Sometimes, the most forward-thinking you can be is to go retro—with your signage, that is. Your business signs are the face you show off to the world, and many customers will form a first impression based on the quality of the sign. Ignoring an aging sign means you could be overlooking malfunctions, inconsistency, and poor illumination, all of which can damage your reputation.
If you want to improve your signage without having to purchase a brand new installation, then you should consider LED lighting. By retrofitting your signs with LEDs, you brighten up your signs and breathe new life into them.
What Does it Mean to Retrofit?
LED is short for “Light Emitting Diode.” LED lights are used in almost every single electronic appliance made these days, because they are energy-efficient, durable, and cost-effective. Plus, they can emit a lot of light without taking up huge amounts of space.
When you choose LED retrofitting, it means that you are converting an existing light fixture—fluorescent, incandescent, neon, CFL—into one with LED illumination. While most lighting fixtures can be switched over to LED easily, there are some that cannot be replaced.
Benefits of Converting Your Sign to LED Lighting
There are many reasons why a business should think about converting their original signage over to LED. Retrofitting has the following benefits:
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
LED lighting is one of the most energy-efficient options for commercial signs. Not only do LED bulbs last 25 times longer than traditional fluorescent bulbs, but they also use 75 percent less energy. A high-end LED bulb will last around 25,000 hours or 3 years of 24 hour use. If you only use your lit signage in the evening, then your LED bulbs will last even longer, saving you a lot of money and maintenance costs in the long run.
Compare that to a fluorescent bulb that lasts around 8,500 hours or a 60-watt incandescent bulb that lasts for about 1,000 hours. You can start calculating the savings immediately.
Go Greener
One of the smartest swaps for reducing energy costs and your carbon footprint is to make the switch to LED. Unlike some other lighting options, LED bulbs do not contain any toxic ingredients. This means they are easier to dispose of than fluorescent and neon lighting. And that long lifespan means LEDs stay out of the garbage for a longer, too.
Low Maintenance Costs
The cost of repairing fluorescent signage is higher than it takes to maintain LED signage. From the moment your incandescent, neon, or fluorescent bulbs start flickering, you are spending more time and money than necessary. For example, if you call the sign company for assistance, that could cost you parts and labor. The higher the sign, the higher the bill. Sure, the bulb itself is relatively inexpensive, but if you have to replace and repair every few months, you are spending a lot.
Reduced Fire Hazard
LED lights have low voltage and emit less heat. This means that the risk of fire and burns is much lower than with neon or incandescent bulbs. You don’t have to worry about broken glass tubing like you do with neon. LEDs are also made from epoxy, not glass, so they are more durable.
High Return of Investment
Did you know that bills annually? Now, you do. That also means LED lighting recoups its cost in about 2.2 years—a 46 percent ROI.
Easy Installation
After the initial retrofit, LED is easy to install. Most will come with a threaded-style holder. Your business signage partner will be able to replace existing LED tubing faster than a blink.
Immediate Illumination and Visibility
Since LED lights turn on immediately and do not need time to warm up, they increase visibility and safety. LED achieves a high score on the Color Rendering Index (CRI)–around 90 or higher. That means that light quality is better than incandescent and fluorescent light. Not only does better light quality increase productivity and alertness, but it helps people see their surroundings more clearly.
Considerations for LED Retrofit
LED lighting is different from more traditional lighting options. Before retrofitting your old fixtures and business signage, discuss your options with local sign companies. Or, you can keep the following considerations in mind:
Retrofitting is sometimes limited to what LED lighting is available. Most LED retrofits can be configured to work in all kinds of applications, but that is not always the case. Low grade items, like budget neon signs, usually cannot be retrofitted.
Dimmer switches and other like controls cannot be used with all forms of LED lighting. If you decide to retrofit your lights and would like such a feature, you will need to use a specific version of LEDs to have it, and that may cost more money.
Retrofitting Takes Only a Few Steps
Looking to reduce energy consumption and get brighter signs? Retrofitting can make your old, tired signage look brand new in a few simple steps. Once you have decided on LED retrofitting your business signs, contact a local business sign company like Tupp Signs for assistance.
The sign company will then come to your business, remove the existing sign faces, and get to work with removing the old lighting fixtures. They will also clean the interior of the sign to ensure the LED light can shine through clearly. During the retrofitting, the existing power supply will also need to be replaced with an LED-compatible power supply.
When all that is finished, the sign face is re-installed, and your sign is switched back on to glow more brightly than ever before.
Are You Ready to Retrofit Your Signs to LED?
In conclusion, retrofitting your business signage with LED lighting is a smart decision. The price to convert a sign to LED is less than purchasing a brand new sign, and you also save money by choosing a more environmentally-friendly choice. If you are ready to illuminate the path towards the future of your business, then begin by getting your signage retrofitted with LED.
Contact our expert team today by calling or filling out the form to learn more about how Tupp Signs can help with replacing lighting fixtures or LED retrofitting. We can answer your questions and even offer a quote on your project.