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Indoor Air Quality
The University of Technology in Sydney has been studying the link between indoor plants and envi- ronmental quality for more than two decades.
Research group leader Dr Fraser Torpy said re- cent advancements in technology have taken green walls from “something tokenistic to some- thing genuinely effective.”
He said extensive research found that 206 pot plants were needed to remove enough carbon di- oxide from a large office to have a worthwhile impact on air quality.
“But we’ve found that five square metres of green wall with enough light will remove the same amount of carbon dioxide from the air,” Dr Torpy said.
Interior green walls also have significant im- plications for energy efficiency and carbon re- duction strategies as air-conditioning is driven by the levels of carbon dioxide in the air.
“Plants live on carbon dioxide so the right number of plants can reduce the need for air- conditioning to flush carbon dioxide from the air,” Dr Torpy said.
In partnership with green infrastructure spe- cialist Junglefy, the university is seeking to quan- tify the benefits of a next generation green wall system, called the Breathing Wall.
Tests undertaken by UTS on the Junglefy Breathing Wall has found it delivers some of the highest photosynthetic carbon dioxide removal rates observed in research to date.
Moreover, it removes VOCs at a rate 1.5 times faster than the equivalent volume of pot plants, along with large quantities of particulate mat- ter, one of the most dangerous air pollutants in urban areas.
Lendlease’s new global headquarters at Ba- rangaroo South features a six-metre high interi- or wall covered with more than 5,000 plants. The
wall, installed by Junglefy, is activated using me- chanical fans, which provide uniform air flow.
Junglefy’s managing director Jock Gammon says this process “supercharges” the bacteria and microbes found in the growing media to re- move harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide, particulate matter and volatile organic com- pounds from the air.
“This active ventilation offers all the benefits of a traditional green wall or pot plants – reduc-
ing carbon dioxide levels, filtering out air pollut- ants, as well as cooling and humidifying indoor air, but at a much greater level of efficiency,” Gammon said.
Gammon said the trendline is pointing to- wards plants being “embedded” into the interi- or design of buildings. Advances in lighting help the plants to photosynthesise, while smart sen- sors can track when green walls aren’t getting enough natural light or nutrients. ✺
LEFT TO RIGHT: One Central Park in Sydney boasts the world’s tallest green wall.
Green wall inside Lendlease headquarters at Barangaroo South.
One of many bars in Sydney that have adopted a green wall.
SENSOR TO MEASURE VOC GASES
The ZMOD family of integrated gas sensors promise best-in-class stability and sensitivity for measuring volatile organic compound (VOC) gases.
They are viable for indoor air quality applications, including smart thermostats, air purifiers, smart HVAC equipment and other “smart home” devices.
The ZMOD sensors feature an advanced ASIC-based hardware platform that enables software configurability allowing for a rapid release of new sensing capabilities from one platform.
Also, the sensors are based on IDT’s 12-year history of producing and shipping metal oxide (MOx) materials, which gives ZMOD devices notable sensitivity and reliability.
They are also electrically and chemically tested to ensure consistency from lot to lot and carry complete qualification for harsh use cases such as siloxanes.
The ZMOD4410 is the first member of the ZMOD family. It is available in a 12-pin LGA assembly that measures 3mm x 3mm.
From the ZMOD family of sensors
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
AUGUST 2018
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