Article excerpts from “This is How Interior Greens and Plantscaping Can Help achieve the SDGs” by Thursd.
Sustainability and the Role of Interior Greens
In the drive towards a more sustainable future, much attention has, often, been given to the role of green spaces, renewable energy, and emissions reduction. However, interior greens are an important — yet usually overlooked — piece of the sustainability puzzle. Integrating living plants inside built environments can play a vital part in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Strategically incorporating living plants into offices, homes, hospitals, schools, and other indoor spaces, helps address numerous sustainability targets and work towards a more sustainable future. Beyond bettering the conditions of the public and private spaces that humans inhabit, interior greens have another crucial role in balancing environmental, social, and economic development. Essentially, these interior green plants are good for humans and the planet.
Let's explore some of the key ways in which interior greens can support sustainable practices:
Well-Being Indoors
Numerous studies have shown that the presence of greenery in both work and living environments can reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue while boosting mood, cognitive function, and overall life satisfaction. This is particularly important given the mental health challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and ‘nature deficit disorder’ in many parts of the world. Integrating biophilic design principles, and natural elements like plants into the built environment, helps create healthier, more restorative indoor spaces that support SDGs on good health and well-being.
Energy Efficiency
Strategic placement and selection of plant species can contribute to energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. For example, interior plants can provide natural cooling through evapotranspiration, which reduces the need for air conditioning and its associated energy uses. Moreover, living walls have been shown to enhance the thermal performance of buildings. They help regulate indoor temperatures and minimize heating and cooling demands. This, in turn, supports the transition to affordable and clean energy sources
Livable Cities
Bringing living plants into the design of urban buildings, offices, and public spaces, helps create more pleasant, healthy, and resilient environments for people to live, work, and thrive. What’s more, interior greens can help mitigate noise pollution, and improve air quality. This is crucial for enhancing the sustainability and livability of cities. These interior green plants can also provide psychological and social benefits. They nurture a deeper connection to nature and promote community cohesion.
Promoting Ecosystems
While the focus of interior greens is primarily on their impacts on the built environment, they could also contribute to the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. Many indoor plant species are grown in nurseries or propagated from wild populations, sourced from jungles and forests. The processes involved in 'domesticating', propagating, and growing previously wild plants in nurseries provide an alternative market and reduce pressures on natural habitats.
The urban greening movement spurred by the inclusion of interior plantscaping can help increase overall vegetation cover and biodiversity within cities, which complements the efforts to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Economically Responsible
Using sustainable materials — and products — is a crucial aspect of sustainable interior design. This involves sourcing materials from environmentally responsible manufacturers that promote safe production processes and ethically sound business practices. Bamboo which can be grown indoors, for example, is a rapidly renewable resource that can be used in different ways including for home construction purposes.
Furthermore, interior designers can use reclaimed or recycled materials, which are often more affordable without compromising on quality. Reducing the raw materials needed for new products minimizes environmental impact.
Greening Interiors for a Sustainable Future
Through sustainable practices, interior designers can create spaces that are eco-friendly, healthier for occupants, and economically responsible.
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) advocates for sustainability in design, believing it is now more fundamental to every design approach. That said, a sustainable future with interior greens and plantscaping at its core is realizable.
Full article at: Thursd.com