Effects of window status and indoor plants on air quality, air temperature, and relative humidity: a pilot study

Abstract

Few empirical studies have examined the simultaneous effects of window opening and indoor plants on air characteristics. This study compared the effects of four variables, day/night, window status, plant distance, and number of plants, on air characteristics in a room at a basement via experiments. This was because plants perform photosynthesis during the day, which produces O2 and absorbs CO2, whereas they usually produce only CO2 at night. Moreover, a higher number of potted plants and a shorter distance to the plants are expected to generate greater air purification outcomes. Results included: (1) during the day and at night, the ventilation created by opening a window outperformed the transpiration from indoor plants in temperature reduction and humidity enhancement; (2) placing either three or eight potted plants indoor exhibited greater performance in reducing particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and TVOC levels than opening a window; (3) a shorter distance (1.5 m) to the plant proved more effective in temperature reduction, humidity enhancement, and TVOC purification, whereas a longer distance (3.0 m) was discovered to have more effect on PM2.5 and PM10 reduction; and (4) eight potted plants significantly outperformed three in reducing temperature and increasing humidity.

Keywords

• fine particulate matter (pm2.5)
• particulate matter (pm10)
• total volatile organic compound
• air characteristics
• radermachera hainanensis merr