. B. Warner, Jr. (1998). Restorative Garden: The Healing Landscape. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Hefferman, M. L., Morstatt, M., Saltzman, K., and L. Strunc (1995). A Room with a View Art Survey: The Bird Garden at Duke University Hospital. Unpublished research report, Cultural Services Program and Management Fellows Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Hartig, T. (1991). Testing restorative environments theory. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Program in Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine.

Heerwagen, J. (1990). The psychological aspects of windows and window design. In K. H. Anthony, J. Choi, and B. Orland (Eds.), Proceedings of 21st annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association. Oklahoma City: EDRA, 269-280.

Horsburgh, C. R. (1995). Healing by design. New England Journal of Medicine, 333: 735-740.

Nakamura, R. and E. Fujii (1990). Studies of the characteristics of the electroencephalogram when observing potted plants: Pelargonium hortorum “Sprinter Red” and Begonia evansiana. Technical Bulletin of the Faculty of Horticulture of Chiba University, 43: 177-183. (In Japanese with English summary)

Nakamura, R. and E. Fujii (1992). A comparative study of the characteristics of the electroencephalogram when observing a hedge and a concrete block fence. Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architects, 55: 139-144. (In Japanese with English summary.)

Nightingale, F. (1860) (1996). Notes on Nursing (Revised with Additions). London: Ballière Tindall.

Picker Institute and Center for Health Design (1999). Assessing the Built Environment from the Patient and Family Perspective: Health Care Design Action Kit. WalnutCreek, CA: The Center for Health Design (www.healthdesign.org)

Sadler, B. (2001). Design to Compete in Managed Healthcare. Facilities Design & Management (March).

Ulrich, R. S. (1981). Natural versus urban scenes: Some psychophysiological effects. Environment and Behavior, 13: 523-556.

Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224: 42-421.

Ulrich, R. S. (1991). Effects of health facility interior design on wellness: Theory and recent scientific research. Journal of Health Care Design, 3: 97-109. [Reprinted in: Marberry, S.O. (Ed.) 1995. Innovations in Healthcare Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, pp. 88-104.]

Ulrich, R. S. (1999). Effects of gardens on health outcomes: Theory and research. In C. Cooper-Marcus & M. Barnes (Eds.), Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations. New York: John Wiley, pp. 27-86.

Ulrich, R. S. (2001). Effects of healthcare environmental design on medical outcomes. In A Dilani (Ed.) Design and Health: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Health and Design. Stockholm, Sweden: Svensk Byggtjanst, 49-59.

Ulrich, R. S. (2002). Communicating with the healthcare community about plant benefits.

In C. Shoemaker (Ed.) Proceedings of the Sixth International People Plant Symposium. Chicago: Chicago Botanic Garden.

Ulrich, R. S., Lundén, O., and J. L. Eltinge (1993). “Effects of exposure to nature and abstract pictures on patients recovering from heart surgery.” Paper presented at the Thirty-Third Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, Rottach-Egern, Germany. Abstract in Psychophysiology, 30 (Supplement 1, 1993): 7.

Ulrich, R. S. and R. Parsons (1992). Influences of passive experiences with plants on individual well-being and health. In D. Relf (Ed.), The role of horticulture in human well-being and social development. Portland, OR: Timber Press, pp. 93-105.

Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11: 201-230.

Whitehouse, S., Varni, J. W., Seid, M., Cooper-Marcus, C., Ensberg, M. J., Jacobs, J. J. and R. S. Mehlenbeck (2001). Evaluating a children’s hospital garden environment: Utilization and consumer satisfaction. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21: 301-314.

12-May-11 12:00 PM

Flowers and Plants in the Workspace Promote Innovation and Ideas

Jonathan Senneff - noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Key Findings Shed Light on Environmental Psychology of the Workplace

In today’s economy, it is more important than ever for businesses to gain the competitive edge. Constant fluctuations in unemployment, productivity, consumer confidence and other major economic factors make it imperative for businesses to implement the right strategies to stay ahead of their competition.

According to business experts, the key to gaining the competitive edge in the modern economy is easy to understand – a happy, productive workforce. And, while sometimes the easiest notions can be the most difficult to achieve, a recent scientific study conducted at Texas A&M University finds that nature can hold the secret to business success. The research demonstrates that workers’ idea generation, creative performance and problem solving skills improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants.

“Our research shows that a change as simple as adding flowers and plants can be important in the most meaningful way to businesses in the modern economy,” said Dr. Roger Ulrich, lead researcher on the project. “People’s productivity, in the form of innovation and creative problem solving, improved – which in certain circumstances could mean the difference between mild and great business success.”

Research Findings: Overall and Men vs. Women

In an eight-month study, the Texas A&M University research team explored the link between flowers and plants and workplace productivity. Participants performed creative problem solving tasks in a variety of common office environments, or conditions. The conditions included a workplace with flowers and plants, a setting with sculpture and an environment with no decorative embellishments.

