5 Benefits of Having Green Spaces in Buildings

Indoor and outdoor greenery in buildings is more than just aesthetics.Modern architecture recognizes the importance of incorporating nature into the building. Engineers and architects do this by incorporating "green spaces" into the design, often enlisting the help of plant and moss wall suppliers to achieve the look.

To better understand the role of greenery in building construction, here are the benefits of having plants inside and outside the structure:

1. Plants reduce stress
According to research done by a group of Korean scientists, indoor plants are shown to reduce psychological and physiological stress in young adults. Seeing and interacting with plants in the workplace helps employees feel more at ease, which can significantly reduce the risk of a burn-out. Consequently, an employee that is less stressed is more likely to be productive and "mentally-present" in the workplace.

2. Greenery improves air quality
Green buildings play a significant part in improving the air quality in cities as well as reducing the temperature in the immediate area. A pair of structures that are incorporated with green spaces, like gardens, moss walls, or green facades, can reduce as much as 20% of air pollutants between them. Moreover, green buildings help to decrease the temperature in the area by absorbing heat, providing shade, and evapotranspiration.

3. Green roofs add value to the building
A green roof can act as a buffer for rainwater. When the vegetation blankets on the roof absorb rain, the water passes through the plants before going down the sewage, which helps to prevent flooding. Furthermore, a green roof can reflect around 30% of the sunlight it receives, which helps to lower the ambient temperature and increase the efficiency of the cooling system in the building. Both of these features add significant value to the building itself.

4. Plants can block noise
Indoor plants are used to reduce background noise, which can be a significant problem for concentration in the office. On the other hand, exterior plants are used to reduce the entry of outside noise, especially in busy cities. The resulting silence is an excellent contributor to better productivity.

5. It helps the environment
Increasing plant life in places where greenery is scarce, such as in mega cities that don't have enough nature, helps these environments cope with air pollution. Aside from giving us the oxygen that we breathe, plants also perform the following functions:

• They absorb carbon dioxide from the air
• They can increase the humidity in the air
• They can reduce pollutants such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide
• They keep the temperatures cool
• They can reduce the dust in the air
• They can absorb harmful volatile organic compounds
• They can serve as food for city wildlife
• They can absorb toxins from the air

Plants are not mainly used for decoration. While this is one of their primary functions, both indoor and outdoor plants serve a more important purpose. By incorporating green elements inside and outside your building, you can increase the productivity of your workers while maintaining a healthy environment.