Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In southern Chile, firewood heats most homes, but it also drives severe air pollution.
Aníbal Montalva Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Fernández Donoso developed a nature-based solution: a living biofilter that uses plants to capture pollutants from chimney smoke.
By cooling and filtering emissions through vertical gardens, the system reduces particulate matter by over 90%, without requiring households to give up wood heating.
Already in use across homes, schools and hospitals.
Finalists in the 2026 European #InventorAward.
🎥 Watch and vote 👉 InventorAward.org
In southern Chile, firewood heats most homes, but it also drives severe air pollution.
Aníbal Montalva Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Fernández Donoso developed a nature-based solution: a living biofilter that uses plants to capture pollutants from chimney smoke.
By cooling and filtering emissions through vertical gardens, the system reduces particulate matter by over 90%, without requiring households to give up wood heating.
Already in use across homes, schools and hospitals.
Finalists in the 2026 European #InventorAward.
🎥 Watch and vote 👉 InventorAward.org
