Eco-initiative – green air purifiers
Nature-based solutions
Scientific research shows that many of the problems of today’s world can be solved using the so-called. nature-based solutions (NbS – Nature-based Solutions). This term refers to all solutions that work “with nature” for the benefit of people and to support diversity, and it will undoubtedly become popular and helps organize EU funding for such initiatives.
What distinguishes NBS from the typical approach is the need to adapt to local conditions and cooperate with the local community, whose needs are to be met. Green roofs, green tram tracks, and rain gardens appear more and more often around us and enjoy great recognition. Such solutions reduce surface heating, intercept rainwater, protect against flooding, and also create refuges for biodiversity.
The growing acceptance and demand for such solutions can also be observed in participatory budget projects in the largest Polish cities, which become dominated by green initiatives involving residents.
Plants – for life and health
Plants are essential for human health and life. This is especially important for the youngest. It has been proven that children whose window view includes greenery have better results in learning! Our scientific research shows that vegetation can also be used to fight air pollution, and some plant species are very effective in this regard.
The green air filter
Together with the management of Szkoła Podstawowa 364 (primary school), teachers, and students, we will jointly create a green air filter in front of the school. This project carried out in close cooperation with scientists and the local community, aims to create a green space that will not only beautify the school area but also contribute to improving air quality. The main innovation of the project is the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which use the power of nature to solve environmental problems. Instead of traditional technologies, our green air filter uses native plant species with high air purification efficiency.
These plants, working all year round, will help capture particulate matter and will naturally cool the school’s surface. At the same time, it is of great importance to us to support biodiversity. That is why we use only native trees and shrubs for planting. Native species are an integral part of local ecosystems. They support biodiversity by providing shelter and food for local fauna, including insects, birds, and small mammals. Each plant will be marked with an information plate, becoming a living educational material for biology lessons and will create an educational space for our students. In addition, with the help of the installed dust monitoring device, we will be able to monitor air quality and observe the real benefits of our initiative. This unique approach to school space management, in which we engage the entire community, is not only ecological but also socially beneficial.
The involvement of private companies and green space managers in initiatives related to nature-based solutions is crucial due to their ability to provide the necessary resources, innovate, and popularize these solutions. Their involvement not only accelerates the implementation of such large-scale projects but also contributes to their long-term sustainability and raises public awareness of environmental issues.
Therefore, we are very pleased that the project was co-financed by E.ON and Grąbczewscy, one of the largest producers of tree and shrub seedlings in Poland, which provided trees and shrubs for our investment. We hope that such solutions will become a permanent part of the offer, and green purifiers will appear in schoolyards.
Goals of SGGW scientists
The “Eco-initiative” project involves dr inż. Daria Sikorska, prof. Piotr Sikorski and prof. Arkadiusz Przybysz, who define the following goals:
We want our children to be able to breathe cleaner air and have more contact with nature. We use the latest scientific achievements and in cooperation with SGGW researchers, we will create “green air purifiers”. We will green the schoolyard with plants that can absorb dust. Dear children, parents, teachers and scientists, together we will design and plant the plants that purify the air. We will only use native trees and shrubs, which not only purify the air but are attractive and create a refuge for biodiversity.
The school cooperates with the Institute of Environmental Engineering, SGGW, which has been conducting research in this field for many years, and currently also uses an NCN grant for the quality of greenery at schools. Selections of plants for the best efficiency in absorbing dust and cooling the surface were developed. The development of such an area of a small forest of about 0.5 ha would allow to:
- Improve the bioclimatic and health conditions of children in a place where children are most often present.
- Design a passage through this forest with students and landscape architects.
- Purchase and install instrumentation to measure particulate matter and temperature under the canopy, outside the tree canopy and in front of the entrance to the school.
This would make it possible to observe how such an ecosystem functions during breaks and during lessons. Under the tree canopy, plants adapted to the habitat conditions and conducive to the presence of animals would be planted. There would be a possibility to purchase houses for hedgehogs which are present in the area, and they would find shelter here. Children could use sticks to build temporary shelters for them. The installed photo trap, the image of which would be archived on the school’s website, would verify the effectiveness of such activities. The houses would have a lock that would allow you to look into them during nature lessons.
Educational forest for absorbing particulate matter and cooling the urban heat island in the school area
The proposed project was prepared in response to the growing demand in the field of combating climate change and the adverse effects of environmental pollution. All EU cities have been obliged to do so under the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, but without social support, it will be of little effect.
The best way to change social attitudes is to educate the youngest but also to show them specific, simple and measurable solutions.
They will acquire the latest scientific and practical knowledge that replaces their sense of fear of climate change and the decline of biodiversity that they hear about in the media