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Text Box: Touch of Green is one of Houston’s finest foliage wholesalers. We specialize in the lease and maintenance of beautiful live plants of all kinds. Any size job receives special attention, whether it’s an individual office or a large atrium. We operate our own nursery which means we can guarantee, unconditionally, the quality of our foliage when designing interior landscapes. We also own and operate Hines Pottery, one of the largest manufacturers of interior plant containers used in offices, hotels, buildings and lobbies. We offer serveral different styles and sizes in standard colors as well as custom colors. On top of all this – ‘WE ANSWER OUR PHONES”! Call us and you get a real live person – ‘NO MACHINES, VOICE MAIL, OR ANSWERING SERVICE” during normal business hours. Our fees are less than you would imagine. For a free estimate or consultation call 713-861-6918 or email: touchofgreen@email.com. Let us get you some new life on lease.

 

 Interiorscaping & Plant Leasing – Houston, TX

 

 

 

 

  Why Choose Touch of Green?

Industry experience:  We have been in the industry for over 30 years.  Our clients expect and receive exceptional performance.  Our in-depth know-how and meticulous attention to detail in planting and then maintaining impressive interiorscapes has made us a leader in our field.

 

Professionalism:  Touch of Green belongs to several industry associations and maintains the highest industry standards. We take special care during every phase of the interiorscaping process; our designers visit your facility to check factors that may create future problems, such as, lighting, heating/cooling, traffic flow and design.  We want to develop a program that will complement your location.

 

Reliability:  We have been servicing many of our clients for as long as 20-30 years.  Our well-trained, uniformed technicians will visit your location regularly to care for your plants; to keep them healthy and beautiful.  When necessary we replace plants that have deteriorated.  We operate our own nursery and maintain a large inventory of acclimated tropical foliage, which means we can guarantee, unconditionally, the quality and appearance of your plants year round.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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TOUCH OF GREEN

