We all know that plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It's one reason to keep greenery around the house: to make the air more breathable. Less well-known is that plant roots also improve the air we breath. When roots are exposed to air, they absorb toxins like toluene and formaldehyde and break them down into more benign forms. Two university teams are now exploiting this fact by building appliance-sized "biofilter" units. Researchers at Purdue University have created a Biowall that lives inside a home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Made up of stacked plants growing aeroponically, the wall reduces airborne nasties and could even help reduce energy costs if deployed fully. The Biowall is based on research by Bill Wolverton, an ex-NASA scientist. In the 1970s, NASA realized that sealed space capsules could make astronauts sick if the air wasn't properly recycled. Wolverton looked into using plants for purification and built a 45-foot BioHome to demonstrate his designs.

He's since published several books on the topic, and sells a Plant Purifier system he created. In the past, American homes have been nothing like space ships. Drafty and inefficient, most people didn't need to worry about toxic build-up. Perversely, as homes have become better insulated, they've started to circulate air less effectively. Hence the need for new solutions. The Purdue wall was originally part of a student team's entry into the Solar Decathlon in 2011 and has now been taken on as a standalone project by students and three faculty. It recently won an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is likely to be featured in a show-home that the company Whirlpool is fitting out near Purdue's campus. "If you had a biofilter inside the home to keep the air relatively clean, you could bring in less outside air and therefore save money," says Bill Hutzel, the professor who's overseeing the project. "In the right situation, where a living plant wall was both an aesthetic and functional component, you might have a marketable, viable product."

The plants include English Ivy and Golden Pothos and grow out of commercial filters that are sprayed with water and fertilizer. "The tricky thing to keep the roots moist enough, so they don't completely dry out," Hutzel says. The air, which comes through a home's return air duct, doesn't pass straight through but is kept there awhile, giving the wall time to work its magic. Tests so far have shown the ability to reduce volatile organic compounds by about 15%. A team at Syracuse University has built a similar "botanical air filter." As well as reducing toxics, it reduced heating and cooling costs by 15%, according to one published study. Commercial filters could do a similar job. But Hutzel points out you need to replace them at some point and dispose of something covered in nasty stuff. The plants actually metabolize the pollutants. "The way we're thinking about it is that the Biowall would be the equivalent of a self-cleaning filter," he says. "It would slowly rejuvenate itself over time."

Living in an energy efficient, modern building can have unintendedhawk air duct cleaning peoria ilOne of these side effects is less air flow. honeywell permanent true hepa air purifier 50250Lack of air flow allowshomedics professional hepa air cleaner 75 cadr for indoor air pollution to build up and cause health issues like asthma or In fact, modern furnishings, synthetic building materials, and even your own carpet may carry more chemicals than expected. chemicals can make up to 90 percent of indoor air pollution. discovered that houseplants can absorb harmful toxins from the air, especially in enclosed spaces with little air flow. This study has been the basis for

newer studies about indoor plants and their air cleaning abilities. plants have less horse power than air purifiers, they’re more natural, cost Plants are also known to: increase mood and productivityenhance concentration and memoryreduce stress and fatigue NASA astronauts experience sick building syndrome all the time in their sealed space stations. Sick building syndrome occurs when people who work or live inside a building experience symptoms such as: irritation in the eyes, throat, or nose dry or itchy skin These symptoms usually go away when you leave the building for a certain amount of time. While the cause is unknown, sick building syndrome is known to reduce productivity. NASA recommends two or three plants in 8 to 10-inch pots for every 100 square feet. Some plants are better at removing certain chemicalsHousehold chemicals come from objects and materials like: carpetsgluesovenscleaning solutionssynthetic materials such as plastic, fiber, and

