As traffic volumes increase, so urban air quaility deteriorates - particularly along main roads and highways, and at busy intersections. Although the long-term solution is reduction of traffic levels through improved public transportation, in the short term the most pressing need is to reduce levels of atmospheric pollutants. In this case, Fujita's Earth Air Purifiers (EAPs) provide a new and innovative solution.

the technology

EAPs are an environmentally-friendly way of improving urban air quality by taking advantage of naturally-occuring biological and biochemical processes. EAPs pump polluted air into a wind tunnel under specially-designed 'gardens'. As the air passes through the soil (and through the root-zone of the plants in the bed) physical, biochemical and biological processes combine to remove pollutants from the air stream.

The release of heat from industrial and residential buildings is considered the key cause of the urban heat islands. It is proven that grass or leafy foliage planted on roofs and building walls can play a major role in reducing heat generated so as to lower the effects of the urban heat islands.

Fujita has developed a new technology which allows plants to grow on buildings and roofs without the use of soil ? which has previous been a restricting factor in many instances.

Water is a valuable resource which most city dwellers take for granted. There is currently a worldwide move to cut back on consumption and to use water more sparingly. 

Fujita has taken this issue to heart developing a new rainwater collection and filtration system. The system uses a series of pipes, filters and storage in tanks, which are plumbed into the building water supply and is used primarily for toilet flushing, plant irrigation etc.