plants office productivity
116637983
Retrofitting Biophilic Design Elements into Office Site Sheds: Does 'Going Green' Enhance the Well Being and Productivity of Workers?
The use of biophilic elements in industrial design has become more commonplace as the benefits of natural environments show stronger links to positive health benefits and mental well being. This chapter discusses the rationale, process and results of a study which examined the effects and long term impacts of biophilic design for site office workers. The research investigated the impact of incorporating plants, natural sunlight, prospect, ventilation, open spaces and windows to an office environment through retrofitting the design of a site shed. To examine the impact on productivity, stress and general wellbeing, this longitudinal study spanning over 2 years tracked the concomitant cognitive, social, psychological and physical benefits for workers. Within the first 3 months, data indicated a strong positive effect from incorporating green space to amend stress, enhancing well being, fostering a collaborative work environment and sustaining workplace productivity. Through the course of the study, data continued to support these findings by indicating a rise in engagement with the design components and repeated evidence of workplace collaboration. In exit interviews, transference of greening concepts and accessibility to transform the workspace was discussed.
Tonia Gray
115357077
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTHCARE EFFECT USING PLANTS INSTALLATION IN OFFICE SPACE
Some offices have indoor environmental quality related problems such as space, indoor air quality, office workers' thermal comfort, productivity and mental stress. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of indoor plants on physiological/psychological responses and productivity, and to demonstrate the mental healthcare for office workers. In order to clarify the effect of indoor plants, we conducted a demonstration experiment in two rooms of an office. As a result, it was possible to confirm that plants installation in office space has some mental healthcare effects, i.e. relaxation of visual fatigue and some kinds of fatigue feelings.
Kahori Genjo H Matsumoto Nobuaki Ogata Takaoki Nakano
133939834
Feasibility study on mental healthcare using indoor plants for office workers
In recent years, it has become a problem that office workers' stresses affect their intellectual productivity. As one of strategies mitigating the stress while working, many studies on the effect of indoor plants introduced into the office have been conducted. The psychological and physiological effects of indoor plants have been expected to mitigate the office workers' stresses. Also, the effects of green amenities such as improvement of productivity, control of the indoor thermal environment, relaxation and recovery of visual fatigue, and improvement of air quality have been expected. In this study, a field investigation on the green amenity effects of indoor plants on office workers' psychological and physiological responses in an actual office was conducted and discussed. This paper describes the measurement results of the physical environment and workers' psychological and physiological responses under the condition with shelves installed with indoor plants in an office room. It was suggested that in.
T Kubota H Matsumoto Kaori Genjo Takaoki Nakano
107623063
Considering research enquiry into biophilic urbanism and office worker productivity
In cities, people spend a significant portion of their time indoors, much of which is in office buildings. The quality and nature of these spaces have the potential to be a strong determinant of people's health and wellbeing. There is a body of evidence that suggests experiences of nature increase the rate of attention recovery, reduce stress, depression and anxiety, and increase cognitive abilities. Further, the presence of nature inside buildings (such as pot plants and internal green walls) can improve indoor air quality, potentially reducing illness and increasing cognitive function. Urban design that integrates nature into the built environment to provide these benefits, among others, is called 'biophilic urbanism' and is the subject of growing international interest and research. The potential for these benefits to increase worker productivity in office buildings is of particular interest, as this could significantly increase the financial performance of office building based organisations. However, productivity is a complex concept that is difficult to define, and affected by a multitude of factors, which make it difficult to measure. This inability to quantify productivity increases from investments in nature experiences in office buildings is currently a significant barrier to such investments. Within this context, this paper considers opportunities for research to explore the relationship between office based nature experiences and productivity, by reviewing existing research in this field and reflecting on the authors' own experiences. This review has a particular focus on the importance of quantifying this link in order to encourage private property owners to voluntarily integrate nature into buildings to provide city wide ecosystem service benefits. The paper begins with a contextual overview of how biophilic urbanism can potentially increase worker productivity. Existing methods of measuring and evaluating the performance of biophilic urbanism within the context of office buildings are then explored, along with a discussion of issues with such methods that are currently limiting investment in biophilic urbanism to increase worker productivity and wellbeing. This includes a summary of a survey within a Perth office building to explore the impact of views of nature through a window. Drawing on these insights, the paper makes recommendations regarding opportunities for focusing future investigations to enhance understanding of how biophilic urbanism can contribute to increased wellbeing and productivity in office buildings. This paper builds on work conducted as part of the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre Project 1.5, Harnessing the Potential of Biophilic Urbanism in Australia, which considered the role of nature integrated into the built environment in responding to emerging challenges of climate change, resource shortages and population pressures, while providing a host of co benefits to a range of stakeholders.
