Page 13 - Landscape-Issue128

Plants with larger leaves create a lush and homely environment

The Work Café on the third floor, where materials and the colour palettes were inspired by the clay shades of the handmade terracotta tiles. These rich, earthy colours
anchor the space and contrast with the botanical greens of the planting.

the Australian Council’s decision in 2014. exterior air, even in polluted cities; Maintenance
The American Green Building Council • VOCs are responsible for over six million Execuflora’s maintenance contract included
currently has pilot projects running to deaths annually, according to a 2002 the following services:
determine how they will include indoor World Health Organisation report; • regular visits by service technicians;
plants in their LEED (Leadership in Energy and • the American EPA (Environmental Protection • plant replacement at no extra cost, as and
Environmental Design) credit programme. Agency) ranks indoor air pollution among when required, should they deteriorate;
In terms of the various Green Star rating the top five threats to human health; • watering on a regular basis;
categories, indoor plants fall into the IEQ • research conducted by the Sydney • cleaning and trimming plants when
category, the primary focus of which is to University of Technology shows that necessary;
minimise formaldehyde, reduce or remove plants help to reduce VOC’s from 50-75% • ensuring that plants were free of pests and
VOCs (volatile organic compounds), control within a 24 hour period; diseases.
individual comfort and reduce CO 2. The • plant-filled rooms contain 50-60% fewer
specific documented benefits of indoor airborne moulds and bacteria, and health Their maintenance contract ended at the
plants are the following: complaints are reduced by approx. 30%; end of June and the client has taken this in
• they filter the air and reduce VOCs, in • research has shown that by having indoor house.
particular formaldehyde. With most offices plants in work places, absenteeism is
being sealed working environments, reduced by 15-30% and productivity is Information supplied by Genevieve Compion of
there is a build-up of VOCs in the air and increased by 12-20%; Bidvest Execuflora.
as a result, indoor air quality is often • the well-being of staff, just by having plants Photos courtesy of Workshop 17 and by Karyn
10 – 1000 times more polluted than the around them, is increased by 84%. Richards n

Landscape SA • Issue 128 2023 11