Recently we have come across a project that needs our attention to detail. This commercial building has been wrapped with neons for over 15 years. They called us to see about having us replace the neons with LED technology. I am sure there are other people out there who are probably just as unhappy as he is with their neon lighting, so I want to inform you of an alternative.
Neon vs. LED
Neon signs are luminous-tube signs that contain neon or other inert gases at low pressure. Applying a high voltage (usually a few thousand volts) makes the gas glow brightly. They are produced by the craft of bending glass tubing into shapes. A worker skilled in this craft is known as a glass, neon, or tube bender.
Neon sign tubes are distinguished from neon lamp bulbs by their length, customized shapes, higher operating voltages, and range of colors. The cost of running the product is around $4.40 per foot for the year.
LED stands for light-emitting diode. “When a light-emitting diode is forward biased (switched on), electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor. An LED is often small in area (less than 1 mm2), and integrated optical components may be used to shape its radiation pattern.
[3] LEDs present many advantages over incandescent light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved robustness, smaller size, faster switching, and greater durability and reliability.” Operational cost is somewhere around $1.10 per foot for the year.
With a payback in approximately 5-6 years, it would be wise to step up and replace that old neon lighting to move towards a green industry. Holiday Inn has done just that, in a recent article on environmentalleader.com they announced that they will be replacing all their neon signs around the country with LED. They are expecting to save around $4.4 Million dollars annually in lighting expenses. This push is exactly what businesses need to be doing not only to save money but to also move in the direction of a “Green Industry“.
For more questions or to get a design for your business let Outdoor Lighting Perspectives know. LEDs are becoming the future for energy savings.
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Patio Supply, and Mosquito Squad are happy to help you reclaim your backyard and turn it into an Outdoor Living Space.
New Flex LED lighting molds to almost any shape…
About the Author: Jim Hilliard
I started Outdoor Lighting Perspectives back in 1995, since then we have franchised and now have over 35 offices around the country. Our business has grown to what it is today because of our extraordinary service. Thank you for your interest in Outdoor Lighting Perspectives.
