Biowall

Background: Tightly sealed buildings have a tendency to suffer from poor air quality specifically buildup of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The current solution to poor indoor air quality is dilution by outdoor ventilation which uses approximately 20 percent outdoor ventilation air. The cost of heating or cooling this outdoor air represents between 10 and 20 percent of the total energy consumption of a building. Application of biological filtration systems has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption. The "biowall" is a botanical air filtration system that uses plants placed in a vertical wall to remove chemicals from tightly sealed buildings. Return air from the building is drawn through the living plant wall where hazardous chemicals are removed by the plants. The filtered air is then recirculated throughout the building using the central heating and cooling system. Evidence suggests that use of a biowall in conjunction with 5 percent outdoor air ventilation provides the same air quality as 20 percent outdoor air ventilation. The biowall has the potential to reduce energy consumption up to 15 percent. Besides improving air quality and saving energy the biowall provides a calming ambiance and aesthetic appeal by bringing nature indoors. Technology Description: Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel dehumidification system and custom control strategies to effectively incorporate the biowall into HVAC (heating Ventilation and Air Condition) systems. These improvements elevate the biowall concept making it more effective and marketable. Applications: Whole building air filtration