You’ll benefit the most when you include a variety of plants You may want to reconsider air-purifying plants if you have pets such as cats and dogs. Many of these plants can be toxic to them. staff at your local greenhouse about pet-safe and allergy-safe options. also look up which plants are toxic to animals on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants page. An increase in plants can also affect humidity and promoteYou can prevent this by letting the water drain into a pan or a tray, removing excess water regularly, and using sub-irrigation planters. Covering the top of the soil with Spanish moss or aquarium gravel also removes Take the quiz below to see which plant will thrive best in For people who want to try out their green thumb first, these plants may be for you. While they don’t require daily care, most of them will thrive better if they get fertilized once a month. Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) Also known as air plants, spider plants grow quickly and

look great in hanging baskets, especially in your work space. even produce lovely white blossoms. Spider plants have more than 200 species and many of them can survive a little forgetfulness from us. your spider plants two to three times a week. or animals who like to play with swinging things, this plant is safe. newbie green thumb’s dream. This large group of houseplants comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Choose from the tall corn plant, which has interesting markings, or the rainbow plant, which comes in bright purple. the soil damp but not soggy, as too much water is a kiss of death for this Your cat or dog may vomit, salivate more, or have dilated pupils if they eat Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Also known as devil’s ivy, this plant may be as close as plants can get to indestructible. It flourishes in a variety of conditions and can grow up to 8 feet long.  It’s also considered one of the most effective

indoor air purifiers for removing common toxins. when the soil is dry. You can trim the tendrils when the plant gets too this plant out of reach for both cats and dogs. xylene, toluene, benzene, carbon monoxide, and more This small plant from Madagascar is easier to grow outdoors. But if you have a space with bright filtered light, its gracefully arching leaves will make a pretty addition to the room. Plant care: This thirsty plant needs plenty of water during growth, but less in the winter. plants and their leaves are non-toxic to both cats and dogs. carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and more Florist’s chrysanthemums or “mums” are ranked the highest for air purification. They’re shown to eliminate common toxins as well Treat yourself to a fresh pot, as this flower only blooms for about six weeks. Or you can fertilize the pot again in the spring when new growth appears. But without the flowers, it won’t be purifying the

If you don’t want to wait, you might want to just get a new pot. the soil’s moisture every other day, and keep it damp. Even though it has a friendly name, mums are toxic to both cats and dogs. These air-purifying plants are ideal for people who want to spend more time with their plant. All of them require fertilizer once a month, as well as extra care like misting or repotting. Bamboo palms (Chamaedorea seifrizii) This sturdy plant is known for its easy elegance and height. It likes bright, but not direct sunlight, and does have preferences about itsBamboo palms also transpire a healthy dose of moisture into the air, making it a welcome addition in dry winter months.Place bamboo palms where air circulates freely, and mist occasionally to prevent spider mites. palms are safe to keep in a house with pets. benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, chloroform, and more English ivy (Hedera helix) This evergreen climbing plant is well adapted to indoor

Different varieties will prefer different light situations, from bright, indirect light to low-light spaces. It’ll look especially picturesque growing from a hanging basket or around your windowsill. generously during growth, but don’t overwater during the winter. to animals and humans: Although the English ivy thrives almost anywhere, it’s known to cause problems in dogs, farm animals, and humans when eaten. chemicals in the sap can also cause severe contact dermatitis in humans, especially those with sensitive skin. carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and more Rubber plants are evergreen trees from India. roots grow upwards and often become entwined around the plant’s trunk, formingThese plants love bright, filtered light and a little attention now and then. moderately to keep the soil moist, especially in the winter. the leaves and wipe them down to keep them looking pretty. Rubber plants are toxic to cats and dogs.

monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and more These evergreen perennials are native to tropical forests inIn addition to looking patterned and colorful, these pretty plants can remove many common toxins. But caring for these plants may require extra moderately and allow compost to almost dry out before watering. Chinese evergreens like high humidity, a little regular misting, and getting repotted every few years. Chinese evergreen plants are toxic to dogs. In the 1980s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America discovered that peace lilies were one of the top three plants for removing common household toxins, even ammonia. Plant care: Keep soil slightly moist. lilies thrive in most lighting conditions, but too little light can prevent Toxic to animals and humans: Despite its calming name, this beautiful plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and children. It’s best to keep this as an ornamental plant as it can cause burning, swelling, and skin irritation in