Junglefy
Breathing Wall
Nature + Science + Technology
At Junglefy we recognise the importance of investing in research with our academic institutions. In 2014, with the assistance of a state and federal government grants we funded a research project with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group to put our innovative Junglefy Breathing Wall through advanced and rigorous scientific testing to ensure its safety, viability and efficiency.
The research on the Junglefy Breathing Wall challenges the long-held notion that buildings must be mechanically ventilated. Dr Fraser Torpy, the plant scientist who led the research project believes that plant based systems like the Junglefy Breathing Wall provide a more efficient, economical and healthier alternative compared to traditional HVAC systems and one day will completely replace these energy intensive techniques. Click here to read the report
The Junglefy Breathing Wall (patent pending) is an active, modular green wall system, scientifically proven to accelerate the removal of air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, particulates and volatile organic compounds faster than any other plant-based system on the market. It also acts as a sound barrier, improving acoustics while cooling the surrounding air temperature, resulting in energy efficiency and reduced air conditioning costs.
The Junglefy Breathing Wall isn’t just attractive. It actively cleans the air to provide a safer, more comfortable and productive working and living environment.
How Does It Work?
The Junglefy Breathing Wall is made up of modules composed of linear, low-density polyethylene with infinite recyclability, supplied with a growing medium high in coconut fibre. The system is ventilated via an electric axial impeller, providing a uniform airflow across plants and growing medium.
This active ventilation increases the rate of carbon dioxide draw down, and the volume of air that can be filtered and cooled by each module.
Scientifically Tested
Research into the viability, efficiency and safety of the Junglefy Breathing Wall was conducted by Dr Fraser Torpy and his colleagues at the Plants and Indoor Environmental Quality Research Group at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), who for the last 20 years have established themselves as world leaders researching the use of plants to reduce indoor air pollution and promote health and wellbeing for building occupants.
Dr Torpy and his team have tested the Junglefy Breathing Wall’s ability to remove a range of air pollutants in a series of laboratory, office, sealed room and field trials. The results have been submitted for peer review and is awaiting publication.
This research was funded by an Innovation Connections grant from the Federal Government and matched by Junglefy.
How is the Junglefy Breathing Wall different?
Traditional green walls and pot plants do not incorporate active ventilation, whereas the Junglefy Breathing Wall actively pulls air through the module and over the leaves and growing medium. This active ventilation allows the Junglefy Breathing Wall to offer all the same benefits as traditional green walls and pot plants – such as reducing CO2 levels, filtering out air pollutants, and cooling and humidifying indoor air – but at a much greater level of efficiency.
One Junglefy Breathing Wall module can clean a vastly greater volume of air than one traditional green wall module, or one pot plant. The results of the research on the Junglefy Breathing Wall demonstrated that “to achieve the same results, one would need hundreds and hundreds of pot plants, or a much larger traditional green wall” as Dr Torpy says.
Further Information & Downloads
Breathing Wall Research Findings
CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is exhaled as the result of human respiration. High concentrations in our indoor environments can lead to headaches, lethargy and poor productivity. Plants reduce CO2 through photosynthesis, and create oxygen. The Junglefy Breathing Wall can remove 24.2 litres of CO2 per hour. This is the highest recorded CO2 removal rate recorded in scientific literature.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS REMOVAL
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are toxic gases released from printers, computers, deodorants, perfumes, plastics, carpets, furnishings, paints, and cleaning products. VOCs are captured in the growing medium of the Junglefy Breathing Wall, where they are broken down and absorbed by biological processes. The Junglefy Breathing Wall removes VOCs 1.5 times faster than equivalent volume of pot plants. This means that a 10m2 Junglefy Breathing Wall will remove VOCs at the same rate as 160 large pot plants.
PARTICULATE MATTER FILTRATION
Particulate matter (PM) includes emissions from vehicle exhausts, and is one of the world’s most dangerous air pollutants. Particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter are so small that they can get into the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems. Ten microns is less than the width of a single human hair. The Junglefy Breathing Wall filters PM from the air, which would otherwise end up in our lungs. The Junglefy Breathing Wall removed 95% of all small particulates, from sealed chamber air, allowing the air to be returned to safe breathing levels within 12 minutes.
NOISE REDUCTION
Due to our love of open plan spaces, many indoor environments can be very noisy, which can be highly distracting and lead to poor productivity. The Junglefy Breathing Wall reduces reflected noise by 41% compared to a conventional building wall.
BIOPHILIC RESPONSE
Indoor plants are well known to reduce stress,sick leave and poor productivity. This effect is known as ‘biophilia’. Many sustainable building rating tools have recognised the value of biophilia, and have therefore included human access to nature within their recommendations. The Junglefy Breathing Wall is an effective space saving means of introducing nature into our internal built environments, creating healthier and happier building occupants.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND IMPACT ON HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are highly energy intensive. In fact, 48–56% of an average building’s energy consumption is attributed to a building’s air conditioning system. The Junglefy Breathing Wall reduces a building’s reliance on HVAC systems in three important ways. It actively reduces CO2 levels and filters out other pollutants, it cools ambient temperatures, and it humidifies the air. Simulation room trials demonstrated that a Junglefy Breathing Wall could reduce HVAC energy consumption by 33% for an average sized office, minimising a building’s carbon footprint and saving electricity costs.
* Estimates are based on a 10m2 Breathing Wall in a 100m2 office with 2.6m ceiling with 10 occupants with 1 fan under 100μE of light
