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Environmental Performance Comparison of Active Living Wall and Commercial Air Purifier: Life Cycle Assessment Study

by Mehzabeen Mannan, Sami G. Al-Ghamdi
Conference Year: 2022 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43559-1_16

Abstract

Indoor air pollution in buildings poses a significant risk to human health and well-being, as it comprises a wide range of particulate matter, gaseous contaminants, mold, and pollen. Various strategies have been employed to address indoor air quality concerns, such as minimizing pollution sources, dilution, utilizing air cleaning devices, and implementing vertical greening systems. However, integrating sustainability into these air cleaning methods remains a crucial challenge. In light of this challenge, this study conducts a life cycle assessment to compare the environmental performance of two indoor air cleaning methods: commercial air purifiers (CAP) and active living walls (ALW). The results reveal the potential environmental benefits of employing ALW in indoor spaces, compared to commercially available air purifiers. Although the production impacts of CAP are relatively lower than those of ALW in this study, the comprehensive evaluation of the entire product life cycle demonstrates the significantly higher overall impacts of CAP. This preliminary investigation aims to assist building professionals by providing a framework for estimating the environmental cost associated with two distinct indoor air purification methods. By highlighting the advantages of ALW over CAP, this study contributes valuable insights into sustainable approaches for enhancing indoor air quality.

Keywords

Life cycle assessment (LCA) Active living wall Commercial air purifier Indoor air quality