We spend so much time focused on the type of food we eat and how much exercise we do (or don’t) partake in, but how much time do we spend taking a good, hard look at the health of the physical spaces we occupy day in and day out? We spend an average of 87% of our time indoors. That’s why taking stock of the physical space around you and making sure it’s as healthy as it can be is crucial to your overall well-being. Sick Building Syndrome is growing concern in office spaces and commercial buildings, adversely affecting the health and productivity of its occupants.
The Environmental Protection Agency defines Sick Building Syndrome as “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.” Ranging from coughs to headaches, even dizziness or nausea, these symptoms tend to dissipate when the occupants are no longer inside the building space.
So how does a building become “sick”? Common items used in the construction and furnishing of office buildings, such as carpeting, adhesives, certain cleaning products, etc. omit air pollutants known as Volatile Organic Chemicals. A building’s air circulation and ventilation system can also attribute to the issue by possibly bringing outside pollutants, like exhaust, into the building.
Is there a cure? The good news is adding interior landscaping to indoor spaces has been directly shown to reduce Sick Building Syndrome by up to 25%. Plants are natural air purifiers, removing toxins and pollutants from the air. Tropical plants, in particular, are good at removing volatile organic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and the like from indoor spaces. A minimal investment in a quality interior landscaping plan can provide a healthier (and more beautiful) environment for employees, tenants, customers and clients. Healthier employees are happier employees, and healthy, happy employees are productive employees.
We are always available to facilitate a complimentary walk-through of your space and provide a free estimate of our services. You can reach us at 240-531-2066 or sales@superiorplantings.com.