THE PROSPECT OF LIVING FILTERS : Reducing building sector energy demands by improving indoor air quality

Abstract: Today people spend all the more time indoors. Asthma, allergies and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) are affecting an increasing number of people. The remedy for all these affections has long been to increase the volume flow of outdoor air in the ventilation but at the same time cities all over the world are struggling with air pollution and smog rising above endangering levels. Living filters present a new solution where part of the indoor air can be purified and recirculated in a building. This project has compiled research on the area to describe the how and why concerning air purification by plants. Independent research conclude that plants can reduce most hazardous chemical agents in the air. Climate change, global warming and increasing demands on energy performance induces a race for countries and companies to improve energy efficiency in all sectors. To the building engineering sector living filters presents a unique solution to cut ventilation energy loses. A powerful simulation tool IDA ICE was used to estimate the energy saving capacity when a living filter is applied in the lunch room of an office floor. Another simulation software; Comsol Multiphysics was used to illustrate the aspects of ventilation flow when a living filter cabinet is deployed in a room. The simulation results show that for three living filter cabinets each measuring 0,7x0,8x1,73 cm the buildings energy usage is reduced with more than the living filters use to operate. The single room simulations then show how a living filter can be accommodated with both mixing and displacing ventilation. However, these simulations also illustrate the importance of the living filters placement to achieve maximum ventilation efficiency.  The conclusions from this work are that living filters can reduce building sector energy demands and provide significant indoor environmental benefits. The main issue for using living filters is identified to be building regulations putting strict demands on outdoor air flow and that the hygienic function of each living filter must be verified before it may replace outdoor air.