Wood – according to scientists – evokes feelings of warmth and of being at one with nature, which in turn increases feelings of comfort and relaxation. While many series of tests explore factors of interior environment, such as indoor climate, noise, air quality, light, colour and ergonomic aspects, few have investigated the psychophysiological effects, begging the question: "What exactly are the effects on people and their health and well-being?"
And it is precisely in this area that there is huge potential for the optimisation of all those indoor environments where we spend the most time – homes, schools, workplaces, hotel rooms, etc. – particularly when the negative impact of so-called residential toxins is already well-known. Headaches, fatigue and even skin rashes are just some of the potential consequences of exposure to volatile organic compounds, such as solvents, often found in plastics, furniture, carpets, house paints and cleaning agents.