Breathe In, Breathe Out. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. The air is clean, fresh, inviting. Now open your eyes to the beauty of your lovely plants as they welcome you to enjoy their beauty and their oxygen.
Breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants create the majority of the oxygen we breathe through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants use carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water to create energy. In the process, they also make oxygen which they release into the air.
In today’s eco-conscious world, we have learned that our indoor air quality is not always the healthiest. But rather than relying on air filters alone, why not add a more natural approach as well by adding a few houseplants to help add more oxygen to your environment while also filtering out toxins.
There have been many studies done about the positive effects of using plants to purify indoor air. In 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaborated with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) in a Clean Air Study. Their results provided a conclusive list of plants that are the most effective at purifying indoor air.
The study found that certain tropical plants, which are commonly used as houseplants, effectively remove formaldehyde, trichloroethane, benzene, and other pollutants from the air and replace them with breathable oxygen. The report suggests having at least one plant at every hundred square feet of space.
Here you will find the top 5 best purifying plants listed from NASA’s list of 29 that were found to be most authentic and widely accepted all over the world.
- Florist’s Chrysanthemum*, also known as mums, was one of the most effective plants that remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene ammonia, xylene, toluene, and several other known pollutants from the air.
- The Peace Lily*, a popular indoor plant in the Araceae plant family, is one of the most effective plants that remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and ammonia, xylene, toluene, and several other known pollutants.
- English Ivy* is a flowering plant species in the Araliaceae family, native to most of Europe and western Asia. English Ivy was one of the most effective plants that remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
- Red-edged Dracaena or Dragon Tree is native to South Asia. It is an easy-to-care-for houseplant that does well in diverse weather conditions. Dracaena Marginata is efficient in removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
- Snake Plant* or Sansevieria is one of the hardiest and a perfect indoor plant that does not require bright or sunlight and frequent watering. It was one of the most effective air purifier plants that remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
*24 Hour Oxygen Bonus: 4 out of the 5 Plants listed above provide Oxygen at Night
Plants release oxygen during the day in the presence of natural light through the process of photosynthesis. While at night, the plants uptake oxygen and release carbon dioxide, which is called respiration.
However, some plants can uptake carbon dioxide during the night because of their ability to perform a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). Having these plants in your home improves air quality throughout the day and helps people sleep better at night.
If you do not have a green thumb but want to enhance the air quality in your home, Clarksville Heating & Air is always here to help you maintain your Air Filters at the time of your semi-annual system maintenance or adding a whole-house air purifier such as the iWave.
As the season starts to bloom around us, we inspire you to take a deep relaxing breath and bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.
