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Sustainability

There are many variations on the definitions for the term “Sustainability” but we believe that the simplest definition is probably the best.

Sustainability: Establishing policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In keeping with the statement above consider the following:

• By replacing just 100 pre Energy Star LED exit signs with Safe Glow signs, you can reduce air pollution by 152,500 pounds of CO2 – all while saving money
• Engineered to last more than 25 years, Safe Glow exit signs eliminate the wasteful and repetitive manufacturing, transportation and landfill associated with the replacement of low-quality throwaway products
• Safe Glow exit signs require no maintenance, replacement parts or batteries all of which require energy and material to produce, transport and dispose of
• Safe Glow sings are Leeds point qualified

Exit Sign Power Consumption and Carbon Footprint

The numbers below represent the power consumption and CO2 pollution values for a single exit sign. When these values are multiplied by the number of signs in a large facility (100 to 500 signs) or more importantly, the estimated 100 million exit signs installed in the United States, the positive environmental impact of Safe Glow’s signs becomes very clear.

1) One Kilowatt-hour of electricity produced in the United States ≈ 1 pound of carbon released into the environment (source: BlueSkyModel.org)

2) 25 years is the expected lifespan of Safe Glow’s Photoluminescent exit signs. During this timeframe the typical electric exit sing will generate infinitely more CO2

3) Older pre Energy Start LED exit signs consume as much as 10 watts of energy per hour of operation

NiCAD Batteries - The Hidden Exit Sign Pollution

Most electric exit signs utilize a battery backup that will enable them to function for a minimum of 90 minutes in the event of primary AC power failure. The most common type of battery found in exit signs are Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that has been shown to cause cancer in humans at very low levels - NiCad batteries contain about 16% Cadmium by weight.  

• Discarded NiCad batteries have been identified by the US EPA as a principal contributor of the toxic heavy metal Cadmium into the solid waste stream
• In 2000 it was estimated that NiCad batteries were responsible for approximately 75% of the cadmium found in our country’s landfills
• The typical life of an exit sign internal NiCad battery is 7-9 years for newer signs and 3-5 years for older signs, meaning that your old exit signs will require 5 to 8 sets of replacement batteries over a 25 year period which begs the question; where are all those used batteries going?