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Enviro Doctor completes national
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Relese - The Benefits of Plants
in the Workplace
'THIS EARTH DAY ADOPT A PLANT! PLANTS CLEAN
THE AIR AROUND YOU, BOOST HEALTH AND CREATIVITY!'
LOS ANGELES, CA - April 21, 2004 - --According
to the following body of research assembled by
Plants at Work (http://www.plantsatwork.org),
simply Adopting a Plant This Earth Day is a serious
way to positively impact your environment, your
employees and your loved ones. "And if every
employee urges their boss to adopt new plants,
they will be greatly appreciated for the suggestion,"
says Plants at Work spokesperson, MJ Gilhooley.
The EPA identified the most common indoor toxins,
with formaldehyde being the most predominant.
Plants at Work shares the following extraordinary
toxin removal rates found in common interior plants.
The number following each plant species indicates
micrograms of formaldehyde removed from the air
per hour: Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
1385; Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifriziil) 1350;
Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis) 1328; Peace
lily (Spathiphyllum "Clevelandii") 937.
Dr. Bill Wolverton, former NASA Scientist and
President of Wolverton Environmental Services,
suggest that everyone have a plant on his or her
desk, within what he calls the "personal
breathing zone." This is an area of six to
eight cubic feet where you spend most of your
working day. Jon Naar, author of Design for A
Livable Planet: How You Can Help Clean Up the
Environment (Harper & Row), suggests that
15 to 20 plants are enough to clean the air in
a 1,500 square foot area.
Professor Tove Fjeld of the Agricultural University
in Oslo, Norway carried out several conclusive
studies regarding health claims relating to Sick
Building Syndrome among office workers. This crossover
study was conducted among 51 offices over two
years. When plants were included in the offices,
study participants were exposed to 13 commonly
used foliage plants. The score sum of 12 symptoms
was 23% lower during the period when the participants
had plants in their offices. This translated into
a 14% decrease in absenteeism.
Dr. Roger Ulrich, Director of the Center for
Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M University
found that problem-solving skills, idea generation
and creative performance improve substantially
in workplace environments that include flowers
and plants. In his studies, both men and women
demonstrated more innovative thinking in the presence
of plants than they did in an environment with
art sculpture or no decorative objects.
The group also points to another recent study
by Dr. Ulrich, sponsored by the Society of American
Florists indicating that problem-solving skills,
idea generation and creative performance improve
substantially in workplace environments that include
flowers and plants. In his studies, both men and
women demonstrated more innovative thinking in
the presence of plants than they did in an environment
with art sculpture or no decorative objects.
Research by Dr. Virginia Lohr of Washington State
University (Pullman, Wash.) also found that productivity
could be enhanced by as much as 12% in the presence
of plants. Study participants also reported feeling
more attentive when plants were present.
About Plants at Work
Plants at Work is a national information campaign
created to inform professionals and the public
about the important benefits of plants in the
workplace.
Company Website: http://www.plantsatwork.org
Plants at Work Press Contact:
MJ Gilhooley
Coordinator, Media Relations
email: mj@plantsatwork.org
voice: 800-347-9014
Please read recent national press regarding this
found at the www.plantsatwork.org
Enviro Doctor completes national
plant roll-out!
Bad air was once believed to be the cause of
disease. After much research and experimenting,
this “bad air” has become recognised
as a legitimate health problem. This “bad
air” which is more likely to be detrimental
to health indoors than outdoor air has been labelled
Sick Building Syndrome.
The team at Enviro Doctor are firm believers
in the fact that the effective use of living indoor
plants can reduce, if not eliminate, the effects
of Sick Building Syndrome. Much research and experimentation
has demonstrated conclusively that organisations
will experience improved staff satisfaction, higher
staff retention and increased productivity among
employees through the discreet use of living plants.
Health problems identified as being a result
of Sick Building Syndrome include hay fever, headaches,
asthma, stuffy noses, dry throat and lethargy.
When indoor air quality poses a health risk for
employees, organisations should devise a strategy
to counteract such risks.
The effective use of living indoor plants is
a relatively simple option in improving indoor
air quality. Not only can plants improve air quality
through absorbing pollutants from the air and
disposing of them through their root system, plants
also make for a better working environment as
natural humidifiers and promote a warm and caring
ambiance.
St George Bank Limited, one of Australia’s
banking organisations, has taken a national approach
to creating a better working environment. This
has been achieved by working with Enviro Doctor
and its facility managers, TEMPO Facility Services,
to devise and implement a national strategy to
reduce the effects of Sick Building Syndrome and
improving the working environment. This is the
first time that an organisation has made the decision
to incorporate living plants as a specific requirement
when planning building and office fitouts.
Enviro Doctor has worked closely with St George
Bank and Tempo over recent months to achieve a
simple and managable plant response at a national
level. A first in Australia.
*Through the maintenance contract between Enviro
Doctor and TFS, St George Bank, employees will
be guaranteed a higher quality of air leading
to improved health. Enviro Doctor is committed
to the maintenance of all plants placed under
the contract and is extremely proactive in plant
rotation to ensure that all plants are functioning
at their peak level at all times.
With organisations such as St George Bank Limited
taking such a positive step in ensuring a better
working environment, employees can look forward
to enjoying a better and more satisfying workplace,
which will benefit their health and lead to higher
productivity.
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News
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Envirodoctor has completed two installations which
will be featured using
the same configuration from the Olympics for semi
permanent outdoor
installations.
Check out the new installation on the 8th floor
123 Pitt Street on instructions from Incorp Developments
Pty Limited for Dibbs Barker Gosling, solicitors.
They have also made an appearance at the Australian
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, and
probably the best thing about them is the price.
Register
online for more information.
•
Dibbs Barker Gosling
•
Australian National Maritime
Museum
|
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