The Future of LED Technology: Lighting Beyond Profit
OVERVIEW
The foundation for modern LED (light-emitting diode) technology goes way back towards the early part of the 20th century. Since then, LEDs continue to be the energy efficient solution as efficacy (Lumens/Watt) increases, and as mass adoption drives prices to commodity levels.
The difference in technology is based on the functionality within the LED semi-conductor. Diode-light is much more efficiently powerful than filament light and use about 75% less energy than incandescent lighting at regular emitting levels.
Of course, the obvious real difference between LED technology compared to other lighting sources is the amount of dollars you’ll save on utilities, and the amount of time you’ll save on avoiding costly maintenance requirements. LED technology is truly lighting beyond profit.
By retrofitting all your signs to LED technology, you’ll generate overall utility savings with a payback on your investment in as little as 2-years.
Eco-conscious Sustainable Savings
By 2030, the Department of Energy estimates that LED-lighting could save 190-terawatt hours of electricity each year, which amounts to $15-billion. In addition, it’s also been reported that LEDs can reduce carbon emissions by 100-million metric tons.
In 2019, it was reported that 61 nuclear power plants in the U.S. produce a total estimate of 800-terawatt hours. LED energy can provide savings equivalent to the production of 14 nuclear power plants and help save 100-million metric tons of carbon emissions that equates to the weight of 650,000 blue whales.
How these metrics impact signage is through direct consumer savings. LED signs utilize about 60%-80% less electricity and use only 12 or 24-volt power supplies. By retrofitting all your signs to LED technology, you’ll generate overall utility savings with a payback on your investment in as little as 2-years.
Call Enterprise Signs at (866) 571 - 4609 or email essales@enterprisesigns.com to learn more about how to retrofit your signage.
Payback’s a Breeze
Like all consumer related products, as the volume of technology goes up, prices inevitably go down. LED retrofits have hit their stride, and now generate a payback in 3-years or less.
Your current non-LED signage may require between 2-3 service calls a year, which can add to a hefty service bill each time. LEDs require no repair costs for at least 5-years under a proper warranty plan.
For example, a large restaurant chain spent $600,000 in one-year alone just to repair their neon channel letters. Replacing neon-based signage is an extremely expensive project. To make things worse, the number of neon manufacturers has dropped dramatically in the last 10-years. Thus, as the demand for neon signage decreases, the costs of repairs and manufacturing prices increases.
Instead of throwing money away on outdated technology, invest your money into LED-conversions. The payback will feel like a refreshing breeze.
Retrofitting may still be the best decision but having a better plan before engaging in this process will help drive down costs and help create a better foundation to achieve your optimal payback period.
Stick with Structure and Seek Professional Advice
Although LED-retrofitting seems like the perfect answer, you must first plan and gauge if this is the right option for you and your brand. Make sure you’re having these discussions openly with your senior management and with your national signage partner. If it’s been at least five-years since the company last refreshed their brand image, they might be planning one soon. Seven to ten-years is the average time between brand refreshes, so it pays to do your homework first.
Also, acknowledge your store footprint. If you have 100-stores spread over 50-states, there’s not much of an opportunity for economies of scale – as far as field labor is concerned. If your footprint is more densely packed, installers can make “milk-runs” throughout your portfolio to reduce your store labor costs.
Retrofitting may still be the best decision but having a better plan before engaging in this process will help drive down costs and help create a better foundation to achieve your optimal payback period.
Creating the best retrofit plan is all about the data. It’s easy to complain about the cost of site-audits, but in reality, site-audits pay for themselves many times over.
LEDs have many benefits over traditional light sources. So, when creating your proposal, make sure you’re including the qualitative advantages along with the quantitative facts.
Every sign program is unique. The performance of your signs is critical to your overall brand strategy, energy reduction initiative, and corporate sustainability. Be sure to match the best technology for your signage types and goals.