January 19, 2009

Green Walls and Indoor Air Quality

By George Irwin All Photos Courtesy George Irwin, unless noted

What a relief it was to escape inside a friendly tropical office from the mounds of snow we have here in the Northeast and see lush green vegetation protruding from a wall deep into the long hallway. It seemed as if it were a mirage as I walked closer to the wall, as a feeling of warm and moist air filled the corridor, removing my thoughts of the extreme cold outside back home. If youre lucky enough to live in a moderate climate during the harsh northern winters, you will more than likely have to endure a rainy season, but at least its warm.

Compare this wall to the one below!

This is exactly what happened to me after a visit to San Pedro Sula in Honduras a few weeks ago - the moist humid air was a welcome relief from the dry cold winter of the Northeast.

Green Living Wall in Tropical Honduras; Photo Provided by Techos Verdes

Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Air Quality

Back to reality, Im from Rochester, New York, and we are currently buried in snow and cold. The wall I was standing next to in Honduras offered a reprieve from the reality of the weather outside. During all seasons, occupants inside offices and homes alike are suffering from dry air - from cracking skin to coughing and congestion from people with whom we share the space. Actually, these are some common symptoms described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which are indicators of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Other more severe indicators include: dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.1 What causes SBS and how can adding green walls help? The costs and potential payback are detailed in this article for the commercial property owner, designer, or architect who will be able to utilize this to inform clients. Multiple sources contribute SBS to having a direct relationship with indoor air quality (IAQ). Buildings, especially newer construction, are built to be air tight to provide a comforting environment with heat and air conditioning. The adverse result is the lack of air circulation and proper filtration. Inadequate ventilation is also a result of HVAC equipment that is either outdated or lacks sufficient means to distribute air. The following are deemed by the EPA as the leading causes of SBS: inadequate ventilation; chemical contaminants from indoor sources; chemical contaminants from outdoor sources; and biological contaminants.2 In the early and mid 1900's, building ventilation standards called for 15 cubic feet per minute of outside air for each building occupant primarily to remove body odors. Solutions and Economic Considerations of Air Quality The solutions to remove the compounds may include pollutant source removal or modification, an effective approach when sources are known and control is feasible. Examples include routine maintenance of HVAC systems, e.g., periodic cleaning or replacement of filters, and increasing ventilation rates by utilizing HVAC systems, at a minimum, to meet ventilation standards in local building codes. However, many systems are not operated or maintained to ensure that these design ventilation rates are provided. Air cleaning can be a useful adjunct to source control and ventilation but has certain limitations.

Particle control devices such as the typical furnace filter are inexpensive but do not effectively capture small particles; high performance air filters capture the smaller, respirable particles but are relatively expensive to install and operate. Mechanical filters do not remove gaseous pollutants. Some specific gaseous pollutants may be removed by adsorbent beds, but these devices can be expensive and require frequent replacement of the adsorbent material. In summary, air cleaners can be useful, but have limited application and

can be expensive. According to the EPA, clearly the mechanical means of removing toxins, particles, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from buildings are options, but none claim to be the solution or 100% effective and are costly. Natural Filtration However, there is strong evidence on a more natural solution. This natural or holistic approach to cleaning indoor air can be as simple as adding the ecosystem that is responsible for creating fresh air to begin with: the indoor green wall. The indoor green wall eco-system is a very complex order that has the ability to change; its a built in survival mechanism. Plants can be resilient and what may be toxic to one species is a source of survival for another. VOCs have been the focus of many studies in recent years and it is now evident that data concludes over 80% of VOCs can be removed by plants.3

