Located at the University of Guelph-Humber, the plant wall, also known as the living wall, is a new form of technology that uses a biological system to filter indoor air. Alan Darlington, who maintains multiple University of Guelph degrees, and is also the inventor of the plant wall says, “that eye-catching ‘plant wall’ extending from top to bottom at one end of the four-story building's atrium will provide lush relief year-round. Beyond esthetics, the bio-filter will help clean and freshen the air in the building, and is expected to help reduce the school's air-conditioning bill.” The Guelph-Humber plant wall is one of the largest and a part of the fourth installations that Darlington and his company completed. The plant wall is approximately 150-square-meters and it consists of roughly over 1,000 individual living plants. The plant wall creates a form of fresh indoor air by improving air quality. The plant wall acts like a bio-filter and purifies the air that circulates around the building. Working like a humidifier, the plant wall warms the air in the winter and also cools the buildings air during the summer. The living wall also reduces the threat of airborne pollutants simply by creating a more esthetically pleasing environment. The wall also successfully saves energy by lowering the need of bringing new air into the building.
Method of operation
A structure called “plenum” supports and distributes the airflow through the plant wall; a synthetic media covers this “plenum” or structure. Ferns, foliage and flowering plants are planted hydroponically (without soil) into the synthetic media. The plants are than fed through a circulating nutrient solution. The buildings air handling system that the plant wall is connected to, removes dirty air. While that process is happening, the plant leaves utilize CO2 in the air for photosynthesis and oxygen is also released back into the building.