Title: Relationship between indoor environmental quality and building envelopes covered by plants: a review of the literature

Authors: Moshood Olawale Fadeyi

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and IT, The British University in Dubai, Dubai International Academic City, P.O. Box 345015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract: It is not clear whether the benefits of improving outdoor environmental conditions inherent in urban plants apply to building indoor environment when plants are integrated on building envelopes. This paper reviews published research to date to clarify whether building envelopes covered by plants have effects on indoor environmental quality, and building occupants' health and comfort. The review exercise revealed that building envelopes covered by plants can (1) improve indoor thermal and acoustic conditions (2) compromise indoor light level. Evidences addressing the impact on indoor air quality (chemical, physical, and biological pollutants) is lacking in the literature. There are no evidences in the literature addressing the impact of improved IEQ conditions, as a result of plants integrated on building envelopes, on building occupants' health and comfort. This study is relevant to creating energy efficient and sustainable buildings.

Keywords: greenery; sustainable buildings; health and comfort; sustainable built environment; green buildings; sustainable construction; indoor environmental quality; building envelopes; literature review; sustainable development; sustainability; indoor plants; plant integration; energy efficinecy; indoor thermal conditions; indoor acoustic conditions; indoor light levels; indoor air quality; indoor air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2013.056340

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.12 No.4, pp.361 - 378

Received: 12 Jul 2012
Accepted: 15 Apr 2013
Published online: 28 Jan 2014 *

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