With only three varieties of plants, we can “grow our own fresh air” indoors, to keep us healthy. Presented at TED 2009.

1. how to grow your own fresh air
how to grow your own fresh air
Kamal Meattle
meattle@pbcnet.com
photo credit: Rhys Jones (http://flickr.com/photos/rhys400d/420425672/)

2. Why? Pollution
I live in New Delhi, India, and I became allergic
to the ambient air
It was killing me
g
My lung capacity had gone down to 70%

3. Research – IIT, TERI, NASA
The Discovery
y
With only three varieties of plants, we can
“grow our own fresh air” indoors, to keep us
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healthy
This also allows us to have reduced fresh air supplied to buildings and yet
meet Industry standards for healthy indoor air.

4. Which are these plants?
“The Living Room Plant” “The Bedroom Plant” “The Specialist Plant”
Areca Palm Mother‐in‐law's Tongue Money Plant
(Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) (Sansevieria trifasciata) (Epipremnum aureum)
For more information on these plants, visit:
http://www.greenspaces.in/blog/ted09/

5. The Results
Tried and tested these plants for 15 years at:
Paharpur Business Centre and Software Technology Incubator
Paharpur Business Centre and Software Technology Incubator
Park, New Delhi, India
It is a 20 year old, 50,000 ft2 b ildi
It i 20 ld 50 000 ft building
Over 1,200 plants for 300 building occupants

6. The Results – Health & Productivity
Study found that there is a 42% probability of increasing blood
oxygen by 1% if one is inside the building for 10 hours
Rated healthiest building in Delhi by the Government of India*
Compared to other buildings in Delhi, the incidence of:
Compared to other buildings in Delhi the incidence of:
Eye irritation 52%
Respiratory symptoms
Ri 34%
Headaches 24%
Lung impairment 12%
Asthma 9%
*Study published on September 8, 2008 by The Govt. of India, Central Pollution Control Board and
*
Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India

7. The Results – Energy Conservation
Our experience points to an amazing increase in human
productivity resulting from using these plants to be >20%,
productivity resulting from using these plants to be >20%,
and energy costs to reduce by an extraordinary >15%
Learn more about the study or check on today’s indoor air quality at
http://www.pbcnet.com

8. The Future
We’re now replicating this concept in a much larger
1.75 million ft2 building
We intend to use over 60,000 indoor plants!
We intend to use over 60,000 indoor plants!
Follow our progress at
http://www.greenspaces.in/blog

9. Why? Buildings and Climate Change
World energy demand is expected to grow by
30% in the next decade. Buildings consume 40%
30% in the next decade Buildings consume 40%
of the world’s energy*
In another 15 years, more than 60% of the world’s
pp
population will be living in cities of over 1 million
g
inhabitants
There is a growing preference for living and working
in air‐conditioned spaces
*source: United Nations Environment Program, March 2007

10. “Be the change you want to see in the world”
‐ Mahatma Gandhi
thank you for listening
Kamal Meattle | meattle@pbcnet.com
photo credit: Rhys Jones (http://flickr.com/photos/rhys400d/420425672/)