There are many companies that speak about making a difference in the world, but only a select few actually take action. Green City Solutions is making its mark on the planet by continuing to roll out their innovative CityTree, a functional solution for solving urban pollution. This compact bench and pollution filter has the air cleaning capabilities of 275 trees, all while taking up just 1% of the space real trees would need to do the same job.
The German startup has continued to place CityTrees in cities around the world, and now they've landed in London. Thanks to The Crown Estate, the first CityTree has been set up on Glasshouse Street, close to the buzz of Picadilly Circus. The installation couldn't come soon enough, with London's air pollution consistently going over legal annual levels within the first few weeks of each year.
So how does CityTree work? More than just a bench, its combination of mosses and plants organically removes dust, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone gases from the air. It also has a built-in monitoring system that checks pollution levels, air temperature, and water quality, among other things, and is fitted with solar panels for complete self-sufficiency.
With the support of @CityWestminster & @EvergenCleanAir, we are proud to launch London's first #citytree on Glasshouse St. Using breakthrough technology, the tree delivers 275x the air cleaning capability of a single tree 🌳https://t.co/Jss993Fdw3 pic.twitter.com/OHVHNq7aXS
— The Crown Estate (@TheCrownEstate) March 16, 2018
Though CityTree can't solve London's pollution problem on its own, it's a step in the right direction. “As one of central London’s major landowners, we want to play our role in improving London’s air quality to ensure our city remains a brilliant place for everyone who lives, works and visits here,” explained James Cooksey, Director for Central London, The Crown Estate. “There is no simple solution, so alongside our work to reduce carbon emissions from our buildings and reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, we want to test and learn from new technology.”
Green City Solutions is hoping that this is just the beginning for CityTree in the UK, and that, aside from adding more to London, other cities will follow suit and join more other urban areas worldwide that are using innovative technology to combat pollution.
Green City Solutions: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [IFL Science!]
Photo via The Crown Estate.
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