There are a lot of people in the office, computers and printers, and ventilation is not always good. This results in poor air quality, leading to dry eyes. The best way to prevent that? Enlist plants! Our green colleagues not only have air filtering properties that prevent dry eyes, but also increase employee creativity and productivity.
Also suffering from dry air or dry eyes in the office? Think plants!
Dry eyes in office are due to dry air
A lot of people suffer from dry eyes at work. That shouldn’t be surprising. There is a lot of dust around, there are printers and copy machines that heat up the air temperature and make the dust swirl around, and windows are often barely opened. As a result, the air there is dry and oxygen levels can be substandard. This causes complaints to the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes.
Improve air quality in the office
Preventing dry eyes at work is done by improving air quality. The easiest way to do that is to provide adequate ventilation and aeration. This is how you control humidity, oxygen and CO2 levels.
If your desk is near the most air-polluting equipment, such as copy machines, then it pays to move your desk to another room where there is more ventilation. Also, make sure the temperature in the office is comfortable, but don’t make it too hot, or you’ll disrupt humidity levels again. And open the windows whenever you can, although of course in cold and rainy weather this is anything but pleasant.
Plants do away with dry eyes in office
But you can do even more. By putting plants in the office, you can likewise prevent dry eyes. More than that, it may be the best investment you can make as an employer for your employees.
- Plants help improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen. Many plants can even filter out harmful chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde, that come from furniture, carpets and electronic devices. Thus, they are true air filterers that eliminate all causes of dry eyes.
- In addition, research has shown that having plants in the office reduces stress and promotes employee well-being. Other studies have shown that adding plants to office spaces can also increase productivity. Plants help improve concentration, reduce fatigue and create a more pleasant working environment.
- Plants can also help absorb background noise, improving room acoustics. And, of course, plants just look pretty, too. You create a healthy and pleasant working environment with them.
The more plants you place in the office, the greater the positive effect. And the bigger the office is, the more plants you need to get significant improvements in air quality.
What plants are best placed in the office?
Some plant species filter the air better than others. We’d like to give you more details on which plants have the most effective air-purifying properties.
- The sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata), also known as the “woman’s tongue,” is known for its ability to remove formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene and xylene from the air. This plant is easy to maintain, can thrive in different light conditions and is practically indestructible.
- The Areca palm is also an excellent choice. It removes formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide from the air, but this palm needs a little more light than some other plants.
- Dracaenas are popular houseplants that can also filter the aforementioned pollutants from the air. The Dracaena comes in all shapes and sizes, you are guaranteed to find one that will fit in your office.
- The peace lily is an easy-care plant that thrives in light to moderate light conditions and has excellent air filtration.
- Other air-purifying plants worth considering include gold palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii).
Any Green’s plants and planting advice avoid dry eyes at work
The key to good air quality in the office? Plants! They regulate humidity, filter pollutants from the air and thus avoid dry eyes. And as a bonus, you’ll also be more creative and productive at your desk. The experts at Any Green are happy to help you choose the right office plants for you. We listen to your needs and put together a suitable plant package, taking into account the light and temperature in your office. Feel free to contact us for an appointment.