NASA (1984) published one of the first studies demonstrating that plants can help to remove VOCs from sealed indoor environments (Wolverton, n.d.).4 Later researches confirmed these findings and also suggested that micro-organisms of the soil might also be involved in removing toxic VOCs. Certain plant species can remove up to 100% of the air-borne VOCs within a 24 hour period. Some of the top performing plants include: Howea forsteriana (Kentia palm); Spathiphyllum wallisii var. Petite (Peace Lily); and Dracaena deremensis var. Janet Craig (Janet Craig Dracaena), (Burchett et al, 2001). Most recently (March 2005), The Plants and Environmental Quality Group at the University of Technology in Sydney concluded that both the plant metabolism and the soil microorganisms are involved in removing the VOCs from the air.5 Prior to the University of Technology (Sydney), other studies were conducted in controlled laboratory test chambers. In an authentic setting the findings showed that plants work to Interior Green Wall; Photo remove VOCs in a real life situation. The data demonstrated Courtesy Elevated Landscape that both floor and table specimens, in air conditioned and Technologies non-air conditioned space, were effective in reducing the VOCs to ~100 ppb (parts per billion) - regarded as acceptable using only 3 - 6 specimens in 10 and 12 pots.

So it's obvious that if you are considering adding vegetation, plants or a green wall in your building you dont have to have an interior jungle and masses of plants to obtain results. Conclusions of both the field study and controlled studies strengthen the conclusion that The potted plant microcosm is an effective, self regulating indoor-air-cleaning-system for bioremediation of indoor air or phytoremediation of indoor air quality," (Burchett et al, 2005). The plants are also self regulating; they automatically kick on when the VOC levels reach 100 ppb. We know that cleaning the air can be done mechanically and biologically. The mechanical means would need to include at times cumbersome and costly equipment, require additional space, potentially cause an acoustic burden on the immediate work or living space, and may not prove to be 100% effective. The mechanical means provides one service without any additional benefits.

Let's premise that the data is a direct reflection on using a soil-based potted plant; in theory then it is assumed that for comparing green wall systems, a soil-based green Green Wall at the University of wall would need to be considered for similar performance. The data Guelph-Humber in Toronto suggests that the VOCs removed are a direct result from microbial reactions at the root level. Biological means of adding plants has proven to rid the interior space of VOCs to an acceptable level. Adding plants also offers other benefits that include aesthetics, raising humidity levels to the air during the dry seasonal months, and they also offer opportunities of marketing value. Commercial Floor Space Comes at a Premium The studies from the University of Technology used specimens of table and floor units / potted plants containing Janet Craig Dracaena (Dracaena dermensis). The study needed to utilize valuable floor space to house the pots. In the United States, on average retail and office space is $25.50 per sf (New York City averages $38.00 per sf as a high and Iowa averages $13.60 per sf as a low) 6. Allowing for an area of sufficient floor space that would create the desired results of cleansing the air of VOCs and provide an aesthetic value would require six potted plants @ 10 12 deep, or the equivalent of 35 square feet.

6 12 Potted Plants, Figure 1 From a monetary perspective, due to its vertical nature a green wall is less than half the cost of occupying any retail floor space, assuming the cost per sf in rent noted above is accurate. One retail store and green wall owner recently said: Im reluctant to find the money to spend on plants that take up floor space in our retail store when I would rather have merchandise; its just simple economics. Since we installed our green wall not only has our store been noticed but the area has been more inviting and the comments from our customers have been nothing but positive. ~ Joe Edmond, owner of Green Acres Garden Center in Greece, NY. Floor vs. Wall Space: Get More for Your Money The value of implementing such an arrangement would equate to sacrificing a conservative 35 sf of floor space x $25.50 per sf would require a monetary expenditure of $892.50 a month on

potential floor space that could be otherwise be dedicated to another desk or, in a retail space, more merchandise on the floor. Looking at the long term expense based on a yearly value, $892.50 per month for floor space x 12 months is $10,710.00 per year for an aesthetically pleasing and functional area of potted plants . (*For the purpose of this column the cost of plant maintenance and other utilities were not considered and the figures mentioned are generalized as a base line comparison to evaluate other budgetary options.) The current market for an indoor green wall has increased to rival that of an exterior wall. The cost per sf has ranged from $100.00 to $175.00 per sf depending upon the system and the plant material. Based on our estimated yearly cost to allocate 35 sf of floor space containing potted plant material, a more economical option would be to consider a green wall. Utilizing the simplest of green wall systems and the lowest of initial cost per square foot, the wall could be as low as $3,500 for the same 35 square feet of floor space.

