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Earth Day April 22, 2007
 Once a year we take a day to reflect on the ways in which we, as individuals, can be more "environmentally friendly." Whether we make a pact to recycle or use only biodegradable products, some Earth Day efforts are similar to the illusive New Year's resolution that, in January we are determined to stick with, but by February is history.
  The truth is, getting "green" and staying green, isn't really all that complicated, according to the Plants At Work Campaign.
By simply placing plants at your desk, in your child's study room, or around the house you are not only reducing harmful toxins in the air such as formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia but also increasing productivity, decreasing stress, and reducing common health complaints.
According to studies conducted by researchers worldwide (such as Dr. Virginia Lohr, Dr. Roger Ulrich, Dr. Ron Wood) plants can increase productivity by 12 percent, boost innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, absorb up to five decibels of sound and eat up the nasty toxins swirling around any indoor environment.
The international education campaign Plants at Work has assembled some easy to implement simple steps to a greener life at work and at home.
Two Simple Steps to get these natural "green machines" to work, AT WORK!
Peace Plant   1. Sneezing, wheezing or loud sounds got you down?
Take a walk around your office: where do you commonly find people
sneezing or complaining about headaches? Is there an annoying co-worker
who plays their music to load? Place a few Spider Plants or Peace
Lilly's around and you've done a real and lasting "good earth day
deed!"
2. Get your co-workers and even boss on the "Green Plan."
Due to the boost in aesthetics, mood and health, large corporations,
such as KBR, Arlington, VA, have successfully used office plants as
employee incentives! Amanda Edgmon from KBR reports that the company
has successfully motivated staff with the promise of a "bigger, nicer
plant" with each promotion.
Two Simple Steps to get the "Earth Day Groove" going at home.
  1. Check out your homes lighting conditions.
So, you can't keep a plant alive at home? Your "black thumb" is
probably because your plants weren't in the right light. A few
lighting hints just for you:
For your home's sunny spots: The Aloe Vera, releases oxygen and is a
nocturnal carbon dioxide remover. The Gerbera Daisy, not only will
bring a little color to your room but is extremely effective in
removing chemical vapors from the air.
Semi-sun areas: The Dumb Cane, don't let its name fool you, this
plant is easy to maintain and has high transpiration rates (a big
appetite for toxins). The Snake Plant, similar to the Aloe Vera,
releases oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide at night.
Semi-shade areas -- The Peace Lily will make your space more tranquil
as it removes alcohols, benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
Shade to no light -- Yes! The gorgeous and elegant Zeze delivers all
the green benefits without ANY sunlight AND, (the best part) little
to no maintenance.
2. Are there rooms in your home that just scream for green?
For study areas or the den you may want to consider adding additional
plants to help absorb sound and boost productivity. Plants in the
entryway can make your home more inviting and decrease stress levels.
For the bedrooms consider a plant such as the Aloe Vera or the Snake
Plant that releases oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide at night.
So, this Earth Day make a simple and enduring 'green' shift in your life and the life of all those around you! To learn more about Plants at Work please visit www.plantsatwork.org
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