Bright Green Blob

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have come along way over the last few years as specialists the world over develop newer, bigger, better, brighter and more cost effective solutions for interior and exterior lighting.

Our area of expertise relates to the backlighting of outdoor media and signage and increasingly, we are receiving more enquiries about alternatives to fluorescent tubes. For example, retailers with flex face, back illuminated light boxes are beginning to appreciate the financial benefits of switching to LEDs, while the Outdoor Media Companies are searching for solutions that will improve the quality of lighting as well as reducing energy consumption. At the same time, governments and local authorities, who are keen to reduce their carbon emissions, are also now recognising the potential for LEDs. In fact, they were recently mentioned in the House of Commons!

One recently completed example where a Local Authority has recognised the benefits of low energy LED can be found in Coventry, where the client has invested in LED illuminated, six sheet light boxes in the town centre. The result is bright and even illumination, with no striping and, just as importantly, energy savings will amount to £350 per light box in the first year.

So, is this the beginning of the end for fluorescent tubes?

It seems it might be. We have already witnessed the impact of the Government’s Green Policy on the traditional incandescent bulb. Under a voluntary ban, retailers have already stopped stocking 150 watt bulbs and agreed to stop replenishing stocks of 100 watt and 75 watt bulbs at the start of 2009. By 2010, 60 watt bulbs will start to be phased out and all incandescent bulbs will be banned by 2012, in favour of compact fluorescent bulbs (which contain mercury vapour).

There are certainly many good reasons for replacing fluorescent tube systems.

For a start they waste energy – only seven to 10 percent of the energy input is turned into light. They are also hazardous to produce and expensive to dispose of as they release mercury gas vapour into the environment. In addition, because they are so fragile, they demand costly, regular maintenance, often failing suddenly and unpredictably, necessitating instant replacement and thus racking up further cost.

And the list goes on. They generate heat, which often has to be removed with expensive air conditioning and, because they are less efficient when turned constantly on and off and hard to start in cold environments, they are often lit for 24 hours per day, even when they aren’t really required.

But worst of all, they don’t even offer good illumination. The light is often uneven and stripey, producing hot spots and dark zones and they are also prone to hum and flicker, detracting from the sign or advertising message they are supposed to be making effectively impactful.

Faced with all of this, it’s a wonder that anyone still uses them at all!

For lots more good reasons to chose LEDs, visit www.brightgreentechnology.com.

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