Identifying the Optimal Plant-to-Room Volume Ratio for Enhancing Indoor AQI in Naturally Ventilated Bangalore Homes
Harshan J1, Prof. Aleena M S2, Prof. Ashik S3, Dr Shilpa Madangopal4
1Student, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
2Professor, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
3Assistant Professoi, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru -
ashik.s@christuniversity.in
4Professor, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru -
shilpa.madangopal@christuniversity.in
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Quality of the air indoors has gotten progressively more important in the context of built spaces because it affects human health, cognitive performance, comfort level and well-being directly. People spend around 80–90% of their time indoors in modern urban lifestyles — specifically, at home. Consequently, indoor air quality has become an essential factor in sustainable architectural design.
Indoor environments are composed of a complex mixture of internal and external sources of pollutants. Particles such as carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM2. 5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These contaminations are formed due to occupant breathing, building materials and furniture, cleaning agents, cooking activities, and outdoor air leakage. Consequences of long-term exposure to high indoor pollutant concentrations can be observed in respiratory diseases, allergic reactions and decreased physical performance as well as cognitive performance with chronic health consequences.
Air change rate (ACH) and MERV filters are invaluable to maintaining indoor air quality, but both require extensive mechanical ventilation systems. Natural ventilation through operable windows is still the main mode of air exchange, but this works only in large residential buildings — particularly in Indian urban contexts. Although natural ventilation reduces indoor CO2 generated by human activity, it also allows outdoor particulate pollutants to enter. So, passive and idle energy supplementary strategies needed to improve the indoor air quality stability.
An increasing number of homes are incorporating indoor plants as part of the biophilic design principles. In addition to their aesthetic and psychological benefits, plants are often promoted as natural air purifiers. Despite laboratory studies demonstrating the possibility of pollutant absorption under controlled conditions, there are still no quantitative guidelines outlining how plant density should be scaled in relation to room volume in realistic residential settings.
This study closes that gap by investigating the optimal plant-to-room volume ratio required to attain measurable improvements in indoor air quality under naturally ventilated conditions in Bangalore.