During the study, both women and men demonstrated more innovative thinking, generating more ideas and original solutions to problems in the office environment that included flowers and plants. In these surroundings, men who participated in the study generated 15% more ideas. And, while males generated a greater abundance of ideas, females generated more creative, flexible solutions to problems when flowers and plants were present.

“We know the importance of learning, for example, how natural surroundings affect drivers, school children, and hospital patients,” said Ulrich, who has conducted extensive research on the effects of environments on psychological well-being, stress and health. “To businesses, it should be equally as important to understand what features can improve performance at work and make employees more productive.”

Background: Dr. Roger Ulrich

The Impact of Flowers and Plants on Workplace Productivity Study was conducted by Roger Ulrich, Ph.D., Behavioral Scientist, Director of the Center for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Dr. Ulrich is a professor of landscape architecture and is an internationally recognized expert on the influences of surroundings on human well-being and health. His interests concern applications of environment-behavior knowledge to healthcare buildings, landscape architecture and urban design.

For The Impact of Flowers and Plants on Workplace Productivity study, Dr. Ulrich worked in cooperation with Professor Dr. James Varni, who also is internationally recognized for his research in psychology and medicine. The research lends weight to growing scientific evidence that flowers and plants, as well
as other aspects of nature, have a beneficial impact on state of mind and emotions. The Society of American Florists worked in cooperation with the Texas A&M University research team, bringing an expertise of flowers and plants to the project.

12-May-11 11:00 AM

GPGB TPIE 2013 Update

noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT

NEW GPGB Marketing Brochure- After almost a year in planning and production, we are happy to announce a brand new full color, 6 page brochure that can be customized with a company's logo, slogan and contact information. The brochure is a trifold format with landscape orientation, and visually showcases the striking improvement plants make in any environment. Specifier and end user testimonials help round out the piece, along with supporting research and statics. We are taking orders now so don't delay in getting this one of a kind marketing piece! NEW Continuing Education Program- We have developed a NEW Living Wall & Green Roof PowerPoint CEU presentation for our supporter's use, that incorporates very current subject matter with cutting edge pictures and graphics. Architects, Designers, and Specifers in general are all asking about green walls, green roofs and how they work, so this educational opportunity should see great demand! This presentation is similar to our...

GPGB Supporters Help Prove the Science of Indoor Plants

noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Project Carbon, a recent research project completed at the University of Georgia, proves that plants do in fact remove carbon from the air we breathe. This study is the first of its kind to provide quantitative data of carbon removal by plants in an interiorscape setting. According to Mike Lewis, President of Green Plants for Green Buildings, GPGB has long been at the forefront in making the case that indoor plants provide a healthier environment as well as a happier community. We are grateful to our supporters for helping us bring to light the scientific evidence that augments the aesthetic appeal of our indoor 'Air Cleaners.' Project Carbon, funded by the National Foliage Foundation (NFF) and supported by Green Plants for Green Buildings and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, allowed researchers, Dr. Bodie Pennisi and Dr. Marc van Iersel, to identify the amounts of carbon removed from the air by plants, both under simulated...

Interior Plant Industry News and Helpful Features

noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Audience (A) Press Releases

noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

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Learn and Earn

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:41:28 GMT

GPGB's Continuing Education Opportunities What is the best way to learn about the value of live plants in your buildings? Contact a GPGB Registered Trainer and invite them to make a free presentation at your facility. New research and data are emerging so keep yourself informed and your team inspired! AIA, IDCEC, ASID, BOMI, ASLA and USGBC members: GPGB is an approved provider of continuing education. Keep your professional credentials current and contact a GPGB Registered Trainer for a free presentation. Presentations include: Living Walls Green Roofs Authentically Green Interiors: Optimizing Nature’s Design You will learn how plants: Reduce absenteeism. Increase tenant occupancy and retention. Affect productivity and satisfaction. Improve indoor air quality. Increase retail spending. Reflect holidays and the changing seasons. Soften less attractive building features. ...

Northwest Providers

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:28:47 GMT

Northeast Providers

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:57:35 GMT

RT= These providers are registered trainers for AIA, ASID, BOMA, ASLA and USGBC. AS = Association Sponsor; CO = Consultant; ED=Educational; GC=Garden Center; IC = Interiorscaper/Contractor; IP= Industry Publication; SN = Supplier/Nursery Connecticut Architectural Supplements 203-591-5505 SN Phil Feinman Email Waterbury Web Atria, Inc. 203-753-6200 x100 RT Bruce Crowle Email IC Cheshire Web Green Up 203-595-5099 GC Colin Coogan Email Stamford Web Plantations, Inc. 860-242-2554 IC Robert Preminger Email Bloomfield Web ...

Southeast Providers

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:57:10 GMT

RT= These providers are registered trainers for AIA, ASID, BOMA, ASLA and USGBC. AS = Association Sponsor; CO = Consultant; ED=Educational; GC=Garden Center; IC = Interiorscaper/Contractor; IP= Industry Publication; SN = Supplier/Nursery Alabama Type Foliage Design Systems 205-229-3043 IC Raymond Osbun Email Birmingham Web Foliage Design Systems 256-534-3399 IC Melissa Musgrove & Sigi Fike Email Huntsville Web Amanda Culver, LEED AP ID+C GRP Email RT Birmingham IC Judy's Plantscapes 205-957-1145 IC Judy Hand-Truitt Email Birmingham Web Arkansas PLANTation...

