A. Introduction
- My name is Victor Ben Eke, this is a project on “The possible effect of incorporating green space into indoor space at Thompson rivers university”
- problem: Harsh Canadian weather, stress among students/staff, and the need for improved indoor environments.
- Goal: To propose the incorporation of green spaces into TRU’s indoor areas to improve well-being, productivity, and comfort.
B. Key Benefits
- Stress Alleviation and Productivity Increase
According to Brooke et al (2022), 45.6% of students in Canadian post-secondary education reported having stress levels that were above average in 2019
Lohr et al (1996) reported that subjects that completed a task in the presence of interior plants (therefore, plants installed indoors) had lower systolic blood pressures than their counterparts who were tested in the absence of indoor plants. This reflects that indoor plants can alleviate stress because systolic blood pressures, as intimated by Lohr et al (1996), rise when individuals engage in stressful activities.
Lohr et al (1996) found that the subjects tested in the presence of plants had reaction times to the given task that were quicker than the reaction times of the subjects tested in the absence of plants (12% quicker).
- Indoor Comfort
Plants improve the state and quality of the air breathed in the environment. This is the reason why the Government of Canada has started a program to plant two billion trees over the course of ten years, as stated by Government of Canada (2023). If greeneries (not necessarily of the size and mass of trees) are incorporated into indoor spaces at Thompson River University, students and staff will breathe fresher air indoors. This would be most profitable during the cold winters in Canada when people can hardly breathe outside without suffering feats of cold and flu afterwards
- Boosting Focus/Concentration
Another noteworthy benefit that indoor plants provide is boosting focus/enhancing concentration. This was confirmed by Jung and Awad (2021), who found in a research that learning concentration improved by 120% when indoor plants were present. This finding highlights the gross impact that indoor plants have on the learning experiences of students and shows the prospects that indoor plants pose for the betterment of Thompson Rivers University
C. Addressing Potential Difficulties
According to Bass (2016) Thompson Rivers University’s attempt at installing green spaces failed due to the costs of maintenance that the indoor plants accrued. This could be a potential difficulty if this project is undertaken again. Nonetheless, I propose that Thompson Rivers University continues with the project still because of the paramount benefits that indoor plants provide.
Recommendations
- Employ the exact species of plants used in Lohr et al. (1996) to ensure stress alleviation and increased productivity. Recommended species: Aglaonema sp.,Chamaedorea sefrizii , Dracaena marginata, Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’[…]
- Use smaller plants to reduce maintenance costs while still providing the benefits of greenery.
- Place plants in high-traffic areas (e.g., classrooms, offices, library) to maximize coverage and efficiency.
- Ensure proper spacing to allow plants to emit carbon dioxide effectively during respiration
- Develop a regular maintenance schedule (e.g., weekly, monthly, or quarterly) to ensure plant health and performance.
- Collaborate with facilities management or hire a part-time horticulturist for supervision.