Can Houseplants Keep Your Home Cooler?
There are a lot of aesthetic benefits to having plants indoors, but the benefits of keeping plants in your home extend far beyond what they can do for the home’s appearance. In fact, there are actually some plants that can help you keep your house cool when you’re in the midst of a heat wave, which can help you take some of the pressure off of your home’s HVAC system.
There have been numerous studies into plants’ ability to alter the earth’s temperature through photosynthesis. If plants are able to affect the temperature of massive areas of the planet, it makes sense, then, that they’d be able to do so on a much smaller scale inside your home. What happens is that plants release excess water into the air from their leaves, and this evaporated water cools the plants and their surrounding environment. This is a process known as “transpiration.”
So, what are some plants you can place around your home to help you keep cool during the summer months? If you’re looking for ways to keep cool at home in Kalamazoo, MI this summer, here are some plant suggestions:
- Ficus benjamina: This is one of the few types of trees that really can grow well in an indoor environment. Also known as a weeping fig, the ficus benjamina can help you keep the air in your home moist and cool. Choose a tree that has a tall trunk and an especially bushy top, which can act as a sort of canopy for other plants you might place next to it. Grouping plants together in such a way can create a miniature atmospheric ecosystem in your home, as they all work together to improve the humidity in their areas. Water regularly and place in moderate light.
- Ficus elastica: More commonly known as a rubber plant, this is a plant that thrives in humid environments. The more foliage it has and the bigger the leaves are, the more moisture it will put back into your home’s air. Give this plant small doses of water to keep the soil evenly damp. It should be in a light area of your home, but out of direct sunlight.
- Palms: There are various types of palms you can place in your home that can be helpful for humidifying your home and keeping it cool. Examples include Areca palms, fern palms, lady palms, fishtail palms and livistona. Many of these palms feature small stomas that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Misting the plants weekly keeps them healthy and will help to improve humidity in the space.
- Chinese evergreen: Also known as aglaonema, the Chinese evergreen plant is known for its purification powers as well as its high transpiration rate. This means it will do a great job of humidifying the air immediately around it, while also removing various toxins from the air. You’ll find it in many different varieties. It’s a household favorite due to its low maintenance, as it doesn’t require much in the way of light or water.
- Mother-in-law’s tongue: The leaves of this plant have a very high water content, so the transpiration process releases quite a bit of moisture into the air. It is a succulent that can also remove some of the toxins from the air, which is an added benefit to its transpiration properties.
For more information about some of the plants that are known to have excellent air conditioning properties, or for other ideas of ways to keep your home cooler in Kalamazoo, MI, contact All Brands Heating & Cooling today.
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