Andrea Purifier Clears the Air with Houseplants

Last seen as an Invention Award-winning prototype in 2008, the Andrea air purifier hits shelves this October

By Corinne Iozzio Posted 09.21.2009 at 3:10 pm 10 Comments

Andrea

Think that newly installed carpet is clean? Think again: potentially dangerous compounds are used in the production of carpet, paint, and upholstery -- and any ol' air purifier won't be able to catch 'em. The Andrea air purifier from Le Laboratoire does more than your run-of-the-mill number, which only grab allergens like dust and pollen, by using plants to remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde.

This isn't the first we've heard of the Bel-Air technology used in Andrea purifiers; the filtration system won a 2008 Invention Award, but was only in the prototype stage at the time.

Together with French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, Harvard professor David Edwards has created a home air purification system that takes advantage of plants' own internal, natural filtration. Fans inside the Andrea move air through the leaves, roots and soil; though the roots are capable of capturing more toxins than either the leaves or soil. After air has been pulled and pushed through the system through a vent on the side.

How Andrea Works:

Early tests showed the system reduced the formaldehyde concentration in a room by 80 percent in one hour. What's more, the system will work with any houseplant; though there are some that are better filtration agents than others. Peace lilies, spider plants, and aloe vera are particularly effective.

Andrea will go on sale on October 8 for $200.

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10 Comments

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poopshoop

09/21/09 at 3:31 pm

I would buy one if they weren't 200 each. Maybe 50? 60? Maybe I'm just too cheap. But great idea!

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William-sudo

09/21/09 at 3:51 pm

Don't worry poopshoop. I am sure that within a month someone will have made an instuctables on this.

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William-sudo

09/21/09 at 3:51 pm

Don't worry poopshoop. I am sure that within a month someone will have made an instuctables on this.

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William-sudo

09/21/09 at 3:51 pm

Don't worry poopshoop. I am sure that within a month someone will have made an instuctables on this.

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deegeezee

09/21/09 at 7:33 pm

"no officer, i'm not growing pot, i'm purifying the air!"

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extremechiton

09/21/09 at 9:16 pm

i want a little mini purifier wiht a mini plant to purify my car

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mitEj

09/22/09 at 7:44 am

I would love to see an industrial size version of this run at plants all around the country or the world.

This sort of thing is wonderful and growing plants are one of the most efficient ways of sequestering carbon there is out there.

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Thumper_DS

09/22/09 at 7:59 am

this sounds all well and fine, but how much can it convert in how much time? i doubt this is efficient.

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GTO

09/22/09 at 7:55 am

@extremechiton

It is a passive system and it would not work well in your car. The atmosphere in your car is turned over many times an hour by driving with windows open, having the climate control system on, etc.

It would make a good conversation piece, but would be highly impractical.

This product does the exact same thing as self-watering pots with an exposed grate bottom suspended over a water dish with a wick to draw water to the roots. The open-air nature allows the roots to absorb airborne toxins as well as the foliage itself.

$200.00 marketing ploy. Visit a garden center, spend $200.00 and you can fill your abode with 10 nice house plants.

--GTO--

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Oakspar77777

09/23/09 at 3:00 pm

Houseplants and a room fan does the same thing. I'm sure this increases the efficiency of one plant, but there is no reason not to just include more plants in your house (not to mention, they aid healthy humidity to the air).