The development of an organic air cleaner (OAC) to reduce CO2 level of air-conditioned rooms without fresh air supply

Abstract This paper reports on the development of an organic air cleaner (OAC), an interior architectural element that optimises plants’ CO2 absorption in nonventilated air-conditioned rooms. Sansevieria trifasciata, Dracaena sanderiana, Scindapsus aureus and Syngonium podophyllum were explored. Two methods were adopted: the plants’ CO2 uptake was measured, and the results were used for the computer simulation inputs. An OAC works automatically by exposing the plants to indoor or outdoor air when the plants are in, consecutively, CO2 absorbtion or emission phase. Computer simulations found that the most efficient placement for OACs to absorb CO2 is to put them far from ACs.