The impact of plants on the humidity of naturally-ventilated office indoor environments

Berger, J., Essah, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1349-5167 and Blanusa, T. (2024) The impact of plants on the humidity of naturally-ventilated office indoor environments. Journal of Building Engineering, 86. 108814. ISSN 2352-7102 doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108814

Abstract/Summary

This study investigated the seasonal impact of indoor plants on the humidity and air temperature of three naturally-ventilated, unoccupied offices, with low air exchange rates. The introduction of 12 Ficus or 6 Epipremnum plants resulted in a small but significant increase in the office’s (28 m3) moisture content, measured every 5 minutes for 24-hour periods for up to six test days during spring and winter, compared to the days without plants. Depending on the season, plants emitted between 35 g (in winter) and 68 g (in summer) of moisture via evapo-transpiration (ET), per plant, per day. In summer, however, due to higher room air exchange rates, we did not detect significant impact of plants despite higher plants’ ET rates. Most of the moisture emitted from the plants in all seasons was removed through room air exchange and moisture sorption. Air exchange rate had a greater impact on indoor RH than plants. Additional controlled-environment chamber studies showed there is a significant difference in the humidification capacity between five different indoor plant species. Leafy Epipremnum had the highest ET rate under all tested environmental conditions and would have the greatest humidification potential for indoor environments. Succulent Sansevieria had the lowest ET rate, not significantly higher than bare substrate; this species would present a good choice for environments where a low moisture contribution is required. ET rates were highest at low ambient humidity and high temperatures; thus, the greatest water vapour contribution by plants would be made to hot, dry indoor environments and lower in cool rooms with high humidity levels.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/115288
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108814
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of the Built Environment > Energy and Environmental Engineering group
Publisher	Elsevier
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item