Echotech Intent-MarcD

Title:  PhotoSynthesis; Air Reconditioning Co. of UMaine

Images:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/Hfl1xPbxRUdnT/

Summary/Abstract:  A homepage for a company that allows UMaine students and faculty to choose plants to be delivered, and later cared for, that purify the air in their dorm room, office, apartment, or classroom.

Description:

Air quality inside buildings in and around campus can become very poor because the windows are shut for much of the year.  If fresh air can not be brought in from the outside toxins can build up.  In nature plants, through photosynthesis, remove CO2 and toxins and release fresh Oxygen.  There are several plants that are good for cleaning air by removing toxins such as English Ivy (aka Hedera Helix), Bamboo Palm (aka Hedera Helix), Chinese Evergreen (aka Aglaonema Modestum), Gerbera Daisy (aka Gerbera Jamesonii), Dragon Tree (aka Dracaena Marginata), Mother-in-law’s-Tongue (aka Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), Pot Mom (aka Chrysanthemum Morifolium), Peace Lily (aka Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’), Janet Craig (aka Dracaena Fragrans ‘Janet Craig’), Mass Cane/Corn Plant (aka Dracaena Fragrans ‘Massangeana’).  

Has you place been painted lately?  Has your roommate brought in a brand new rug?  What is making that new shower curtain smell so strong, that can’t be healthy to breathe in?  Someone is smoking and I am breathing in the dozens of compounds from that smoke.  Maybe you have had asthma or pneumonia like me. Or maybe your office or apartment windows have to stay shut during the cold months.  You don’t have to wait for spring weather to arrive to breathe in fresh air.  Here at UMaine we have a nonprofit company that will provide you with a natural way to remove toxins while producing fresh oxygen to your space.  It is called PhotoSynthesis Air Reconditioning Co. of UMaine.

Don’t be fooled by the pretty colors and nice-looking leaves, these plants can remove excess carbon dioxide from a lot of people breathing as well as toxins such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, and other harmful chemicals.  The plants are grown and housed in one of the UMaine campus greenhouses which rents space to PhotoSynthesis Air Reconditioning Co. of UMaine.  This student-run company is a nonprofit that shares proceeds with several college departments and offers many work study jobs and volunteer opportunities.  During the long winter vacation and other times volunteers bring the plants to be borrowed by local churches, schools, and nursing homes to clean out the air there until students return.

The home page for the company is where all of the day-to-day business operation begins.  There is a space on the home page for plant type and size selection, costs of each plant, delivery dates, scheduling routine plant maintenance (watering, fertilizing, etc. should be done by staff due to the particular needs of these unique plants).  There is also a private space on the home page just for staff which is for scheduling hours for working in the greenhouse, delivering plants, and doing on-site plant maintenance; assigning tasks; submitting work hours; etc.

Pica plants – http://www.pica.ws/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PICA-plant-sale-catalog-2018.pdf

Funding/Budget:  Initial start-up costs are requested by individual and corporate donors who are interested in helping UMaine create an eco-friendly, student-run nonprofit.  Grants are also requested from departments such as biology, environmental science, new media, and others as this company incorporates technology and life sciences.  Use of school owned vans is requested to transport these plants as some customers request large plants.

Greenhouse Rental Space:  $200.00/month (includes space, heat, water and lighting)

Baby Plants (2.5 ” potted plants):  varies between $10.00 and $20.00

Soil, fertilizer, and larger pots:  $6.00 per plant

UMaine Van Rental:  $3.00/mile

Homepage Design:  $1,000

Homepage Maintenance:  $100.00/month

* PhotoSynthesis Air Reconditioning Co. of UMaine will charge between $100 and $200 per plant.  That may seem expensive but that includes the cost of these unique plants, some of which baby plants may need to be shipped from different parts of the world; delivery; routine house call maintenance visits; and plant-sitting services when you are away for as long as the plant is alive.  If and when the plant dies a flat fee of $50 for a replacement will be charged for as long as you are affiliated with the school as a student or faculty member.