Function

More than 10 years have passed since the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental threats to public health and one of the largest remaining health risks in the United States. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology also noted that 50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality.  An indoor air environment is a complex soup containing over two hundred different chemicals. These chemicals are emitted from furniture, building materials (fabrics, plywood, paints, carpeting etc.), occupants and certain activities performed within the space. Many of these chemicals, commonly referred to as "volatile organic compounds" (VOCs), are suspected cancer-causing agents. VOCs will negatively impact the well-being of occupants if allowed to accumulate unchecked.

Traditionally, the build-up of VOCs is counteracted by ventilation, the introduction of "fresh" outside air into the building, diluting accumulating contaminants. Frequently, this additional flow of air must be heated or cooled (depending on the season) prior to its introduction into the building, representing a substantial amount of consumed energy.  Also, the ventilation approach relies on good outside air quality, which is not always found in industrial areas, or areas with high levels of vehicular traffic.

Our living walls break down VOCs, through the process of biofiltration. In controlled laboratory studies, our system removed up to 90% of VOCs in a single pass.  This technology is based upon nature’s inherent ability to repair itself when it is stressed or damaged. Self-rejuvenation is responsible for keeping outside air "fresh". Through careful design, we’ve been able to integrate these cleansing capabilities directly into the building’s air handling system, creating cleaner air flow. An Active Living Wall integrates the beneficial biological processes responsible for cleaning outdoor air thereby offering a sustainable, energy efficient means of controlling indoor contaminants.

Nedlaw Living Walls: World Leaders in Cleaning Air, Naturally™.

Dr. Alan Darlington Speaking on Function.