Snow-covered streets, biting cold – winter is definitely here. What’s more, it’s peak season for dry air at our workplaces and in our homes. Not only does this feel unpleasant, but it also weakens our immune systems. It’s high time we did something about it! And we happen to know the healthiest and most reliable humidifiers out there: plants.
Headaches, lethargy, red eyes, a scratchy throat: these are just some of the symptoms that lots of people may be unfortunate enough to suffer when working in closed offices, which are practically the norm these days. The culprit is dry air. In winter, indoor air humidity can plummet below 40% due to the extreme dryness of the air outside and warm air from central heating systems. This results in a wide range of acute complaints, such as headaches, red eyes and tickly throats, plus a heightened susceptibility to infections.
Unfortunately, even ventilating indoor spaces well won’t solve the problem. You need to take additional measures to increase the air humidity effectively, and to keep it that way. But you don’t need an expensive, bulky and perhaps noisy appliance to do it. Plants provide the simplest and most natural solution. They are constantly releasing water into the air via the surface of their leaves, automatically increasing our wellbeing and boosting our immune system as they do so.
If we’re talking effective air humidifiers from the plant world, then the PRIMA KLIMA® plant (Cyperus) from Hydroplant is a prime example. This is a special variety of sedge developed over 10 years of cultivation in Germany. It releases water vapor at a rate ten times faster than other sedges. A fully grown PRIMA KLIMA® plant can evapotranspire up to two liters of water a day. At the same time, it significantly reduces the CO2 content of the indoor air. As a nice side effect, the higher the air humidity, the warmer the room will feel. At 22°C and 30% humidity, you’ll feel pretty cold, but at 40% we perceive the atmosphere as cozy and comfortable. Ensuring sufficient humidity not only makes rooms feel warmer, but it’s likely to save you extra heating costs, too.
There are all sorts of ways of integrating indoor greenery into room designs. It might come in the form of pot plants…
… plant wall art…
… a green wall…
… or a leafy sitting area.
But do you actually know how many plants it takes to ensure optimal indoor air humidity of around 40% in your space? Our experts will be happy to help you work it out. We use a number of parameters to calculate how many plants you need in your office space. The size of the space, any windows, the number of people working there, and the type of heating and how much you use it are all factors to consider. We cast an eye over all of the relevant details so that we can guarantee a measurable and palpable improvement in the air humidity and ambiance at your premises.
There’s nothing to stop you choosing plants as your humidifying solution and enjoying a better indoor climate as a result, even in winter.