Green Tech – Eco-Friendly LED Neon Signs

Almost everyone these days, including individuals or businesses, is looking to not only save money but the planet too.

The last couple of years have been the most trying that the majority of people have had to endure, at least in the western world. There have been job losses, business closures, and financial hardships.

But, before the pandemic started, there was already much concern about the environment. Ironically, the lockdowns of 2020 actually helped the environment in many ways. Less traffic, less waste, fewer emissions.

However, life is getting back to normal now, and that is something to be thankful for. That doesn’t mean that things should return to bad habits. Businesses are now reopening to full capacity, and they are looking to attract customers… 

Do Businesses Need a Revamp?

Many places across the world have suffered from extended lockdowns. Some countries have had their tourist industry wiped out. If you stroll down a street in some tourist parts of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, you might be surprised at how bad the signs and shops look now.

A year and a half of no tourists, and no money has left many destinations looking bereft.

However, things are starting to look up. Hopefully, tourist destinations will start to fill up with holidaymakers again, and businesses will make money.

But also, hopefully, the same businesses will think about how they affect the planet. Everyone has had enough time to consider how people affect the world after witnessing Covid.

Something as small as signage, lighting, and energy usage can affect the environment. 

When Did Neon First Appear?

When neon first appeared, it was described as being a crimson blaze of light. This was back in the early 1900s, although it was in the last decade of the 1800s that Sir William Ramsay discovered four of the noble gases.

You can surely guess that one of those was neon. This gas went on to be utilized in some of the most iconic signage and advertising that the world has ever seen.

Neon first appeared properly in public, in Paris in 1910. It was then used in London, England, and America. After that, it spread throughout the world.

There had never been any sort of lighting or signage like it before. 

Why Was, or Is, Neon so Popular?

Neon is perhaps the most unique type of lighting that the world has. It has the ability to present a certain atmospheric appeal that other lights cannot.

Imagine a fluorescent strip light or a normal incandescent bulb. Not really the same as the neon lights from the Hollywood movies is it?

Also, neon lights have a certain connection to famous places and moments. You will connect them without even thinking about certain scenes in blockbuster movies such as the end of Con Air. As the plane comes down to land on Sunset Boulevard, you see neon lights galore.

Perhaps, one of the reasons that neon is so popular, is that it can create an atmosphere that no other lighting can. Many popular destinations have some awesome neon signs, and these are just iconic. However, perhaps there is a more eco-friendly version of neon. 

Is Neon Lighting Bad for the Environment?

Neon itself isn’t particularly harmful to the environment. In fact, it could be described as completely safe, and non-harmful.

So, why bother making an alternative to neon lighting? Well, there is more than one reason for this.

Neon lights are made with glass and also contain mercury. The design of neon lights is incredibly appealing, and visitors to Times Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Las Vegas, can all testify that neon looks great.

However, neon lights break, and they are a hazardous material to dispose of. While they aren’t terrible for the environment, there are far better replacements. 

How Can You Recreate Neon Without Damaging the Environment?

It might seem strange to recommend plastic today. Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution, and almost every week there is a news story about sea life dying from the plastic thrown in the ocean.

However, modern neon lights are not using microplastics, nor are they throw-away options.

There is a new way of recreating neon lights through acrylic and LED lights. A combination of acrylic tubes, backing panels where needed, edging, and LEDs, can now be used to make an alternative to neon. 

What Are the Eco-Benefits of LED Neon?

While plastic is never the best choice of material, it can be good if it lasts for a long time. And when it is combined with LEDs, there is a pretty good match.

Traditional neon lights can break easily and that broken glass presents a hazard. The components of neon lighting also present a problem with disposal. Mercury is a poisonous and dangerous substance.

Also, there is the bulb’s lifespan to consider.

There are differing accounts of how long neon can last, but some reports will put it at around 10,000 hours. This is pretty good, especially compared to other forms of lighting.

Incandescent lights can last up to 2,000 hours on average, and halogen, maybe up to 4,000 hours.

LED lights are different though, and the science website, How Stuff Works, puts their lifespan at around 25,000 hours. They are more energy-efficient, and they take up less landfill space. 

What Could You Do With LED Neon Lights?

It is all very well talking about how energy efficient, or long-lasting, LED neon lights are. But, what would you want with them?

Well, if you were a business owner you could look at some very effective lighting or signage for your shop or office. They would work well in a bar or restaurant too.

However, maybe think a bit closer to home. A games room, a basement or home bar, or a playroom for your children, could all be taken up a notch in style with an LED neon sign.

In times of Covid, and not being able to socially mingle as much, you could make your own bar at home with a name made out of LED neon. 

Would Switching to LED Neon Save You Money?

If you are a business owner who is using traditional neon or just looking at a new way to advertise, then you may be looking at sustainable energy.

No one now wants to be the person who burns fossil fuels or damages the environment. Solar power is the big buzz in many places, and you could save money this way.

Anyone from California, Florida, or Hawaii, who went towards solar power about ten years ago, will have saved between $30,000 and $60,000 by now.

LED lights can be powered by solar energy. This means that not only are you saving on replacement bulbs, but you can avoid paying extra on utility bills too. 

Summary

Neon lighting is highly atmospheric. It is featured in black and white Hollywood movies. It is still used widely in Las Vegas around the casinos, and it is in some iconic city settings.

However, in a time when everyone needs to think of the environment, LED neon is perhaps a better and more eco-friendly alternative. It is long-lasting, can be weatherproof, looks good, and is not hazardous, unlike the old glass tubes.