As temperatures rise, it's essential to find ways to keep our homes cool. While air conditioning units are effective, they consume a lot of electricity and release chlorofluorocarbons into the environment. Fortunately, Mother Earth provides us with natural alternatives. By planting these natural air conditioners into our homes, we can beat the heat while saving energy. Research studies have shown that houseplants play a crucial role in maintaining indoor temperatures through a process called evapotranspiration by releasing moisture into the air.
1. Snake plant: Dracaena trifasciata, is most commonly a desert plant grown in houses. It is help keep indoor air cool and clean by releasing a lot of water content into the air, absorbing various pollutants present in the air, and releasing a lot of water content into the air. It is especially valued for its ability to release oxygen overnight. As it is a desert plant, it is easy to grow and manage, and it needs less water to grow.
2. Aglaonema: Aglaonema commutatum, native to tropical forests of New Guinea and Asia, belongs to the Araceae family, also known as the Chinese Evergreen Plant, and has the great potential of lowering the temperature by keeping inside air cool. It can also remove harmful, volatile organic compounds from the air.
3. The Weeping fig: Ficus benjamina, is commonly known as the rubber plant. Native to Southeast Asia and Australia, it belongs to the Moraceae family. With its broad leaves, it efficiently transpires water into the air, helping to maintain a cooler indoor environment. While it effectively cools the air, it also requires ample water for growth and maintenance.
4. The spider plant: The spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is an amazing houseplant with air temperature reduction properties by lowering CO2 levels and by transpiring lots of moisture content in the dry air. Additionally, It has anti-pollutant properties, it removes xylene and toluene-like impurities from the air. Easy to cultivate and maintain, the spider plant holds great potential for releasing oxygen overnight. According to the research, it transpires lots of moisture in the air.
5. Jade plant: Crassula argentea, is also famous by different names like money plant, friendship plant, or silver dollar. It is considered as a good luck plant. According to research studies, it transpires lots of water content in the air through the process called evapotranspiration and acts as a natural air conditioner.
References:
1. Kerschen, Eric & Garten, Caleb & Williams, Kimberly & Derby, Melanie. (2016). Evapotranspiration from Spider and Jade Plants Can Improve Relative Humidity in an Interior Environment. HortTechnology. 26. 803-810. 10.21273/HORTTECH03473-16.
2. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077
3: Arakelyan, Hayk. (2019). Sansevieria Trifasciata and Air in Your Home.
4. Selvan, Nisitha & Balasubramani, Geetha & John Peter, Paul. (2023). Systemic Review on Indoor Plants as an Alternative Technique for Reducing Indoor Air Pollutants. Journal of Xidian University. 17. 1074-1083. 10.37896/jxu17.11/092.
