Speaker: Dr Ronald Wood PhD BSc.

Dr. Ronald Wood has over 30 years experience with all aspects of interior landscapes with particular emphasis on plant light requirements, in Australia, North America, Europe and Japan. He is an environmental scientist acknowledged internationally, for pioneering research over 20 years, into the role of indoor plants and biofiltration, in reducing air-borne volatile organic pollutants, and in indoor air quality improvement for the health, well-being and productivity of building occupants.

Vertical gardens, also described as living walls or green walls are of increasing interest as a design element with the potential to contribute significant passive environmental benefits and a green focal point, particularly when used indoors in building foyers and atriums.

Using proven technology developed from plant-based research, a more environmentally active bio-filter green wall can deliver improved indoor air quality, removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and reducing CO2 levels, promoting the concept of best practice indoor air quality, while providing all of the benefits of a conventional green wall and within similar budget constraints.

• the major benefit is the provision of fresh clean 'breathable' air, free of the usual contaminants present in the air of most buildings.
  
• self-regenerating biological air filter using natural processes
  
• reduction in the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaled by building occupants, and an increase in oxygen (O2) levels.
  
• positive contribution to sustainable indoor environmental quality leading to Green Star IEQ credits.
  
• living work of art and effective biofiltration with the appropriate choice of plant material.

Complementing conventional air filtration, plant based bio-filtration, a natural process, is a valid and viable new technology that can deliver high quality fresh air to building occupants at low cost, either as a free-standing unit or incorporated into the building's air handling system (s).