| You have probably heard of a light emitting diode, or | | | | inorganic mercury, which is found in fluorescent and |
| LED in the past. They have been used by the | | | | compact fluorescent light bulbs. Mercury containing |
| automotive and electronics industries for years, and | | | | bulbs are often very delicate, and can be broken |
| have quickly become the industry standard for | | | | easily. They need to be disposed of specially, and may |
| flashlight bulbs. Today, you can even find LED bulbs | | | | require special storage areas, depending on your state |
| designed to work from a traditional light bulb socket in | | | | regulations. The unintended release of respirable |
| your home. As a business owner, you are probably | | | | mercury can not only poison a local ecosystem, but is |
| aware of the economic benefits of using an LED sign | | | | also harmful to the human body in large enough doses. |
| over a fluorescent backed, neon, or halogen-lit sign. | | | | As mentioned earlier, LED bulbs are very durable and |
| Fluorescent bulbs need frequent replacement, neon | | | | have an exceptionally long service life. The use of an |
| bulbs are useless once their gas cores burn out, and | | | | LED sign can outlast innumerable fluorescent and |
| halogen bulbs can consume a large amount of | | | | halogen bulbs, as well as neon tubes. This means |
| electricity. An LED sign, however, can be expected to | | | | fewer waste products that is shipped off-site as |
| have a bulb life of hundreds of thousands of hours, | | | | waste and deposited into a landfill. It is also important to |
| and offer the clearest, most vivid messages that can | | | | look at where our energy comes from. |
| be seen from great distances. | | | | The majority of the power that we use is derived |
| LED signs are functional in both high and low light | | | | from coal-fired power plants, which contribute greatly |
| levels, and use far less energy than conventional | | | | to atmospheric pollution through emissions of sulfur |
| forms of sign lighting. Unlike most other types of signs, | | | | dioxide, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and nitrous |
| LED signs can be changed on-the-fly, to display a | | | | oxides. By using less energy, an LED sign can help to |
| changing variety of text and graphics in many different | | | | reduce the consumption of coal, thereby reducing air |
| colors. More importantly, however, are the | | | | pollution. Not to mention, you will be saving money on |
| environmental impacts of an LED sign. Compared to | | | | your monthly energy bill! Overall, the combined |
| traditional lighting sources, LED's are much more | | | | efficiency, service life, and durability of LED signs |
| efficient. Their design allows them to recycle much of | | | | makes them a very attractive investment. |
| the energy that runs into the circuit, harvesting just | | | | Although an LED sign may initially cost more than a |
| enough to provide light. Less energy is converted to | | | | fluorescent or neon lit apparatus, it will pay for itself in |
| heat, allowing LED's to run coolly and efficiently. Even | | | | no time, through reduced energy consumption and a |
| though they use much less energy, they are able to | | | | long service life. An LED sign offers clear performance |
| give off even more light than a larger fluorescent, | | | | advantages over every other lighting method for signs, |
| incandescent, halogen, or neon bulb. | | | | and is environmentally friendly at the same time. |
| An LED bulb contains no harmful chemicals, such as | | | | |