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Interior Plants Win Preliminary Approval As Part of Proposed 2012 Green Construction Code Revisions 8/23/2010 5:22:34 PM
The International Green Construction Code has given preliminary approval for the inclusion of live plants as part of its proposed 2012 code revisions. A new subsection of Section 810 will be headed “Interior Plants and Pollutant Control,” and will outline where and how many plants should be used to comply with this optional green building guideline, administered by the International Code Council. A mandatory plant maintenance program would also be required for compliance.
The next step is to prepare a revised Interior Plants & Pollution Control code outline for Public Version 2.0 this fall, incorporating constructive suggestions made by the review committee.
In public comment hearings last week in Chicago, Michael Lewis, President of Green Plants for Green Buildings, along with Charlie Acevedo and Mike Rimland from Costa Farms, presented evidence that indoor plants are a good, low-energy way to help clean the air of pollutants and provide fresh oxygen – which helps improve worker moral and productivity, as well as reduce building-related illnesses and employee sick days. It was also pointed out that Australia already has something similar in place called Green Star that includes indoor plants as part of their measurement standards.
Lewis was also representing the Interiorscape Industry Coalition, a collaboration of non-profit organizations that include Professional Landcare Network, Brigham Young University, Green Plants for Green Buildings, Plantscape Industry Alliance, National Foliage Foundation, Tropical Plant Industry Exposition, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, Landscape Ontario and OFA. All together, these partners represented approximately 9,000 companies and 177,000 stakeholders, bringing considerable clout to the proceedings.
After waiting 10 hours for the opportunity to present their case to the committee, the interior plant position statements were made. According to Lewis, “I knew we had some friendly faces up there based on the constructive comments we received immediately following our presentation. However, it wasn’t until the final vote that we realized an overwhelming majority [10 yes, 4 no, and 1 abstain] voted in favor of the new guidelines.”
South Florida Growers Weathering Cold Snap 1/12/2010 11:48:55 AM
The record-breaking cold snap producing unseasonably low temperatures in Florida has growers wondering what damage their nursery stock will sustain. Thanks to protective measures taken by South Florida growers, the preliminary outlook is good, says foliage broker John Mendozza, President of Morning Dew Tropical Plants, who adds that only time will tell how severe the damage turns out to be. “It’s going to take a few weeks for all the damage to show up, if there is going to be damage,” he says. Interiorscapers could see a shorter supply of cold-sensitive plants and delays in spring crops. “We’ve never had these long-sustained cold temperatures in the last 30 years in the industry,” Mendozza says. “The good news is, Florida growers are extremely resilient and resourceful, and they’re very good at bouncing back.”
PLANET Presents Premier Plantscapes with Merit Award for Green Roof Project 11/9/2009 3:19:24 PM
As green roofs continue to emerge as a growing area of diversification for interiorscapers, the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) has honored Premier Plantscapes, Burtonsville, MD, with a merit award for its green roof installation at the Bentley Building in Sandy Spring, MD. The Bentley project incorporates the use of a new technology, Aqualok: the modular system of patented growth matrix panels made from recycled plastic provides a lightweight growing medium for plants that requires no soil and less watering and fertilization.
PIA Announces Hall of Fame Inductees 5/4/2009 5:12:13 PM
The Plantscape Industry Alliance has announced the 2009 inductees into the Interior Plantscape Hall of Fame. The 2009 Plantscaping Professional is Richard Parker, President of Parker Interior Plantscape, the interiorscape division of Scotch Plains, NJ-based Parker Companies, which also includes a retail garden center business. The 2009 Allied Trade Professional is Tom Acklin, Owner of Autograph Foliages, a leading manufacturer of artificial plants, trees and floral, as well as holiday, based in Cleveland, OH. The 2009 Posthumous Inductee is Todd Bachman, the former chief executive of Bachman’s, Minneapolis, MN, one of the nation’s leading independent garden centers offering interiorscape services; Bachman was murdered last summer in Beijing, China, during a visit to the summer Olympics.
