515
important. As noted, outgassing from many surfacecovering materials, which can contribute to indoor air pollution, can similarly be
potentially minimized through nanobased coatings. Despite the
importance of these latter topics, there seems to be little current
research attention focused upon them.
Many other products are surfaceoriented or form part of surfaceforming enclosure systems and include thermal insulation materials. Nanoporous materials that can be made into large surface
forms, such as aerogels, are expected to continue to make real
advances here, as are improved phasechange materials. The longdesired “transparent insulation” material for use in building façades
could become a viable reality (or at least a highly translucent
version of it); see Section 9.3. Buildings also use extensive amounts
of polymeric sheets or coatings, and the many expected advances in
polymers through nanofillers or nanoparticles can potentially be
beneficial here. The same is true with textiles.
Many of the products made for enclosure systems are quite sophisticated and relatively high up on the technology value chain. Producers making these products respond to building industry needs
often lead in developing new technologies for the industry, but
they also rely on broader distributions and markets outside the
building industry to help support research and development activities. Some of the most exciting uses of nanomaterials in relation to
the building industry are found in these products. Products can be
designed to respond to many of the currently important industry
drivers, such as energy conservation, while uses and markets are big
enough to support technologically sophisticated responses.
Lighting and other environmental systems are also natural places for
rapid developments in relation to nanotechnologies. Advances
enabled by nanotechnologies in the lighting area promise to be
highly significant, not only for the quality of lighting but in relation to reduced energy consumption as well. Lightemitting diodes
(LEDs) are already in wide use and have become a major product
within the building industry. Expectations are that they could
evolve into more efficient and frequencyadjustable quantumbased devices (QLEDs; see Section 9.5). Coupled with advances in
the optical properties of thinfilm or coating technologies based on
nanomaterials, highly interesting advances can be expected in the
design of lighting environments. Other environmental systems are
expected to benefit as well. There is, of course, widespread interest
in using renewable or alternative energy sources, as well as making
traditional systems more efficient. The idea of a building being
The Building and Construction Industry
important. As noted, outgassing from many surfacecovering materials, which can contribute to indoor air pollution, can similarly be
potentially minimized through nanobased coatings. Despite the
importance of these latter topics, there seems to be little current
research attention focused upon them.
Many other products are surfaceoriented or form part of surfaceforming enclosure systems and include thermal insulation materials. Nanoporous materials that can be made into large surface
forms, such as aerogels, are expected to continue to make real
advances here, as are improved phasechange materials. The longdesired “transparent insulation” material for use in building façades
could become a viable reality (or at least a highly translucent
version of it); see Section 9.3. Buildings also use extensive amounts
of polymeric sheets or coatings, and the many expected advances in
polymers through nanofillers or nanoparticles can potentially be
beneficial here. The same is true with textiles.
Many of the products made for enclosure systems are quite sophisticated and relatively high up on the technology value chain. Producers making these products respond to building industry needs
often lead in developing new technologies for the industry, but
they also rely on broader distributions and markets outside the
building industry to help support research and development activities. Some of the most exciting uses of nanomaterials in relation to
the building industry are found in these products. Products can be
designed to respond to many of the currently important industry
drivers, such as energy conservation, while uses and markets are big
enough to support technologically sophisticated responses.
Lighting and other environmental systems are also natural places for
rapid developments in relation to nanotechnologies. Advances
enabled by nanotechnologies in the lighting area promise to be
highly significant, not only for the quality of lighting but in relation to reduced energy consumption as well. Lightemitting diodes
(LEDs) are already in wide use and have become a major product
within the building industry. Expectations are that they could
evolve into more efficient and frequencyadjustable quantumbased devices (QLEDs; see Section 9.5). Coupled with advances in
the optical properties of thinfilm or coating technologies based on
nanomaterials, highly interesting advances can be expected in the
design of lighting environments. Other environmental systems are
expected to benefit as well. There is, of course, widespread interest
in using renewable or alternative energy sources, as well as making
traditional systems more efficient. The idea of a building being
The Building and Construction Industry