6747 Signat Drive

Houston, TX 77041

713-861-6918  Fax: 713-466-7335

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Text Box: How greenery can save you a lot of green Productivity. Plants have been shown to enhance productivity by 12% while reducing the mounting problem of workplace stress. Additionally, plants can reduce busy office noise, lessening the frequency of workplace distractions. Employee retention. Studies from oxford University indicate that plants have positive effects on employee perceptions and dispositions, which may lead to increased employee retention. Cleaner air, healthier environment. Plant filled rooms contain 50% to 60% fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants. By cleaning workplace air, plants can significantly reduce sick leave expenses. Improved corporate image: While indoor plants cost less than most alternative corporate decorating choices, they offer a guarantee of positively enhancing perception and corporate image. Text Box: The Power of Plants Damaging pollutants assault us every day. Where we live and where we work. Toxic chemicals used in manufacturing seep out of everything from carpeting, upholstery, foam insulation and pressed-wood products. It doesn’t stop there, also included are cigarettes, permanent press clothes, paint, plastic, synthetic fibers, printing inks and dry-cleaning. But now plants are a proven way to reduce those levels of indoor pollutants in homes and offices, particularly in the “sick buildings” with permanently sealed windows. “A new study has found that about half of the carbon dioxide emitted by burning fossil fuels is absorbed by (exterior) plants in the Northern Hemisphere, showing that plants play a role about equal to that of oceans, to which most of the absorption had previously been attributed.” The New York Times “An easy way to improve air quality is to add plants. Houseplants are especially effective at cleaning polluted air.” Business Week “. . . there’s a new, improved reason to grow houseplants – they can remove health-threatening pollutants from indoor air.” The Washington Post Study finds plants reduce indoor air pollution According to a study by (NASA) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration common house and office plants can effectively remove the harmful pollutants from indoor air. The results of this two-year study indicate that plants do provide a natural, cost-effective way to clean indoor air and fight the latest “sick building syndrome.” Dr. Bill Wolverton, senior research scientist at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, conducted the study, “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement,” Dr. Wolverton has studied plants and pollution treatment for 20 years. The study concentrated on three of the most common indoor air pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. These and other common indoor air pollutants, such as asbestos, radon, lead and carbon monoxide, are often emitted from furnishings, office equipment and different types of building materials. In the study, philodendron, spider plant and golden Pothos most effectively removed formaldehyde from the air. Gerber daisies and chrysanthemums best-removed benzene. Other plants that removed toxic chemicals from the air, included bamboo palm, peace lily, corn plant, mother-in-law’s tongue and English ivy. Virtually all tropical plants are potentially powerful air cleaners. All green plants produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. “People worry so much about outdoor air, but indoor air may be a far more serious problem,” said Dr. Wolverton. “This study demonstrates that plants are a natural solution to indoor air pollution – not just in the future NASA spaces but in the offices and homes of today.” Dr. Wolverton has conducted follow-up research to the NASA study, which includes additional plants and indoor air pollutants. “Sick-building syndrome” is a result of indoor air pollution. As many as one in five workers may suffer from the condition. It can cause discomfort and serious illness, including, respiratory irritation, dizziness, headaches, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that indoor air pollution represents, “a major portion of the public’s exposure to air pollution, and estimates the cost at $1 billion dollars per year in sick leave, lost earnings and low productivity.” FACTS Plants are Nature’s Most Efficient Environmental Air Cleaner! The NASA study also proves that plants are not only beautify our indoor environment, they make them healthier to live in. NASA studied the benefits of plants for use in future space stations and closed environments and concluded that properly designed interiorscaping can provide an inexpensive means of removing pollutants from the air in our offices and our homes. Indoor air pollution comes from the various fibers (carpet, fabrics, wall coverings) and solvents (wallboard, paints varnishes, furniture) we use to build and decorate our homes and offices. It takes only two potted plants per 100 square feet of floor space to help clean and refresh the air in the average home or office. Virtually every tropical plant and many flowering plants are powerful removers of indoor air pollutants. Below is a chart of the plants in the NASA study that most effectively removed pollutants form the air. Pollutant Source Solution Formaldehyde Foam insulation Azalea Plywood Dieffenbachia Particle board Philodendron Clothes Spider plant Carpeting Golden Pothos Furniture Bamboo plant Paper goods Corn plant Household cleaners Chrysanthemum Water repellants Mother-in-law’s tongue Poinsettia Benzene Tobacco smoke English Ivy Gasoline Marginata Synthetic fibers Janet Craig Plastics Chrysanthemum Inks Gerbera daisy Oils Warneckii Detergents Peace Lily Trichloroethylene Dry cleaning Gerbera daisy Inks Chrysanthemum Paints Peace Lily Varnishes Warneckii Lacquers Marginata The plants listed are by no means the only variety that absorbs harmful household toxins. NASA continues to study other plants that can be used.                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: The economic investment of plantscaping is just as important as other factors considered. In a study of the relationship between plantscaping and office building occupancy rates, plantscaping had the highest correlations with increased occupancies that any other criteria evaluated. A shopping center in San Diego cites plantscaping as the reason for high occupancy and the ability to charge rental rates that are double those of other shopping plazas in the area. The owners believe the strategically placed trees and plantings block the street noise and create a highly desirable setting. Interior plantscaping in office buildings is also effective in raising occupancy rates and tenant retention. A developer in Chicago points to unique plants in glass-roofed atriums as a major selling point and a reason the building occupancy rates are 21% above the national average. A national hotel chain also reports that its occupancy rates run far higher than the industry average. The hotel’s signature is to have large plant-filled atriums and lobbies with waterfalls. They believe this setting is key to their occupancy success.
