New article: BioWall, futured homes could have clean air and lower energy bills read more at here http://www.spinonews.com/index.php/science/item/3074-biowall-futured-homes-could-have-clean-air-and-lower-energy-bills

A team of researchers from Purdu university innovate BioWall, homes of the future could have cleaner air and lower energy bills.

Scott Massey, member of the BioWall research team, said, Over the past century there have been initiatives to create more airtight buildings that increase HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning) efficiency and reduce power consumption. Unfortunately, the side effect of this trend is that is has reduced indoor air quality. The BioWall is a solution for that problem.

The BioWall is an air filter consisting of shelves of plants built into a wall and attached to a home's HVAC system. Built-in systems provide light and water. A fan behind the unit draws air into the BioWall and through the growth media where microbes in the plant roots process volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The plants also remove carbon dioxide from the air. The cleaned air then returns to the home's HVAC unit for heating or cooling.

The current prototype has been in place at the ReNEWW House since 2016. Data from the ReNEWW House shows the BioWall prototype has the potential to reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 25 percent because less outside air is required for ventilation.

Bill Hutzel, a professor of mechanical engineering technology in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, said, we have a research prototype. Over the next year, we'd like to develop a pre-commercialization prototype.

Current research is centering on types of plants to use in the BioWall, plant-watering algorithms and other efforts to maximize the potential benefits. The team is also discussing the possibility of establishing maintenance agreements as a potential commercialization effort.

The last thing you want is for the plants not to be maintained. Through a maintenance agreement, the plants could be regularly monitored. You could also swap out plant trays based on the season.

 

The program challenges collegiate teams to design, build and maintain solar-powered homes that are energy-efficient, cost-effective and attractive to potential buyers.