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Innovative Plant Technology www.plantscleanair.com iplant Living Wall Biofilter® Q & A for Developers, Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers & Project Managers Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd T: 61 2 9654 1264 E: [email protected] Suite 2/79 Cecil Ave. Castle Hill NSW 2158 W: plantscleanair.com
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Architects Q&A

May 11, 2015

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Living Wall Biofilter Q & A for architects, landscape architects, developers and project managers
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Page 1: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

iplant Living Wall Biofilter®

Q & A for Developers, Architects, Landscape Architects,Engineers & Project Managers

Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd T: 61 2 9654 1264 E: [email protected]

Suite 2/79 Cecil Ave. Castle Hill NSW 2158 W: plantscleanair.com

Page 2: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

What is an iplant Living Wall Biofilter®?

A vertical, hydroponic indoor garden with plants chosen for their capacity to remove and reduce pollutants from indoor air. It is a natural, active biofilter, complementing the conventional HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) air filtration.

How is this different from a green wall? There are two types of living walls: active and passive.

The iplant Living Wall Biofilter

® actively draws contaminated indoor air

through the planted wall hydroponic system, rendering the pollutants harmless and delivering clean purified air.

The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a green technology developed from NASA

research. It combines conventional biofiltration and phytoremediation, used to clean polluted industrial air and water. By contrast, green walls are primarily decorative and although green plants in the indoors have limited capacity to reduce pollutants (if they are photosynthesising), green walls are passive and hence not as effective or

efficient as the iplant Living Wall Biofilter®.

Page 3: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

Why is indoor air quality an issue of concern? When it comes to the air we breathe indoors, we accept the air that is offered assuming that it is of the highest quality. The source of indoor air is outdoor air. We wouldn’t drink contaminated water yet we regularly breathe contaminated air. Outdoor air supply to building air intakes rather than being “fresh air” is always polluted, mainly with motor vehicle emissions such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene as well as airborne breathable dust and other chemical contaminants. More than 50% of the air we breathe comes from contact with the floor around us. Irrespective of building ventilation design, ventilation rates, 100% recycling or dilution mixing of building air, inherently polluted outdoor air combines and reacts with contaminants generated indoors, resulting in poorer air quality, even creating indoor smog in the presence of ozone.

How do iplant Living Wall Biofilters® work?

Using proven technology developed from plant-based research and established principles of biofiltration and phytoremediation, contaminated indoor air is drawn through the planted wall where the photosynthesising plants and their root microorganisms break down the contaminants to simple, harmless carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, producing clean purified air.

Page 4: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

IPLANT LIVING WALL BIOFILTER®

Page 5: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

How is the air quality improved by the iplant Living Wall

Biofilter® compared to conventional building air filtration? The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a high efficiency filter which complements conventional filtration, but is located in the workplace. The air cleaning technology used in most ventilation systems is mainly particle filtration with varying degrees of effectiveness in reducing chemical contaminants and requiring frequent and costly maintenance or replacement. High efficiency filters correctly maintained can also reduce soot, dust and dirt, bacteria, pollens and insects, but not airborne chemicals. Special purpose filters such as absorption type activated carbon can reduce gases, but quickly become saturated and can become a source of pollutants. Once saturated, activated carbon is a hazardous waste. The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a self-regenerating biological filtration system which works like a rainforest, generating clean breathable air, by effectively removing most of the chemical contaminants and dust from the air we breathe indoors. NASA’s (National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s) Advanced life Support project has successfully demonstrated the use of plants for air revitalisation for humans, and the robustness of the plant systems as part of a human life support system in space. Additionally they have shown that plants can be integrated into regenerative life support systems and can be controlled to provide a specific desired performance.

Page 6: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

What are the design implications for architects and engineers? The iplant Living Wall Biofilter

® gives the option of minimum code-compliant

fresh air rates, while delivering high quality fresh air to building occupants at low cost, either incorporated into the building’s air handling system or as a free standing unit. The technology can have a substantial impact on the energy balance and air quality of the space as well as reducing ventilation rates, while requiring only a very small footprint. Innovative Plant Technology has broad-based experience working with architects, landscape architects, engineers and project managers in developing environmentally appropriate interior landscapes.

How large should the living wall be for a typical installation?

There are many factors to be considered in the design process including occupancy rate, floor space (NLA) and fresh air ventilation requirements. We will work with you to ensure a successful installation, delivering fresh clean breathable air to building occupants.

Page 7: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

How much maintenance does an iplant Living Wall Biofilter®

require? Correctly designed and installed, monthly maintenance is usually sufficient after the initial settling-in period of about one month with weekly observations. We will prepare a maintenance schedule to ensure low risk management for the client and guidelines for the maintenance contractor.

What are the main benefits of iplant Living Wall Biofilter®?

• The major benefit is a continuous supply of fresh, clean “breathable

air” free of the usual harmful contaminants, present in the indoor air of most buildings.

• An increase in the indoor oxygen (O2 ) levels for better quality air and a

reduction in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) exhaled by building occupants.

• Relative humidities in the 40% to 50% range (which are the least

favourable to the survival of many viruses), while contributing to thermal comfort of occupants.

• Reduced ventilation requirements, resulting in significant energy

savings.

Page 8: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

What about the plant species and growing requirements?

We’re glad you asked this question. We supply our extensive horticultural expertise and research

for you to draw on, together with an in-depth knowledge of building air quality issues, to ensure a

healthy thriving biofilter living wall.

For example, plant lighting is crucial in the proper functioning of the living wall, and is a generally

poorly resolved issue in many commercial buildings.

We bring real world experience for correct horticultural lighting requirements, with a thorough

knowledge of plant lighting, measurement and analysis, day-lighting, skylights, glazing and

supplementary lighting systems.

VALUE GENERATED

The iplant Living Wall Biofilter® is a new approach to providing clean ‘breathable’ air in buildings,

addressing a longstanding issue for building occupants.

Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd is dedicated to assisting medium to large scale organizations

in improving indoor air quality for a healthy and productive workplace, with reduced energy costs.

When you engage Innovative Plant Technology Pty Ltd, you partner with a specialist to deliver an

effective iplant Living Wall Biofilter® system to achieve Green Star IEQ and contribute to environmental

sustainability for your client or in your business.

A successful iplant Living Wall Biofilter® installation will deliver an effective plant-based biofiltration

system to improve and maintain good ‘breathable’ indoor air, supplementing conventional air filters,

by removing gaseous air pollutants and airborne particulate matter.

NEXT STEP: Contact Innovative Plant Technology +612 9654 1264 or e-mail [email protected]

Page 9: Architects Q&A

Innovative Plant Technologywww.plantscleanair.com

Innovative Plant Technology

www.plantscleanair.com

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