Indoor plants support green building in two ways—they bring nature inside, which improves the outlook of many building users, and they help clean the indoor air. Research has shown that indoor plants increase oxygen and humidity, and absorb off-gassed chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.

The following types of plants are recommended for their particular effectiveness in improving air quality (based on a NASA research study and other articles and publications):

• Areca, Reed, and dwarf date palms
• Boston and Australian sword ferns
• Janet Craig dracaena
• Bamboo palm
• English ivy
• Peace lily
• Rubber plant
• Weeping fig
• Chrysanthemum
• Gerbera daisies
• Philodendron
• Spider plant
• Golden pothos

Proper watering and maintenance of plants (including removing dead leaves) are essential to ensure that the pots do not become sources of air quality problems because of mold.

Related Articles

• Improving Indoor Air Quality
• Formaldehyde Use in Building Construction

This article is an excerpt from the book Green Building: Project Planning & Estimating which can be purchased through the RSMeans Bookstore.

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