Text Box: What is Plants at Work Plants at work is a national information campaign working in conjunction with the industry to inform professionals and the public about the numerous benefits of interior plants. Plants in the workplace offer more than aesthetic value. In fact, studies have shown they help reduce stress, enhance employee attitudes, increase productivity, and improve air quality. Plants at Work is committed to communicating this message to facility and property managers, building owners and human resource executives across the country. A primary sponsor of Plants at Work is the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), formerly known as the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). How Plants at Work Was Created Created in October 1998, Plants at Work was the dream of several industry professionals, who recognized the threats and the opportunities within the green industry. The creation of Plants at Work marked the beginning of the first national education campaign designed to educate professionals and the public about the benefits of interior plants in the workplace. Green Plants for Green Buildings http://plantsatwork.org
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Must Know FAQ's Plants offer a means to decrease stress while enhancing productivity by 12% It is widely known through the respected research done by Dr. Roger S. Ulrich of Texas A&M University, Helen Russell, Surrey University, England as well as the recent studies conducted by Dr. Virginia Lohr of Washington State University that plants significantly lower workplace stress and enhances productivity. In Dr. Lohr’s study participants were 12% more productive and less stressed than those who worked in an environment with no plants. The study took place in a simulated office setting. Common interior plants were used in a computer laboratory with 27 computer workstations. A computer program to test productivity and induce stress was specifically designed for these experiments, which incorporated one hundred symbols and time-measured readings of participants’ reactions. They were presented in the same randomized sequence to each subject. Blood pressure readings recorded while using the program confirmed the program was effective in inducing stress. Emotional states and pulses were also measured during the experiment. Plants present and plants not present were the only variables that participants experienced. When plants were present, they were positioned so that a cluster would be in the peripheral view of each subject sitting at a computer terminal, but would not interfere with the subject’s activity. In addition to demonstrating significant increases in their post-task attentiveness, subject reaction time in the presence of plants was 12% faster than those in the absence of plants. The results indicating an influence of plants on blood pressure are consistent with research conducted by Dr. Ulrich. Visual exposure to plant settings has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes. Interior plants lower O&M (Operations and Maintenance) costs while contributing to ‘Green Building’ design considerations. Plants cool by a process called transpiration, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, decreases air temperature in offices by ten degrees. A recent study out of Washington State University demonstrates that plant transpiration in an office environment releases moisture, creating a humidity level exactly matching the recommended human comfort range of 30-60%. Similarly, the same study concludes that in an absence of plants, the relative humidity in offices runs below this recommended range. When the relative humidity of office air is too low, costly materials such as wood become damaged and crack. When the relative humidity is too high the condensation of windows and exterior walls can result in costly structural damage. According to the International Society of Arboriculture, the net cooling effect of one young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20- hours a day. According to literature from the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, proper selection and placement of plant materials can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as 20%. These statistics have become an important tool for today’s environmentally efficient corporate designers and facility managers such as U.S. Energy Systems Inc. This growing energy company is enthusiastically endorsing the use of indoor plants. Susan Odiseos, V.P. of Corporate Communications states: “We practice what we preach and find that our investment in interior plant services has had the expected outcome of improving indoor air quality, supporting a positive outlook in the workplace and increasing employee productivity.” She continued “interior plants are a solid return on investment and a MUST for any corporation concerned with sustainable, ‘green building’ solutions.” Plants in the workplace attract, retain and enhance attitude of today’s selective employee. Surveys conducted by Unifi Network, Westport, Conn. report numerous factors that assist in managing today's competitive workplace market. The data indicates that in order to attract and retain top employees, the workplace must include aspects of what inspires employees during “off” time. Gallop polls indicate that two thirds of the American working force-cite gardening as their favorite hobby. Perhaps this “green thumb” passion explains why humanizing the workplace with green plants is a highly effective method to promote employee satisfaction. Copious studies such as those conducted by Dr. Ulrich and Dr. David Uzzell from