Reducing CO2 Levels in a Classroom Through the Use of Biofilters

We spend 80% of our time indoors and are seeing an increase in indoor pollutants (Sharma et al., 2022). With the push to create more energy efficient buildings, the envelopes are becoming more airtight. As a result, indoor air quality (IAQ) has decreased due to the inability of indoor pollutants to escape from the building as easily through cracks and seams. (Irga et al., 2018; Satish et al., 2012). To date, there is a lot of existing research in regard to the role biofilters play in improving IAQ. Research ranges from having examined specific parts of the plants, soil conditions, and the display of the plant, such as potted or vertical on a green wall, to see how those factors contribute to the plants’ ability to filter air. Majority of these experiments regarding improving indoor air quality (IAQ) through the use of biofilters have taken place in a controlled laboratory setting, leading to a lack of infield testing. Therefore, this paper addresses the research gap of infield biofilter testing. The goal of the four-week experiment is determine if the increased use of biofilters such as Boston ferns, spider plants, and Jade plants within the classroom will help reduce the CO2 levels of the classroom. Results indicate that while there was no significant change in CO2 levels with the placement of biofilters in the classroom, there was a significant impact on occupants’ psyche such as attentiveness, energy levels, mood impact, and perceived changes in IAQ.