Midwest Providers

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:56:16 GMT

RT= These providers are registered trainers for AIA, ASID, BOMA, ASLA and USGBC. AS = Association Sponsor; CO = Consultant; ED=Educational; GC=Garden Center; IC = Interiorscaper/Contractor; IP= Industry Publication; SN = Supplier/Nursery Illinois Type Amlings Interior Landscape 630-280-9812 RT Carolyn Ascher Email IC Carol Stream Web Ecogardens, LLC 312-550-5577 IC Greg Raymond Email Chicago Web Greens By White 847-367-7200 IC David White Email ...

Southwest Providers

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:55:56 GMT

RT= These providers are registered trainers for AIA, ASID, BOMA, ASLA and USGBC. AS = Association Sponsor; CO = Consultant; ED=Educational; GC=Garden Center; IC = Interiorscaper/Contractor; IP= Industry Publication; SN = Supplier/Nursery Arizona Type Plant Friends LLC 602-971-7430 IC Debe Gudiwas Email Pheonix Web Plant Solutions, Inc. 480-585-8501 RT Joe Zazzera, LEED AP Email IC Scottsdale Web Oklahoma Calvert's Plant Solutions 405-848-6642 IC Bob Calvert Email Oklahoma Web Texas ...

GPGB White Paper Citations

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:24:39 GMT

Click any of the links below to download or be directed to papers used in GPGB White Papers.

Research Papers (Coming Soon)
Indoor Plant Research (Coming Soon)

Provider Locator

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:46:54 GMT

Click on a region to see providers for that area. Alaska Type Green Connection 907-276-7836 IC Monica Emerton Email Anchorage Web Canada Coconut Grove Inc. 604-536-7266 IC, TTT Gary Laufer Email South Surrey, BC Web Green Design Landscaping Inc. 519-423-9000 IC Rick Harvey Email Beachville, ON Web Greenery Office Interiors Ltd ...

GPGB Sponsorship Opportunities

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:13:09 GMT

From the newsletter to a page of the website, every investment made to further the message of Green Plants for Green Buildings is put to hard work.

With a very lean marketing budget the program has successfully secured millions of dollars worth of targeted exposure, created a valuable web site traffic flow (referred from premier prospect groups such as USGBC Members, AIA Members, ASID Membership and those studying through BOMA) and the most active and successful Professional Interior Landscape professionals who are always seeking new ways to grow their business.

$5,000 Premium-End-User Trade Show Booth Sponsorship:
Top Target: United States Green Building Council's Greenbuild Conference and Expo

Website Sponsorship
GPGB has created a variety of online opportunities to reach your audiences.There are multiple sponsorship options available. See our ad rates here.

Publication Sponsorships of GPGB's 'Interior Insights' Newsletter
Promote your company with a sponsorship of this print publication distributed at TPIE and Plantscape Expo. See our ad rates here.

Contact:
Mike Lewis
president@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org
mike@foliagedesign.com
Cell: 407.399.9534

Mary Golden
admin@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org
1.800.347.9014

Expand Your Opportunities with Website Advertising Sponsorship

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:21:47 GMT

Green Plants for Green Buildings has secured thousands of dollars worth of targeted exposure and created valuable web site traffic flow referred from premier prospect groups such as USGBC Members, AIA Members, ASID Membership and those studying through BOMA. Frequent visitors also include the most active and successful interior landscape professionals who are always seeking new ways to grow their business. Site Statistics 18,158 total visits in 2011. 74.24% of these were new and unique visitors. 39% were from interested, qualified, building & facility owners and design professionals 44% were from interior landscape professionals. Google Analytics reports available upon request. Use our website to capture new customers everyday! Pages Available for Sponsorship There are multiple sponsorship options available that vary in height, target audience, and saturation density (how many pages the ad will be running on during the...

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:18:01 GMT

Objectives:

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Release Date: 3-Aug-09 12:18 PM
Expiration Date: 3-Nov-09 12:18 PM

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Light and Plants

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:09 GMT

Natural light penetrates the interior of the offices from both the exterior as well as the interior courtyard where plants and trees help to shade and cool.

An Open, Natural, Green Design

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:09 GMT

The Terry Thomas building is constructed with recycled steel, aluminum and fly ash and concrete. Every exterior wall is treated differently, according to its micro-climate and sun exposure. The project's plants and trees help to shade and cool.

Shade, Calm, Comfort.

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:09 GMT

The project team was dedicated to keep the health and well being of the occupants at the highest priority. Natural, multi-tasking basics such as the use of interior plants as shade, helped eliminate the need for more expensive HVAC equipment and systems.

Plants and People

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:09 GMT

In addition to playing a role in the natural thermal comfort system, the interior courtyard is a central gathering place.

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2009-08-03T17:18:01Z

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