Silent benefits: how living walls improve acoustics and air quality in Arizona workspaces

In the ever-changing business landscape of Arizona, companies are constantly seeking innovative solutions to increase employee well-being and boost productivity. While beauty often drives initial design choices, the profound benefits of living walls—specifically their impact on acoustics and air quality—are proving to be game-changers for modern workspaces. Plant walls and vertical gardens are transforming office environments into healthier, more focused, and more productive spaces.

How do living walls reduce noise and help with soundproofing?

Open-plan offices, while fostering collaboration, can sometimes lead to excessive noise levels that hinder concentration and increase stress. Good news: living walls make perfect natural sound-dampeners.

The dense foliage, growing medium, and complex structure of green walls absorb and diffuse sound waves, significantly reducing reverberation and echo. For instance, a study published on ResearchGate, evaluating the effect of a living wall on the indoor acoustic environment, revealed that living walls could reduce reverberation time by an average of 0.19-0.47 seconds in critical speech frequencies. The article emphasizes how they serve as versatile tools in architectural acoustic design.

Furthermore, research by Applied Acoustics found that green walls can provide a weighted sound reduction index of up to 15 decibels. A 10 decibel reduction is usually perceived as cutting the sound in half. So, 15 decibels is a significant drop in noise.

Living walls can also provide a sound absorption coefficient of up to 0.40. What does this mean? A coefficient of 0 means no sound is absorbed (it all bounces back), and 1.00 means all sound is absorbed. So, 0.40 means the green wall absorbs 40% of the sound hitting it, which is quite effective for softening a room’s acoustics.

In short, plants outperform many common building materials when it comes to noise reduction. For Arizona businesses aiming to improve employee focus and reduce auditory distractions, living walls are an effective, sustainable, and attractive option.

How do living walls enhance air quality?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical concern in tightly sealed, air-conditioned buildings, especially in Arizona’s climate, where windows are often kept shut. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted by furniture, carpets, cleaning products, and electronics can accumulate, leading to headaches, fatigue, and “sick building syndrome.” Living walls provide a powerful, natural filtration system.

• Pollutant Removal: Plants are remarkably effective at absorbing airborne toxins. An article by MDPI found that active green walls, particularly those using specific plant species, can achieve VOC reduction efficiencies of up to 96.34%. These harmful compounds are absorbed through leaves and roots, with microorganisms in the growing medium also playing a vital role in breaking them down.
• Particulate Matter Trapping: The vast surface area of leaves and stems can capture airborne dust particles, allergens, and other particulate matter, preventing them from being inhaled. A review from Bilingual Publishing Group indicated that green walls are generally effective in removing air pollutants, including particulate matter, in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Humidity Regulation: Plants naturally transpire. This means they “sweat” or release water vapor into the air through tiny pores on their leaves. In dry Arizona environments, this can help regulate indoor humidity levels, which alleviates issues like dry skin and respiratory irritation.

When people choose to invest in a living wall, they are really investing in their team’s physical and mental health, leading to fewer sick days and higher overall productivity.

Why are living walls so popular in Arizona?

While the benefits are universal, living walls offer particular advantages for Arizona workspaces. In hot climates, ensuring optimal indoor air quality is paramount. Living walls are associated with improved thermal performance. This means they act as an insulating layer, which helps lower heat transfer both into the building during summer and out of the building during winter. A University of Plymouth study found a 31.4% reduction in heat lost through a wall retrofitted with living greenery.

The natural cooling effect of large plant masses can contribute to reduced reliance on air conditioning, potentially leading to energy savings—an important consideration for Arizona businesses that manage high utility costs in the summer.

Living plant walls have a positive impact on health

While acoustics and air quality are compelling reasons to invest in living walls, the advantages extend much further. They contribute to overall well-being. For instance, a study found that employees in offices with plants showed significant increases in attentiveness long after their assigned tasks were completed. They also showed reduced physiological stress, measured by lower systolic blood pressure, compared to those in rooms without plants.

Living walls also:

• Enhance the human-nature connection, which reduces stress and improves mood.
• Boost creativity and problem-solving abilities.
• Create stunning visual focal points that wow clients and inspire employees.
• Contribute to LEED and WELL building certifications, showcasing a commitment to sustainability.

For Arizona businesses ready to cultivate a workspace that truly breathes and thrives, exploring the silent, yet powerful, benefits of professionally designed living walls is a clear step forward.

Frequently Asked Questions: Types of Living Walls We Offer

1. What varieties of living walls does Plant Solutions specialize in?
   Plant Solutions offers a range of living wall systems to meet the differing needs and design preferences of our clients. Our specialties include Moss Living Walls (MossWallArt™), Potted Plant Walls, Tray-Based Living Walls, Climbing Plant Walls (Green Facades), and Soil-Based Living Walls (Bio-walls). We also provide options that incorporate artificial plants for specific low-maintenance requirements.
2. Are there living wall options that require very little maintenance?
   Yes, absolutely! For clients seeking the beauty of a living wall with minimal upkeep, we offer moss walls (MossWallArt™), which are created from preserved moss and require no watering or direct sunlight. We can also integrate high-quality artificial plants into our designs to achieve the desired aesthetic with virtually no maintenance.
3. What are some of the common types of built-in, planted living walls?
   We work with various structural systems for planted living walls. These include Potted Plant Walls and Wall-Mounted Containers, which use individual pots or modules, moss walls (MossWallArt™) that are framed or structurally embedded. We also offer Tray-Based Living Walls where plants grow in horizontally stacked trays.

4. Do you offer indoor and outdoor living walls? What types thrive outside?
   Many of our living wall systems are highly adaptable for both interior spaces and outdoor patioscapes. For example, our Climbing Plant Walls (Green Facades) are primarily designed for outdoor building exteriors and patioscapes, offering significant thermal and aesthetic benefits. Other systems, like Potted, Tray-Based, and Soil-Based living walls, can be expertly designed for both indoor and outdoor use, with appropriate plant selection and a proper irrigation system for Arizona’s climate.
5. How can I hire Plant Solution to install a living wall in my space?
   First things first—contact us! We want to learn what design preferences you have, the size of your future plant wall, and what the microclimate of location is. If you’re unsure what your vision is, our designers are here to show you a variety of options that will bring your space to life!
6. What should I know about caring for my living wall once it’s installed?
   All Plant Solution plant walls—including living walls, artificial walls, and moss walls—are typically a one-time purchase. This means clients own their own plants. This differs from our ongoing plant rental service, in which Plant Solutions owns the plants and maintains them on a contractual basis. However, most clients who invest in plant walls enjoy our horticultural service for stress-free maintenance. When opting into horticultural service, Plant Solutions’ technicians care for your plants on a regular basis to ensure they remain beautiful, healthy, and vibrant.