Eliminating toxins in your business office
When you head into the office, is the air you’re breathing clean? Many assume that it is when, in fact, studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have shown that levels of indoor pollutants may be two to five times higher than they are outdoors. You wouldn’t drink impure water, so why breathe in air that isn’t clean? Having healthy air quality in your building offers a number of benefits including reducing respiratory illnesses, decreasing environmental triggers of asthma, lowering energy costs and even promoting a better night’s sleep.
Here are a few simple tips to make the air in your office cleaner:
Formaldehyde free flooring
By swapping out your flooring for bamboo formaldehyde free flooring, you can decrease toxins and produce higher quality air over the long term. San Francisco-based Smith & Fong Co., was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring in China for sale in North America. Bamboo flooring is ideal for business because it’s extremely durable, while still remaining stylish with it’s color, texture and design. It’s also urea formaldehyde-free and available in a variety of models.
Plants
One of the best natural ways to beautify your office and improve air quality is by adding plants. They offer a rich green hue and texture that can dress up any space, and they also filter out common volatile organic compounds for cleaner indoor air. Here are a few of the best plants to use in your place of business:
Aloe vera: This easy-to-grow succulent helps clear out formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based paints, cleaners and other industrial products.
Snake plant: This plant thrives in low light and can also help filter out formaldehyde, which is commonly found in toilet paper, tissues and cleaning products. Put this plant in your bathroom – steamy humid conditions increase it’s air cleaning powers.
Chrysanthemum: If you’re looking to brighten up your office, this flower can do the trick. But this bloom also knows how to filter out benzene.
Weeping fig: Place this plant in your office to help clear pollutants like trichloroethylene that are typically found in carpeting and furniture.
Open the windows
If the weather permits, opening the windows in your office building is a great natural way to create circulation throughout a space. Oftentimes, air-tight buildings can trap pollutants inside. Ventilation can help remove those unwanted pollutants.