The Green Solution for Your Building's Exit Signs and Egress Markings

If you've been tasked with coming up with and implementing a green solution for your company's exits signs and egress markings, then you need to take a long look into the new kid on the block—photoluminescent exit signs and egress markings. These next generation exit signs have become the best answer for saving not only energy, but also a considerable amount of money. In today's cost-conscious climate, that is not only a good thing, it's a matter or survival! Let's examine how the use of photoluminescent materials in your building's emergency exit sign strategy can be beneficial to you.

First of all, these photoluminescent exit signs are composed of a luminescent coating which collects and saves ambient light. They require no electricity or wiring, no batteries, and are simple and easy to install. They have no maintenance, except for the occasional cleaning that's necessary due to the dust and grime associated with any building environment. They are 100% recyclable, and can simply be disposed of by tossing them into the nearest metal recycling container.

Compare this to the issues involved with either incandescent lighting or tritium ext signs. The  bulbs constantly need replacement, the batteries die (meaning they're unreliable), and the wiring can go bad and require attention.  In other words, they involve a whole host of regular maintenance concerns. In the case of tritium exit signs, there are an entire other range of issues dealing with their radioactivity, including the mounds of paperwork required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission! They need to be disposed of by a licensed hazardous materials handler, which is another hassle to deal with. Who needs a headache like that?

These exit signs and egress markings are 100% reliable. You can be sure  that they will be there and operate when they are needed. No worries about whether a backup generator will kick in, or if batteries are charged. They are designed to be visible to around 100 feet in a blackout or smoke-filled environments, and they are also rated bomb-proof for those building managers that need concern themselves with that classification.

Using photoluminescent materials in your building can save you a considerable amount of money. For a typical building, the replacement of their exits signs with photoluminescent materials can save an average of $3,500 a year in direct costs of energy, reduced maintenance, and materials. That savings will no doubt be increased in the future, as costs continue to rise. In today's cost-cutting economic climate, this is a real no-brainer!

In addition, the use of photoluminescent materials in your building's exit signs will reduce your carbon footprint by some half million tons of CO2 over the life of the products. That is a significant amount, and you'll get a pat on the back for this accomplishment alone!       

The best (and only) U.S. manufacturer of photoluminescent exit signs and egress markings is a company called Jessop Manufacturing, located in McHenry, Illinois. They offer a wide range of photoluminescent safety products, including exit signs, egress markings, fire signs, glow in the dark tape, and much more. Their products can be found at GloBriteSystem.com.