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In the list of common drivers to all industries noted in the opening
of this section, the ones related to environmental impacts and the
use of environmentally benign materials, energy use, health and
safety, and costs stand out as very important basic concerns. Achieving goodquality indoor thermal and lighting environments is a
primary driver, as is providing buildings that are healthy for occupants. Improved work and task environments are always important.
The quality of use experiences that stem from either interesting features or spatial compositions or simply good functional designs
remain fundamental as well. Needs or desires to differentiate buildings from one another, in many sectors, remain highly important
(witness the success of designs from the office of Frank Gehry, an
architect well known for his unusual buildings). Specific material
or technological innovations that relate to color, movement, and
interactivity are hungrily seized on.
At the broad level, many nanobased materials and technologies
are poised to improve basic living and work environments. From
an environmental point of view, advances are certainly expected
in the quality of our lighting environments. Improvements are
expected in both artificial and the provision of natural lighting due
to improved lightemitting sources (types, control of wavelengths,
illumination characteristics); improved control of light reflection,
absorption, and transmission (surfaces, windows), and control
systems (see the following and Section 9.5). Improvements are
expected in air and water quality through improved cleaning and
purification systems based on nanotechnologies. Air environments
have the potential to become healthier due not only to improved
aircleaning techniques but the potential of using nanocoatings and
other approaches to help reduce outgassing and the generation of
airborne particulates from many building elements that cause the
wellknown “sick building” syndrome. Use of surfaces or materials
with antimicrobial behaviors can contribute to healthier buildings
in general, certainly in medical facilities. Exterior surfaces and
paving made with nanocoatings or nanomaterials can potentially
help reduce air pollution. Surfaces may be made more fire retardant
and less likely to give off toxic gases in fire circumstances through
the use of various nanocoatings and films. Thermal environments
can be more energy efficient, and highly improved means of energy
production are at hand. Actual impacts on comfort levels, however,
may be less dramatic than expected for lighting. Few really dramatic
improvements are expected in common passive acoustic environments, although there will be improved vibration and impact noise
control and great improvements in sound production systems.
The Building and Construction Industry
In the list of common drivers to all industries noted in the opening
of this section, the ones related to environmental impacts and the
use of environmentally benign materials, energy use, health and
safety, and costs stand out as very important basic concerns. Achieving goodquality indoor thermal and lighting environments is a
primary driver, as is providing buildings that are healthy for occupants. Improved work and task environments are always important.
The quality of use experiences that stem from either interesting features or spatial compositions or simply good functional designs
remain fundamental as well. Needs or desires to differentiate buildings from one another, in many sectors, remain highly important
(witness the success of designs from the office of Frank Gehry, an
architect well known for his unusual buildings). Specific material
or technological innovations that relate to color, movement, and
interactivity are hungrily seized on.
At the broad level, many nanobased materials and technologies
are poised to improve basic living and work environments. From
an environmental point of view, advances are certainly expected
in the quality of our lighting environments. Improvements are
expected in both artificial and the provision of natural lighting due
to improved lightemitting sources (types, control of wavelengths,
illumination characteristics); improved control of light reflection,
absorption, and transmission (surfaces, windows), and control
systems (see the following and Section 9.5). Improvements are
expected in air and water quality through improved cleaning and
purification systems based on nanotechnologies. Air environments
have the potential to become healthier due not only to improved
aircleaning techniques but the potential of using nanocoatings and
other approaches to help reduce outgassing and the generation of
airborne particulates from many building elements that cause the
wellknown “sick building” syndrome. Use of surfaces or materials
with antimicrobial behaviors can contribute to healthier buildings
in general, certainly in medical facilities. Exterior surfaces and
paving made with nanocoatings or nanomaterials can potentially
help reduce air pollution. Surfaces may be made more fire retardant
and less likely to give off toxic gases in fire circumstances through
the use of various nanocoatings and films. Thermal environments
can be more energy efficient, and highly improved means of energy
production are at hand. Actual impacts on comfort levels, however,
may be less dramatic than expected for lighting. Few really dramatic
improvements are expected in common passive acoustic environments, although there will be improved vibration and impact noise
control and great improvements in sound production systems.
The Building and Construction Industry