Some 17 years ago, I became allergic to Delhi's air. My doctors told me that my lung capacity had gone down to 70 percent, and it was killing me. With the help of IIT, TERI, and learnings from NASA, we discovered that there are three basic green plants, common green plants, with which we can grow all the fresh air we need indoors to keep us healthy. We've also found that you can reduce the fresh air requirements into the building, while maintaining industry indoor air-quality standards.
大約17年前，我開始對德裡的空氣過敏。 我的醫生告訴我，我的肺活量 已經減少到原來的70%， 這樣下去會有生命危險。 在印度理工學院、印度塔塔能源研究所的幫助下，利用美國國家航空航天局的研究成果， 在印度理工學院、印度塔塔能源研究所的幫助下，利用美國國家航空航天局的研究成果， 我們發現有三種 基本的綠色植物， 普通的綠色植物，利用它們 我們可以生產出 我們在室內所需的新鮮空氣，以保證我們的身體健康。 我們還發現這樣可以 減少建築物對室外新鮮空氣流入的需求 同時保持 室內空氣品質標準。
The three plants are Areca palm, Mother-in-Law's Tongue and money plant. The botanical names are in front of you. Areca palm is a plant which removes CO2 and converts it into oxygen. We need four shoulder-high plants per person, and in terms of plant care, we need to wipe the leaves every day in Delhi, and perhaps once a week in cleaner-air cities. We had to grow them in vermi manure, which is sterile, or hydroponics, and take them outdoors every three to four months. The second plant is Mother-in-law's Tongue, which is again a very common plant, and we call it a bedroom plant, because it converts CO2 into oxygen at night. And we need six to eight waist-high plants per person. The third plant is money plant, and this is again a very common plant; preferably grows in hydroponics. And this particular plant removes formaldehydes and other volatile chemicals.
這三種植物是：散尾葵、 虎尾蘭和綠蘿。 幻燈片上有它們的學名。 散尾葵是一種 吸收二氧化碳，並將其轉化為氧氣的植物。 我們平均每個人需要四株齊肩高的植株。 在植物養護方面， 我們需要將樹葉擦拭乾淨， 在德裡的話，每天都需要擦。 空氣乾淨些的城市可能一周一次就可以了。 我們得用蚯蚓糞為它們施肥， 這種方法是無菌的；或者用水栽培， 並且每三到四個月將植物移至戶外曬曬太陽。 第二種植物是虎尾蘭， 它也是一種常見的植物， 我們稱它為臥室植物， 因為它在會在夜間將二氧化碳轉化為氧氣。 我們每個人需要六到八株高度及腰的這種植物。 第三種植物是綠蘿， 同樣是一種十分常見的植物。 適於用水栽培。 這種植物可以吸收甲醛 和其他揮發性化學物質。
With these three plants, you can grow all the fresh air you need. In fact, you could be in a bottle with a cap on top, and you would not die at all, and you would not need any fresh air. We have tried these plants at our own building in Delhi, which is a 50,000-square-feet, 20-year-old building. And it has close to 1,200 such plants for 300 occupants. Our studies have found that there is a 42 percent probability of one's blood oxygen going up by one percent if one stays indoors in this building for 10 hours. The government of India has discovered or published a study to show that this is the healthiest building in New Delhi. And the study showed that, compared to other buildings, there is a reduced incidence of eye irritation by 52 percent, respiratory systems by 34 percent, headaches by 24 percent, lung impairment by 12 percent and asthma by nine percent. And this study has been published on September 8, 2008, and it's available on the government of India website.
有了這三種植物， 你可以生產出你需要的所有的新鮮空氣。 實際上，你甚至可以住在一個瓶子中， 蓋上瓶蓋，你也死不了。 並且你也不需要任何外面的新鮮空氣。 我們在德裡的辦公大樓裡試驗了這些植物， 我們在德裡的辦公大樓裡試驗了這些植物， 那是一個5萬平方英尺，有20年歷史的建築。 建築裡有300位居住者，放置了近1200棵這樣的植物。 我們的研究發現 如果一個人在這棟建築中待上10個小時的話，他的血氧含量提升一個百分點的概率達42%。 如果一個人在這棟建築中待上10個小時的話，他的血氧含量提升一個百分點的概率達42%。 如果一個人在這棟建築中待上10個小時的話，他的血氧含量提升一個百分點的概率達42%。 印度政府已經發現 並公布了一項研究顯示 這是整個新德裡最健康的建築。 並且研究表明 與其他建築相比， 樓裡的居民眼部過敏的情形減少了52%。 樓裡的居民眼部過敏的情形減少了52%。 呼吸系統問題減少了34%， 頭疼症狀減少24%， 肺功能障礙降低12%， 哮喘減少9%。 這項研究已經於2008年9月8日發表了， 可以從印度政府的網站上下載。
Our experience points to an amazing increase in human productivity by over 20 percent by using these plants. And also a reduction in energy requirements in buildings by an outstanding 15 percent, because you need less fresh air. We are now replicating this in a 1.75-million-square-feet building, which will have 60,000 indoor plants.
根據我們的經驗， 利用這些植物，工作效率獲得了20%的驚人提高。 利用這些植物，工作效率獲得了20%的驚人提高。 建築物的能源需求也大幅下降了15%， 因為不再需要從室外注入那麼多新鮮空氣了。 我們現在正將這個模式複製到 一個一百七十五萬平方英尺的建築中， 那裡將會放置六萬株室內植物。
Why is this important? It is also important for the environment, because the world's energy requirements are expected to grow by 30 percent in the next decade. 40 percent of the world's energy is taken up by buildings currently, and 60 percent of the world's population will be living in buildings in cities with a population of over one million in the next 15 years. And there is a growing preference for living and working in air-conditioned places. "Be the change you want to see in the world," said Mahatma Gandhi. And thank you for listening. (Applause)
為什麼這個研究值得重視？ 它對自然環境也有很大意義， 因為預計在未來的十年中， 世界的能源需求 將以30%的速度增長。 目前，40%的世界能源是被建築物消耗掉的， 目前，40%的世界能源是被建築物消耗掉的， 在未來的十五年，60%世界人口將居住在人口超百萬的大城市裡。 在未來的十五年，60%世界人口將居住在人口超百萬的大城市裡。 在未來的十五年，60%世界人口將居住在人口超百萬的大城市裡。 而且有越來越多的人喜歡 在空調間生活和工作。 欲變世界，先變其身。 這是聖雄甘地說的。 感謝各位的聽我的講座。 （掌聲）