Angela Reeve Cheryl Desha Caroline Kramer Charlie Hargroves Peter Newman
143293214
Psychological Benefits of Ornamental Plants Used in Office Environments
In an urbanized context, the need for a thorough understanding of the relationship between plants and human well being becomes more and more important. It is documented that plants in the work environment bring a number of benefits, not only aesthetic but also psychological and physical benefits. The present study sought to determine if ornamental plants have positive effects on a wide range of factors such as productivity, mood states, creativity and stress on employees in an real organizational context. Questionnaire with 15 statements was used as method to examine the employees perceptions, applied before, after the installation of plants for each office and in swich phase. The study results were examined to determine if are statistically significant differences between the two groups at every stage. There were significant differences between the experimental and control group over the work environment. Research has found that for a better perceived working environment is a close link between creativity, reduced stress and job satisfaction. Results support the evidence of the psychological benefits of ornamental plants on employees and a general preference for plants. The direct impact of these benefits is on well being and general performance of companies and the incorporation of ornamental plants in the workplace is deemed imperative for the future organizations to achieve the desired results. A
Anca Husti Ioana ConaC/Iu Malina Dana Radu Ioana Adina Neacsu Maria Cantor
26683629
The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: three field experiments.
Principles of lean office management increasingly call for space to be stripped of extraneous decorations so that it can flexibly accommodate changing numbers of people and different office functions within the same area. Yet this practice is at odds with evidence that office workers' quality of life can be enriched by office landscaping that involves the use of plants that have no formal work related function. To examine the impact of these competing approaches, 3 field experiments were conducted in large commercial offices in The Netherlands and the U.K. These examined the impact of lean and "green" offices on subjective perceptions of air quality, concentration, and workplace satisfaction as well as objective measures of productivity. Two studies were longitudinal, examining effects of interventions over subsequent weeks and months. In all 3 experiments enhanced outcomes were observed when offices were enriched by plants. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Journal of experimental psychology. Applied
Marlon Nieuwenhuis Craig Knight Tom Postmes S Alexander Haslam
115970174
Nature in the office: An environmental assessment study
Passively viewing nature may promote psychological restoration relevant for office work. The objective of this paper is to explore how natural elements in the indoor work environment are experienced. An on site assessment with between subjects design (n 56) and a photo based assessment with a crossover design (n 46) compared three interiors of a windowed office setting with either plants, inanimate objects, or no added objects. Semantic environmental assessments were used, including a work scenario task. Both studies indicated that the setting with plants was assessed more favorably than the setting without added objects. In the photobased study, the interior with plants was perceived as more fascinating and produced a more positive emotional state conducive for work productivity than either of the other interiors; the interior with plants was also the preferred work environment in the photo based study. The results are discussed within the framework of Stress Recovery Theory and Attention Restoration Theory. Issues regarding the use of a multi method approach are also addressed. Understanding how natural elements indoors are experienced has an important role to play in restorative environmental design research. (Less)
Katinka H Evensen Ruth Kjaersti Raanaas Caroline M P Hagerhall Maria Vredin Johansson Grete Grindal Patil
25930907
Are Biophilic Designed Site Office Buildings Linked to Health Benefits and High Performing Occupants?
This paper discusses the first phase of a longitudinal study underway in Australia to ascertain the broad health benefits of specific types of biophilic design for workers in a building site office. A bespoke site design was formulated to include open plan workspace, natural lighting, ventilation, significant plants, prospect and views, recycled materials and use of non synthetic materials. Initial data in the first three months was gathered from a series of demographic questions and from interviews and observations of site workers. Preliminary data indicates a strong positive effect from incorporating aspects of biophilic design to boost productivity, ameliorate stress, enhance well being, foster a collaborative work environment and promote workplace satisfaction, thus contributing towards a high performance workspace. The longitudinal study spanning over two years will track human plant interactions in a biophilic influenced space, whilst also assessing the concomitant cognitive, social, psychological and physical health benefits for workers.
International journal of environmental research and public health
Tonia Gray Carole L Birrell
107472615
Improving office users' workplace perceptions using plants
This paper explores the importance of user perceptions within an organisational context, and more specifically, aims to identify and demonstrate the benefits of plants in offices in contributing to employee wellbeing by influencing their perceptions of a working office. Via comprehensive literature reviews, the importance of user perceptions is determined as well as the importance of indoor plants in office environments in improving employee wellbeing through psychological benefits. It is argued that user perceptions can be analysed through their input and functionalities in the workplace and their consequent application of workplace productivity. In this study, a perception survey was completed, which demonstrated that occupants of planted offices feel more comfortable, more productive, healthier and more creative and feel less pressure than occupants of non planted offices. The paper provides an insight into how plants can be incorporated within facilities management strategies to improve employee health and wellbeing and improve perceived productivity.
Andrew James Smith
67774763
Preference for Plants in an Office Environment
Plants in the workplace are known to bring a number of benefits including psychological as well as aesthetic and air quality benefits. Therefore, plants can have an impact on overall organisational performance. However, findings of previous studies have rarely been applied in the FM context and yet strategic FM delivery in improving workplace productivity is essential for business survival. The paper explores the importance of interior plants in maintaining the physical and psychological well being of office occupants utilising a survey of participants' perceptions of photographs of an office with various levels of planting installed from no plants up to very high levels of planting. The paper provides preliminary results of a longer programme of research into the benefits of plants within the FM context. The work demonstrates that a reasonable level of interior planting in offices is preferred over offices with no plants. These perceived benefits may have a direct impact on overall organisational performance and therefore incorporating elements of nature within building design and management may in future be considered imperative to achieving the desired strategic outcomes of the organisation.
Andrew James Smith Michael Ronald Pitt