Green Plants for Green Buildings Announces New President, Appointments to Board 3/16/2009 10:51:06 AM
Green Plants for Green Buildings (GPGB) has officially transferred the executive board presidency to Mike Lewis, EVP of Foliage Design Systems, Orlando, FL. He replaces McRae Anderson of McCaren Designs, St. Paul, MN, who was part of the original task force in 1998. Lewis has served as President Elect since last summer. In addition, GPGB named as its Treasurer Mike Senneff, President of Plant Interscapes, San Antonio, TX. Joe Zazzera, President of Plant Solutions, Scottsdale, AZ, will serve as GPGB’s VP, LEED Advocacy, bringing his experience as a LEED accredited professional to the organization.
New Study Measures Ability of Plants to Assimilate Indoor Carbon 1/14/2009 1:21:07 PM
Measuring the ability of plants to assimilate indoor carbon is the subject of a new research project funded by the National Foliage Foundation (NFF) and led by two researchers from the University of Georgia, Bodie V. Pennisi, Associate Professor, and Marc van Iersel, Professor. The results could provide new scientific backing to the benefits of plants on improving indoor air quality, a key selling point for interiorscapers. The research, titled Project Carbon, will take a two-pronged approach: first, it will initiate a methodical assessment of photosynthetic rates of interiorscape plants in situ, and second, it will quantify carbon assimilation under a simulated environment designed to replicate the light levels and temperatures of typical indoor environments.
The in situ phase will be conducted in collaboration with Foliage Design Systems, headquartered in Orlando, FL. Three interiorscape accounts in the metro-Atlanta area representing typical installations will serve as sampling sites. The locations, conditions and plants will include:
Hospital Lobby – Good light – 250 fc +
1 – 21” Adonidia at 10-12’ height in center of room
4 – 6” Bromeliads at 1’ around base of palm
4 – 8” Pothos around base of palm
6 – 10” Sanseveria at 2-3’ heights in planter box
6 – 10” Variegated Arboricola at 2-3’ heights in planter box
3 – 14” Ficus at 5-6’ heights along windows
Office Building Lobby – Medium light – 150-200 fc
1 – 17” Dracaena Marginata at 7-8’ height in corner
4 – 14” Kentia at 5-6’ heights in wall recesses
16 – Pothos around base of palms (4 ea)
3 – 14” Spathiphyllum at 3-4’ heights by doors
Lawyer Office – Low Light – 75-125 fc
1 – 14” Rhapis at 5-6’ height in corner
2 – 10” ‘Janet Craigs’ at 2-3” heights in seating area
1 – 8” Aglaonema at 1’ height on coffee table
1 – 6” Ctenanthe ‘Tricolor’ at 1’ height on reception desk
Both the in situ and simulated phases will be initiated this month. The final report will be submitted to NFF by the researchers on November 1. Pennisi will present the possible implications of Project Carbon during the NFF’s annual reception held in conjunction with the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale on January 16. She will be available to answer industry members’ questions during the reception.
Ambius Establishes Head Office in Chicago, Mariola Relocating from U.K. to Manage Business 12/16/2008 10:27:52 AM
Ambius, the interiorscaping division of U.K.-based Rentokil Initial, has established a head office within its existing North American business in Chicago. This month, Managing Director Jeff Mariola will relocate from the U.K. to direct the company from the Chicago office. According to a statement issued by the company, “In Chicago, we have the greatest concentration of resources needed to support our overall global strategy.”
Blondie’s Buys Exterior Landscape Firm 10/22/2008 5:16:42 PM
Blondie’s Treehouse has purchased Stanley Bernstein Polyfol, a New York City-based exterior landscape contractor specializing in designing and building gardens, roof decks, terraces and courtyards. During the last two years, Mamaroneck, NY-based Blondie’s has developed its exterior division as a source of new business, covering areas such as green roof consultation, garden design and roof deck installations. Blondie’s ranked No. 4 in Interiorscape’s Contractor 25 report with $11.5 million in sales.
