A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a very reputable medical publication, found that clean air can help add 5 months to your life.  Multiple factors affect life expectancy, but the findings of the study provide evidence that “improvements in air quality have contributed to measurable improvements in human health and life expectancy in the United States.”

About 17 years ago, Kamal Meattle discovered that he was allergic to the air in Delhi, India.  His doctor’s told him that his lung capacity had dropped to 70% and it was killing him.  With the help of NASA and a team of experts, Kamal discovered 3 common indoor plants are all you need to grow your own fresh air.  >>More ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

1.  Areca Palm removes carbon dioxide and converts it into oxygen.  You need four shoulder-high plants per person.

2.  Mother-in-Law’s Tongue is called “The Bedroom Plant” because it converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night.  You need six to eight waist-high plants per person

3.  Money Plant removes formaldehyde and other volatile chemicals. Best grown using hydroponics.

Care of Plants

• Wipe leaves clean every day or once a week in cleaner air cities.  Layers of dust block sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, which is how plants feed themselves.
• Soil used should be vermi manure (worm poop) or hydroponics
• Place plants outside once every three to four months

Kamal’s Research Findings

Kamal spent the last 15 years researching these plants and their effects on air quality in his own 20 year-old, 50,000 square foot office building in Delhi.  He found that by using 1,200 plants for the 300 office occupants, there was an increase in human productivity by over 20% and reduction in energy requirements by 15% since the office spaces required less fresh air.

Why Is this Important?

The results of Kamal’s study are important on many levels, but the impact on the environment speaks loudly.  Kamal’s mission with his current project, GreenSpaces, is “to reshape the way commercial buildings are designed and built, with a view to reduce impact on environment and contribute to social development and sustainability.”

• 40% of the world’s energy consumption is taken up by buildings
• World’s energy requirements are expected to grow 30% over the next decade
• In the next 15 years, 60% of the world’s population will be living in buildings in cities with populations over 1 million
• A growing preference for living and working in air conditioned places

How to Grow Your Own Fresh Air – TED 2009 Talk