Figure 2 Now, in reality that original floor space of 35 sf was not 35 sf of complete Green Vegetation primarily due to the voids of the potted plants. (See Fig. 2) The green wall, however, would provide a canopy that is 100% equal to that of the design. That same 35 sf of floor space on a wall is actually 35 sf of Green Vegetation. There are no voids and in theory as an owner of the green wall the air cleaning and VOC removing benefits, according to the previous data, would provide an even more effective return on the investment - strictly speaking about the green area you would get more Green Vegetation for your investment. More Tangible Benefits On a lesser note, other opportunities present themselves as tenants, clients and other building visitors with green walls extend comments like, I wish there was more of these plants, Cool, Are they real?, The room smells so much better, What a relief from the cubicles! The result is people are talking and presenting an opportunity to reflect positively about the new green space. After installing a green wall, one major retailer had increased traffic due to the attention resulting in higher margins. Other tangible benefits include noise reduction, improved productivity and lower absenteeism, to name a few. According to Environmental Building News, a return on investing in plants would result in an annual savings of $975.00 per employee, a return on investment of 995%. 7

Environmental Building News, Vol. 13, No. 10; Figure 3

Green wall design and planning require mechanical functions as well as biological. As a designer, one of the key components to consider is how the wall will be irrigated. This is the number one evaluation, not any less important than the lighting, maintenance and system type but if the wall is to include an automatic irrigation system from a constant source of water (a direct connection to a main water line), we strongly recommend an overflow built into the irrigation catch basin. To no fault of any one system or any system installer, if there is a mechanical failure within the irrigation components the water will be diverted into the overflow preventing any flooding. Another option is to have a reservoir of irrigation simply re-circulated throughout the wall. The best advice is to talk to the system manufacturer or installer about your irrigation options. In previous articles I have written about various green wall systems, definitions and applications. Im going to premise a topic that I will eventually write about at a later date, but currently we see an opportunity to integrate mechanical and biological means of using green walls as a bio-filter. When designing a green wall as integration into the building there is much less of a chance for the system to be value-engineered from the project. Design the wall as a part of the building and the building's ventilation system is a must-have not just for aesthetics, but for overall functionality purposes. Beauty and Function At first, it is always the breathtaking beauty of a green wall that is the focus. Indoors, the wall provides a reprieve of sorts from unfavorable seasonal elements. Yet there is more to it than that. Studies have proven the effectiveness of potted plants to remove harmful VOCs from our dwellings and workplaces. Green walls would provide an opportunity to add an increased vertical canopy of Green Vegetation per square foot in comparison to potted plants on the horizontal plane of the floor. With sky high retail leasing costs, monetarily speaking the green wall is shown to be the economic choice with added benefits to increase marketing potential, employee productivity, preventing absenteeism and simply provide an un-measurable benefit we call the Wow Factor. Next time youre indoors and you're feeling tired, have a head ache or dry itchy skin, think about what adding soothing, living, breathing plants to a space can do for you, the people around you, and the environment.

Green Living Walls are beautiful living machines.

George Irwin, The Green Walls Editor

Sources: 1. http://epa.gov 2. Ibid. 3. http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/ 4. Wood, R, Orwell, R, Tarran, J, Burchett, M, 2001, Pot-plants really do clean indoor air, Nursery Papers, NGIA 5. http://www.nipa.asn.au/docs/mburchett_transcript_040305.pdf 6. http://staging.okcommerce.gov/test1/dmdocuments/2007_CostofDoingBusiness_Index_Milken_In stitute_2208072241.pdf 7. http://www.buildinggreen.com/articles/IssueTOC.cfm?Volume=13&Issue=10

George Irwin is the President and CEO of Green Living Technologies, LLC (GLT) based in NY. Green Living Technologies is the only US manufacturer of growing media based green wall and three types of green roof systems. Mr. Irwin is also a trainer for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Green Walls 101. Contact George Irwin at: George@AGreenroof.com, www.agreenroof.com, or 1.800.631.8001.