Green plants recommended for future BREEAM assessment by UK-GBC

We are excited to report that eFIG Ltd are getting interior landscaping noticed officially! The eFIG committee, namely Thomas Palfreyman of Urban Planters and Ian Drummond of Indoor Garden Design, have been in talks with the UK Green Building Council and BREEAM which is an international environmental assessment standard established by the British Research Establishment.Earlier this month the UK Green Building Council published a report for BREEAM on future directions to facilitate a Sustainable Built Environment. This report will inform and direct future assessments circa 2011.“This is great news for interior landscapers,” enthused eFIG chairman and MD of Urban Planters, Thomas Palfreyman. “We have been seeking the recognition for plants that they deserve for some time knowing how effective they can be for clean air and a green business. “In the Appendix 1: Technical Issues of the report, it recommends that plants be considered for IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) acknowledging that ‘there is growing support for the wide range of direct health and IAQ/IEQ benefits that plants bring to the indoor environment as confirmed by the latest piece of research, produced in by the University of Technology, Sydney’ confirming that just one plant has a positive effect on our moods and therefore our performance.UK-GBC also acknowledging that plants are an effective environmental tool to combat poor IAQ i.e. not only will plants remove CO2 and improve O2, reduce energy bills and reduce large changes in temperature as well as improving performance and reducing absenteeism across the workforce.In assessment, they recommend that points should be attributed for seeking specialist advice from an interior landscaper and having indoor planting maintained by professionals.All good news for eFIG members who are the professionals of this industry and are available to advise on these matter. “We know that making sure that the ‘right plant, right location’ policy works to facilitate the best possible effects for the building and the occupants,” confirmed Ian Drummond of Indoor Garden Design who earlier this year had success at the Chelsea Flower Show and the London Festival of Architecture demonstrating how plants could create an eco Living Office.A further factor which has alerted UK-GBC to recommend plants in the BREEAM assessment is the inclusion of indoor planting in the Australian Green Star environmental accreditation and the inclusion in the USA-GBC’s LEED accreditation.

"Plus it doesn't matter if we all know plants are better value. I'd make the point of this to the customer but if they want trough grown at the extra cost that's their choice I'd just do it"

"I've done 5ft Thorne troughs. Very easy to plant just got a mini digger dug the trench then drop them in couldn't be easier however £250 per m does seem expensive. "

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