Oxford University verify the positive effect plants have on employee perception and disposition. In the final analysis, marketing research (Krome Communications, 2000) confirms that employee attitude and retention is a top incentive for corporations to continue interior landscape contracts. The dramatic aesthetic value inherent in indoor landscaping has continued to be the number one return on interior plant investments. As reflected in The 2001 BOMA/CEL Tenant Satisfaction “A-List Award” (Building Owners and Managers Association), “appearance and condition of the property” is a top category of evaluation among tenants. Similarly, studies out of England’s Oxford Brookes University reinforce that while indoor plants continue to cost less than most alternative corporate decor choices, they offer a guarantee of positively enhancing perception and contributing to well being. The same set of studies conclude that people (clients or employees) perceive a building with interior planting as more expensive- looking, more welcoming and more relaxed. Conversely the studies prove that people’s perceptions of a building are less positive in the absence of plants. Melissa Coley, V.P., Brookfield Financial Properties, is a corporate interior plant enthusiast. She asserts that the vast plantscapes throughout Brookfield’s property “provide a critical elegance to this bustling business setting of 40,000 corporate employees.” It’s finally possible to have an energy efficient building without “Sick Building Syndrome!” Plants help with bottom line savings on mounting sick leave expenses. “Sick Building Syndrome” develops into a serious and expensive liability when these toxins become concentrated inside sealed office buildings. NASA reports that the syndrome is widespread in these energy efficient buildings. The problem is that these sealed energy efficient buildings have less exchange of fresh outdoor air for stale indoor air. This causes higher concentrations of toxic chemicals in indoor environments, brought about by emissions from a great variety of building constituents. As energy efficient construction becomes absolutely essential, ‘green building’ designers have become justifiably concerned about this indoor air quality (IAQ) dilemma. Perhaps one of the most troubling reports comes from research published by Bio-Safe Incorporated (New Braunfels, Texas). Their data confirms that energy efficient, sealed office structures are often 10 times more polluted than the air outside! Research shows that plant-filled rooms contain 50-60% fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants. For almost twenty years Dr. Billy C.Wolverton and his aids in the Environmental Research Laboratory of John C. Stennis Space Center have been conducting innovative research employing natural biological processes for air purification. “We’ve found that plants have been found to suck these chemicals out of the air,” he says. “After some study, we’ve unraveled the mystery of how plants can act as the lungs and kidneys of these buildings.” The plants clean contaminated office air in two ways. They absorb office pollutants into their leaves and transmit the toxins to their roots, where they are transformed into a source of food for the plant. In his book, How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office (Penguin, 1997), Dr. Wolverton details exactly how plants emit these water vapors that create a pumping action to pull dirty air down around the roots, where it is once again converted into food for the plant. Wolverton has found that plants are especially needed in office buildings in which sick building syndrome is common. He goes so far as to suggest that everyone have a plant on his or her desk, within what he calls the “personal breathing zone.” This is an area of six to eight cubic feet where you spend most of your working day. Jay Naar, author of Design for A Livable Planet, suggests 15 to 20 plants are enough to clean the air in a 1,500 square foot area. Plants help reduce distractions due to office noise. Strategically placed, plants quiet down an office. A small indoor hedge placed around a workspace will reduce noise by 5 decibels. The positive contribution of interior plants to sound absorption has been well documented in numerous studies including the work done by Dr. Helen Russell, Oxford, England and David Uzzell, University of Surrey, England. Although it would be difficult to measure the cost of productivity loss due to office noise pollution, one doesn’t have to go far to find examples! Almost anyone who works in an office can give account to being “annoyed” into taking a break due to the common audible elements of a busy office. According to the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, landscape professionals are replacing stale cubicles for “tree walls” and other innovative plant groupings to reduce this costly “decibel distraction factor.” Click here to view more findings. For more information please write info@plantsatwork.org
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Interesting Links

 

Reprints

Case Studies

Research Links

 

Plants In Health Care Facilities

Plants in health care facilities can reap savings on both physical and financial costs through their ability to help alleviate pain and improve health.

 

Reprints

Case Studies

Research Links

 

Plants For Use In Retail

Interior plantscapes in retail facilities can breath new life into employees and consumers alike by reducing stress and promoting beauty and tranquility.

 

Case Studies

Research Links

Plants For Use In Hotels and Hospitality Outlets

The aesthetic and calming effect of interior plants can help boost occupancy rates and keep guests in the lobby, gift shop and atrium longer.

 

Reprints

Research Links

Case Studies

Press Releases

·         7 Steps to Green

·         Flowers & Plants = Productivity

·         Fact Sheet: Green ROI

·         International Workplace: Green = Thriving

·         Beat the Heat

·         FM Survey Results

·         Earth Day 2002

·         Earth Day Contributions

·         New Research for Facility Managers

·         Plants Reduce Stress in Buildings

·         Plants Reduce Stress in Workplaces

·         New Research for Human Resource Managers

 

Read article: “Plants… An Elementary Answer to a Larger Problem How Plants can help you Breathe Easier”

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Last modified:  8/16/2007