| Sustainable architecture is one of the 'buzz words' in | | | | standard one; photoluminescent exit signs are |
| the architectural field at the moment, and in a building | | | | definitely preferable, and significant advances in this |
| and new construction market that's suffered | | | | field have been made over the last twenty years. |
| significant price declines over the last 18 months, the | | | | Other issues also come up in green buildings, like |
| market for sustainable concepts and green buildings | | | | greater need for water circulation pipes, and the |
| has grown, and are one of the few bright spots in | | | | maintenance issues that come up from them. While |
| the construction market. | | | | every building needs water circulation for sprinklers as |
| However, there's more than energy efficiency to | | | | part of the fire exit sign requirement, green buildings |
| sustainable architecture. While energy efficiency is | | | | have a lot more plumbing to manage, which can |
| one of the chief drivers in this field, it comes with | | | | increase construction costs and increase some |
| some drawbacks which aren't always noticed - | | | | maintenance costs down the road, partially offsetting |
| fortunately, these can be overcome, and the overall | | | | some of the cost benefits of sustainable architecture. |
| approach is definitely valid. | | | | Other techniques used for improving indoor air quality |
| The first significant drawback is that high efficiency | | | | in green construction, beyond removing tritium exit |
| HVAC systems create indoor pollution. Because the | | | | signs and replacing them with photoluminescent exit |
| buildings themselves are sealed much more tightly | | | | signs, include details like using low volatile content |
| against the elements, things like outgassing from | | | | paints, and organic solvents and sealers; the goal is to |
| paint and carpeting and the glues needed to keep | | | | not only make it easier to remove contaminated air |
| them down accumulate. This can be solved through | | | | from the building, but to cut back on the materials |
| the use of better ventilation systems that can pump | | | | that contaminate the air directly. This can even |
| those waste air streams outside where they can | | | | extend into wall construction material, where |
| dissipate. | | | | different choices of cement are made. |
| Similarly, because these types of buildings have low | | | | This contrasts with traditional building techniques |
| surface area to volume ratios, the need for fire exit | | | | where the usual goal is to make the resulting |
| signs goes up; more of the space of the building is | | | | structure as maintenance free as possible. Well |
| taken up with corridors and less of it is exterior | | | | designed green buildings understand that maintenance |
| facing. This reduction of surface area to volume | | | | has to be done, and try to make sure that those |
| makes heating and cooling much more efficient, but | | | | maintenance tasks are easily reachable, which is why |
| can make the building a bit less navigable. | | | | photoluminescent strips and exit signs used; they're |
| Combining the two issues (more fire exit signs | | | | less work to swap out than a conventional electric |
| needed, and the air circulation problem) also highlights | | | | sign with a battery backup, and leave more time free |
| another issue: Tritium exit signs are even more | | | | to do other tasks needed to keep a green building |
| hazardous in a green building than they are in a | | | | tuned for optimum efficiency. |