DID YOU KNOW...ATRIUMS
Workplace plants are proven to have a positive
impact on building occupants' perceptions of their surroundings.
Research conducted at Oxford Brookes University (Oxford,
England) showed that:
-
The use of the waiting area within an atrium
increased by 4.1% "with plants."
-
Both men and women displayed a preference for
sitting opposite the plants in an atrium (they positioned
themselves where they could see the plants).
-
The mean anxiety level of subjects was lower
"with plants" in the atrium than the mean anxiety level
"without plants" in the atrium.
PLANTS INSPIRE
INNOVATION
Dr. Roger Ulrich (Ph.D., Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas) found that problem-solving skills, idea
generation and creative performance improve substantially in
workplace environments that include flowers and plants.
In Dr. Ulrich's studies, both men and women
demonstrated more innovative thinking in the presence of plants
than they did in an environment with art sculpture or no
decorative objects.
PLANTS AID RECOVERY
From "Health Benefits of Gardens in Hospitals"
(Roger Ulrich, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, College Station,
Texas) - studies prove that patients in hospitals with a view of
gardens:
PLANTS = PRODUCTIVE, ATTENTIVE
In a study conducted by Dr. Virginia Lohr of
Washington State University (Pullman, Wash.), it was found that
productivity could be enhanced by as much as 12% in the presence
of plants.
Study participants also reported feeling more
attentive when plants were present.
PLANTS PROMOTE A QUIET, PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT -
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Research shows that plants can help to reduce
background noise levels by up to 5 decibels in buildings.
Good examples of noise-reducing plants are
Spathiphyllum Wallisii (peace lily), Philodendron Scandens
(sweetheart plant), Dracaena Marginata (Madagascan dragon tree)
and Ficus Benjamina (weeping fig).
PLANTS MAINTAIN
PERFECT HUMIDITY LEVELS
Dr. Virginia Lohr
(Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.) demonstrated that
plant transpiration in an office environment creates a humidity
level exactly matching the recommended human comfort range of
30% to 60%.
PLANTS BRING MEANING AND PURPOSE TO LIFE
Prisons, schools, housing projects and hospitals
have all documented the positive effects of working with plants.
Charles A. Lewis, Research Fellow in Horticulture at Morton
Arboretum, has studied the effects of plants and landscaping on
people in various communities, including neighbourhoods, housing
projects and prisons, over a 30- year period.
In a paper published in "The Role of Horticulture in Human
Well-being and Social Development," Lewis concluded that when
horticultural programs are implemented in those communities, the
landscaping process makes an enormous difference in how members
feel about themselves and the area in which they reside.
Lewis writes, "The gardener takes on a
responsibility when he grows a plant. It's a living entity, its
future dependent on the gardener's ability to provide conditions
for growth. Each day as he tends his garden, the gardener
observes the growth of his plants, and sees in that a measure of
his success in planting, watering and fertilizing. He identifies
with his garden and builds a personal relationship with it. The
garden becomes an extension of himself, a highly visible
representation of his individuality. All of this enhances his
self-image, helping to create self-esteem.
PLANTS ABSORB DANGEROUS TOXINS
Off-gassing
is currently a top concern among facility management
professionals. The EPA identified the most common toxins present
in offices and hospitals, and the most predominant was
formaldehyde. Following are the extraordinary toxin removal
rates that common office plants provide.
|
Removal Rates Of Formaldehyde From Sealed
Chambers By Plants Grown In Potting Soil |
|
Name |
Removal Rate By
Micrograms Per Hour |
|
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
|
1385 |
|
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
|
1350 |
|
Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis)
|
1328 |
|
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
|
940 |
|
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum "Clevelandii")
|
937 |
|
Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
|
938 |
|
Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans
"Massangeana") |
938 |
|
Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
|
876 |
PLANTS HELP US TO STAY HEALTHY AT WORK
Professor Tove Fjeld of the Agricultural University in Oslo,
Norway carried out several conclusive studies regarding health
claims relating to Sick Building Syndrome among office workers.
This crossover study was conducted among 51 offices over two
years.
When plants were included in the offices, study
participants were exposed to 13 commonly used foliage plants.
The score sum of 12 symptoms was 23% lower during the period
when participants had plants in their offices. This translated
into a 14% decrease in absenteeism.
Give Action Indoor Plant Hire a ring today.
