Try to guess what that number represents. We’ll wait for a minute while you think.
OK. Do you give up yet?
6250 days, or about 17 years, is how long a typical LED light will last. And while the lifespans of LEDs blow their incandescent, neon and other counterparts clear out of the water, they’re also beneficial for a number of other reasons.
When incandescent or fluorescent lights dim, it’s because their bulbs are filled with gasses that are prone to leaking after a period of wear and tear. Those leaks are what cause a reduction in brightness. LED bulbs don’t contain gas, and therefore, they don’t dim!
They save power
And by saving you power, they’re saving you money, and you’re also saving the environment. While a typical neon light uses about 20 watts of power per foot, an LED will only use a little over 1 watt. Let’s put those numbers to work.
Say you need to run 100 feet of light. LEDs will cost about 120 watts of power. If you crunch the same numbers against neon, you’ll be in for 2000 watts of power. If you light your sign for 10 hours per day, 365 days a year, that will add up to 438 annual kilowatt hours for the LED, and 7300 kilowatt hours for the neon. At a cost of $.012/kilowatt hour (which is the national average), your annual spend will be:
$876 for the neon sign
$53 for the LED sign
That’s a 94% price difference.
LEDs are unrestrictive
In other words, the ways in which they can be used are virtually limitless. Between color and movement options, what your sign can depict is only restricted by how creative you are. Your options are limitless with LEDs.
Change your message and make it move
You can update what your message says, and make it physically move or scroll with an LED sign. With a neon sign, the message is what it is. If you need to adjust what your LED says, you can do so. You can also display real-time information, such as the time or temperature. Changing your LED sign’s message is easy because you’ll make that happen via computer software.
With an LED sign, your message will shine brighter against the signs of your competitors, and for cheaper and longer. So, do you need an LED sign for your Bucks County, PA business? Get in touch today and we’ll make one for you!
Last month we discussed why having a quality sign is important. In a nutshell, it’s the most visible representation of your brand, and your first impression can make or break whether a potential customer walks through your doors or not.
So, we have that squared away. You know you need a good sign to enhance your business and brand, but what about the how?
In other words, what can be done to effectively achieve a sign with the perfect look? Leonard Bernstein once said on art that “the measure of its success is the extent to which…it invites you in and lets you breathe its strange, special air.” Those are good words to live by, and they suggest that a great work of art (which is what your sign is) maintains individuality and originality, while invitingly appealing to those who lay their eyes upon it.
A picture says 1000 words, so here are some tips for creating a sign that’ll show just the right image to leave your clientele wanting to know more:
Sans the Serifs: Keep Your Typeface Simple
The most important thing to remember when it comes to signage typeface is that legibility comes first and foremost to fanciness. That means in just about every case, a simple and legible sans-serif font is going to be your best bet. Sure, maybe that decorative script font looks tastefully ornate to you, but if your patrons can’t make out what it says at first glance, your sign is pointless. Helvetica, Futura, Avenir and Franklin Gothic (just to name a few) are timeless sans-serif fonts that could look excellent on your sign!
The Importance of Negative Space
When it comes to music, they say the notes you don’t play are equally as important as the ones you do. Much the same can be said about your sign and logo. Think outside the box when it comes to utilizing the white space. One famous example you can look to as a starting reference is the FedEx logo. Specifically, look closely at the “E” and the “x.” Can you make out that arrow in the negative space? Let’s do something just as brilliant for your brand!
Simplicity Is Key
Going off our typeface tip now, keeping the whole thing simple is the way to go. Saying a lot with a little can be tricky, but it’ll allow you to really face what’s most important about your company. What themes are so integral that they can’t not be involved in your sign? You should be able to narrow that answer down to two or three points. Ever hear the saying less is more? Of course you have! Well, it’s true.
Let a Professional Take Care of the Work
If all this sounds great but you’re still at a loss for where to begin, there’s no need to sweat it because that’s where we come in! As a premier Philadelphia sign company, you can rest assured knowing that we’ll do all of the above to help you create something that stands out and effectively represents who you are.
Get in touch today and we’d be happy to assist you in realizing your perfect sign!
There’s a lot of interest out there for LED signage, which is why we get a lot of questions and inquiries about them. That’s why we thought it might be useful to discuss the basics of LED signage, and what makes them such a popular choice, in our blog post this month. So, without further ado, let’s get to it:
What Are LED Signs?
LED signs consist of very small and square panels. These panels can light up in one or more colors, thus being able to create almost any wanted image in the “bigger picture”.
Are They Expensive?
On average, purchasing an LED sign is a little bit cheaper than buying a traditional neon sign. However, that’s not factoring in the long-term maintenance and usage costs. LED signs are practically maintenance-free, as there’s no need for anything like changing the glass tubes or buying more gas like you’d have to do with neon lights. LED signs also use very little electricity, which adds to their cost-effectiveness in the long-term.
What about the Environment?
LED signs are considered environmentally friendly because they use up to 10 times less electricity than traditional neon signs. In this day and age, that is both an economical and an environmental concern. And since LED signs are literally just tiny “screens” there is no hazard of them getting worn out by time and needing to be replaced and creating trash, or doing something like leaking gas the way that neon signs can do when they’re approaching the end of their lifespan.
And Aesthetics?
One of the best things about LED signs is that they can portray almost anything. Any image or wording, or a combination of them, and you can probably do them on an LED screen. It’s very effortless, too, as with most LED screens you can change the image on the sign from your home computer.
That’s just the very basics, but we hope that it was helpful if you’re considering getting an LED screen for your business. As one of the leading sign companies in Bucks County, we would love to answer any additional questions you have.
