5 Environmental Benefits of LED Neon Signs

Are LED neon signs good or bad for the environment compared to other lighting technologies? Is it worth buying an LED neon sign in terms of power consumption? Below are five key environmental benefits of LED neon signs:

01. LED is Energy Efficient

It’s well-known that LED is strictly superior to incandescent bulbs in all sorts of applications, such as lighting your home and your workplace, but how energy efficient are LED neon signs?

The answer should be quite revealing: LED neon signs use around 80-90% less energy than traditional neon signs. To give a simple example, a medium to large-sized neon sign around 1m long may use around 10-20 watts whereas a traditional sign may use 60 to 100 watts.

This means that you could be saving an immense amount on your energy bills if you leave the sign on for 10 hours a day, every day, compared to if you were using a traditional neon sign at your home or business.

02. Fewer Toxic Materials

While there are some toxic materials needed to manufacture just about all electronics, including LED neon signs, they tend to use far fewer than traditional neon signs. Older neon signs made of glass tubing created the neon effect by injecting the tubes with various gases, including neon and often chemicals such as mercury, which can be toxic and harmful if exposed.

The neon signs made by Neon Party are made with modern PVC moulding techniques, which on its own appears less environmentally friendly than good ol’ glass, but there are no chemical gases needed to create the neon effect at all.

03. Lower Heat Emissions

One of the biggest hazards of older neon signs - and one of a few big reasons why they were often installed outdoors such as on the Las Vegas Strip - was that they tended to generate excessive amounts of heat whilst in operation. So hot, in fact, that they could lead to severe burns if improperly touched.

In contrast, Neon Party’s LED neon signs are completely safe and cool to the touch.

Recall your old science class and why heat is generated in the first place. Inefficiencies, even minute, lead to excess energy being lost as heat. It happens with extremely well-engineered European internal combustion engine automobiles, and it certainly happens with traditional neon signs. Less heat is just another sign that LED is far more energy efficient.

04. Longer Lifespan

Shorter product lifespans generate more waste, especially in a mass consumerist modern world. Neon signs can last quite a while and their lifespans can vary depending on many factors, but generally a traditional neon sign might last anywhere from around 10,000 hours to 30,000 hours. Roughly, this is around 3-10 years if the sign is used for 10 hours a day for the whole duration.

LED neon signs, on the other hand, can last anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 hours or more, which is around 10-15 years when used for 10 hours a day, every day.

05. More Durable Construction

Older neon signs made of glass are prone to all sorts of problems that require repairs and maintenance. Gases need to be replaced, broken glass tubing needs to be replaced, and working with older neon signs can be hazardous altogether.

LED neon signs from Neon Party are made with durable PVC which is a lot easier to mould into the desired form, lasts a lot longer, and is far more resilient than glass.

Neon Party

Shop for your next neon sign at Neon Party.