Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Using Self-Luminous Exit Signs in Sustainable Construction

Trimming costs in new construction can always be a challenge, but one easy way to realize immediate cost and energy savings would be to include the use of self-luminous exit signs in the new buildings. These next generation exit signs and emergency egress markings have a great many advantages over their predecessors, in terms of both environmentally friendliness and cost efficiency. Let's see just why these photoluminescent exit signs can help keep your employees and customers safe, and how they can save you money in the process.

The technology behind self-luminous exit signs is both ingenious and sensible for today's cost-conscious and eco-friendly times. These exit signs collect and store ambient light when your building is in use, and then make it available when there is a blackout or other emergency event. These signs glow green to a distance of 100 feet, even in smoke-filled or dark conditions, and will stay illuminated for several days. They use no electricity, consume no batteries, and are virtually maintenance-free. They are also movable. If your building's emergency egress plan were to change, it would be a snap to move the mounting hardware to the new desired location and simply remount the unit. No wiring to fool with or relocate, and you're back up to code in minutes.

There are also none of the issues you have with tritium exit signs, such as the radioactive materials they contain and the need to dispose of them by licensed hazardous materials experts-these signs are regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. You can't even buy these in the US any longer because of environmental concerns.

Not only are these photoluminescent exit signs eco-friendly, they are budget-friendly as well. Relatively inexpensive to purchase, these exits signs and egress markings will save you money both now and in the long term. They have a life span of 25 years, so there will be no ongoing expenses as you would have with other exit sign methods. There will be no direct energy costs, replacement batteries, or electricians. In a typical building with 100 exit signs, installation and use of self-luminous exit signs would save a cool $3,500 per year, and even more over a longer period of time.

It's not only about the monetary savings, either. The carbon footprint on your building would be reduced some half a million pounds of CO2 per year, which could make a huge environmental impact. They are 100% recyclable, and when it's time to replace them, they can be disposed of on a normal metal recycling bin.

These next generation emergency signs come in many varieties, but the exit signs only glow green for a few good reasons. First, it has been proven that the human eye has difficulty picking up the color red in dark or smoky conditions. People also readily associate the color green with "go," as with a traffic light.The only American manufacturer of photoluminescent safety signage and evacuation solutions is a company called Jessop Manufacturing, based in McHenry, IL. They have been around for more than 50 years, and are the market leader in today's dynamic green building and sustainable architecture. You can find their innovative products online at www.GloBriteSystem.com.

To learn more about how photoluminescent exit signs can help your company become more eco-friendly and save energy dollars in the process, visit us today at http://www.GloBriteSystem.com

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