Building Phytotechnologies Building Phytotechnologies Building an Urban Ecosystem within the Concrete Jungle Christine Prins and Covey Potter

Why build green? Using biological properties to address concerns in urban ecosystems – Indoor air quality – Thermoregulation – Roof runoff – Parking lot pollutants/climate – Grey water We are confronted with these pollutants most every day. How can we use our knowledge of the natural environment to combat these?

Used by urban planners to organize amount of greenspace necessary for increased human health and well-being Attempting to quantify benefits of plants in an urban area – Recreation – Aesthetics – Emotional well-being Based on Leaf area index Allows for development in conjunction with greenspace Open for interpretation on how to implement Green Plot Ratio How do we integrate nature into our building? (Ong 2003)

Indoor Air Pollutants several times greater indoors than out (Orwell et al. 2004) Plants and microorganisms in Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere are critical for pollutant removal (Wolverton and Wolverton 1993) Humans indoors almost 90% of the time “Sick building syndrome” (De Kempener et al. 2004)

Indoor Air Plant “Biofilters” used to clean volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) from air. - Toluene removed by Azalea enriched with bacteria Psuedomonas putida; - Formaldehyde removed by Chrysathemum. - Xylene removed by Date Palm - Ammonia removed by Lady Palm. (De Kempener et al. 2004Orwell et al. 2004, Wolverton and Wolverton 1993)

CO 2 Scrubbers Development of industrial bioscrubbers to decrease green-house gasses from fossil-fueled power plants (Jeong et al. 2003) Hot spring Algae (pH 7-11) to treat CO 2 (Hsueh et al. 2006)

Green Roofing Increased runoff in urban environment due to impervious surfaces (Kohler et al. 2002) Gravel = 51% runoff while Vegetated = 18% runoff 10% cover in green roof yielded 3% decrease in runoff A 2% slope with 4 inch media decreased runoff to 13% (Mentens et al. 2006, VanWoert et al. 2005)

Green Roofing Affects local microclimate - Increased infiltration - Increased evaporation - Decreased temperature - Decreased flooding - Dust filtration (and air pollutants) - Improved thermal comfort indoors - Increased urban wildlife habitat - Provides urban ecosystem services (Kohler et al. 2002, Mentens et al. 2006, Pangopoulos 2008, VanWoert et al. 2006)

Green Roofing From Mentes et al. 2006

Green Roofing From VanWoert et al. 2005

Urban Forestry Trees provide shade, increased insulation, decreased insolation, increased infiltration, and intake of pollutants in the urban landscape - Decreased summer air conditioning = $15.25/tree, but Increased winter heating = $5.25/tree (Simpson and McPherson 1998) - Increased canopy cover by 40% yields 2% reduction in vehicle emissions (Scott et al. 1998)

The 411 on Graywater (or Greywater) Municipal wastewater Sinks, washers, bathtub 50-80% of municipal water use Not toilet water (that’s black water) Typical contaminants: Low levels of organics and nutrients Solids (food particles, hairs and fibers) Heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cd, Al, Pb, etc) Xenobiotic Organic Compounds (shampoos, detergents, perfumes, coffee, tea, diary products, cleaners, etc) Pharmaceuticals Micro-organisms Bacteria Protozoans Helminths (Eriksson et al. 2002, Garland et al. 2004)

REUSE! Filtered and treated greywater can be reused within the municipal, domestic, and industrial systems in the following ways: Restricted and unrestricted irrigation Garden/lawn watering Toilet flushing Non-potable household use Reusing greywater can lead to a 25-50% reduction in total domestic water consumption (Li et al. 2009, Jokerst et al. 2009, Ghisi and Ferreira 2007)

Methods for Remediation Hydroponics – Horizontal – Vertical Constructed Wetlands – Free Water Flow – Horizontal Subsurface Flow – Vertical Flow Greenhouse Use In tandem with Physical Filtration Methods

Horizontal – Indoor or outdoor Vertical (Living Walls) – Pre-filtered – Indoor aesthetics – Downward flow through semi-potted plants Benefits: – easily added amendments for improved filtration – Recycles otherwise wasted nutrients – Breaks down organic compounds Hydroponic Systems (Benefits, Environmental, Greywater Treatment 2009, Garland et al. 2004, Garland et al. 2000)

Even Useful in Advertising…..!

Constructed Wetlands Outdoor use of marsh/wetland species to filter extra nutrients, contaminants, and surfactants associated with greywater Place inside impermeable layer to prevent leaching Sand or gravel filter layer Estimated 0.8 m 2 of wetland/person (Ghisi and Ferreira 2007, Jokerst et al. 2009, Vymazal 2009)

Horizontal Sub-Surface Flow Model (Vymazal 2009) Free Water Surface and Subsurface Model Vertical Flow Model (Gross et al. 2007) (Jokerst et al.2009)

At the end of the Constructed Wetland treatment, there is a significant reduction in contaminants such as excess nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. (Philippi et al. 1999)

Greenhouse Use Greywater runoff can be used to irrigate/water greenhouse plants In tandem with physical treatment options: Septic tanks Sedimentation Sand/gravel filtration layers Disinfectants (Usually Chlorine, but can be biological: Essential Oils!) (Winward et al. 2008, Garland et al. 2004, Philippi et al. 1999)

Phragmites australisTypha lattifoliaScirpus acutus Lactuca sativa (Jokerst et al. 2009, Gross et al. 2007, Winward et al. 2008,Garland et al. 2004) Plants to Use! Or your favorite oranmental…. Triticum aestivum

Gain Ground- Turn your concrete jungle into an Urban Ecosystem

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