Benefits of Plants:
Going green benefits businesses in myriad ways
Aside from the aesthetic appeal of flowering plants and foliage, going green benefits businesses in myriad ways:
| > | Increased Worker Productivity Employees are less likely to linger at the water cooler if they are surrounded by greenery. According to Dr. Virginia Lohr of Washington State University, plants in the workplace increase employee productivity by 12%. The reduction in excess carbon dioxide equals improved concentration and creativity. Researchers at Texas A&M University confirm the positive effect of plants on worker productivity. They observed a increase of 15% in ideas from males and significantly more innovative problem solving among females in green workplaces. |
| > | Plants Provide a Natural Solution to Cleaner Air Live plants, nature’s air purifiers reduce these toxins from carpets, wallboards, paint, copiers, and cleaning supplies, assimilating them into their root system.; NASA notes that the addition of plants in a sealed space reduces high levels of toxins within hours.; And it only takes one plant per 100 square feet to produce this effect.; Plants also regulate humidity, reducing mold and restoring optimal moisture levels (Occupational Health and Safety, February 2005).; Consult your Botanicus horticultural technician for advice on plant selection, but remember that a wide variety of plants is most effective. |
| > | Reduced Absenteeism and Illness Tired of those 6 AM telephone calls from ailing employees who can’t make it to work? A few plants, strategically placed in the work area can drastically reduce health problems and common colds. The EPA reports that sealed offices are 20-100 times more polluted than outdoor air. These pollutants cause eye irritation, lung and upper respiratory problems, allergies, colds, and viruses, accounting for 40% of absenteeism. |
| > | Noise Reduction There’s no need to wear headphones to muffle the office din. Plants absorb the noise, reducing it by 5 decibels and calming jangled nerves. |
| > | Increased Employee Retention and Satisfaction Employees may not forego vacations for work, but they are less likely to look for another job if they are surrounded by greenery. Dr. Roger S. Ulrich of Texas A&M University reports that simply looking at plants significantly lowers blood pressure, reducing stress within minutes. In today’s fast-paced business environment, it’s a lot healthier, cheaper and faster than Valium. |
| > | Increased Sales Green generates green. Retail customers visit green shops more often, tarry longer, and perceive product quality to be 30% higher. Invest in a few plants and shoppers will pay 12% more for merchandise, adding green to your coffers (Engel et al, 1990). |
| > | Improved Image Looks do count. Researchers at England’s Oxford Brookes University confirm that buildings with interior landscaping appear more expensive, more inviting, more comfortable. |
| > | Inexpensive Facelift Conceal what you don’t want to reveal. Design flaws, unsightly wires and cables are easily camouflaged with live foliage. Plants can also define traffic patterns or demarcate a work space without incurring expensive construction costs. |