Air Purifier With Greenery Onboard -- Nice To Look At, But Wouldn't Straight-Up Houseplants Achieve The Same Effect?

Ohhhh, a plant inside an air purifying unit -- now that's a new and interesting design concept. 

We're all breathing air inside our homes that is far more laden with chemical and toxic pollutants than what is circulating outside, so it makes sense that we'd want to integrate technology with nature.

I was almost tempted to go on and on about how this is definitely a step in the right direction for people who really want to clean up the air in their internal environment....except that it's somewhat unnecessary.

Why put a naturally filtering plant inside a plastic dome (one that is made out of petroleum, by the way, which releases plenty of pollutants on its own thank you very much) when you can just allow it to thrive on its own in a terracotta pot?

If you check out this video, you'll realize that there are a whole host of NASA-approved houseplants that are particularly adept at filtering air.

Here's the crazy thing about Mother Nature -- there is never any need for plastic-fangled devices...you want clean air, then allow peace lilies and spider plants to work their magic.

While this ANDREA green lung air purifier, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and David Edwards, is certainly nicer to look at that the hulking Honeywell HEPA unit that is sitting in my garage, in my "professional opinion," just buy a bunch of houseplants instead for the same (or even better) effect.

This article details many of the NASA-approved plants that beat down airborne particulates with each oxygen releasing exhalation, and if you have any ideas for other more natural ways to filter indoor air, please share them below!