How to be green in tough times

Many environmentally friendly changes sound good in theory, like LED, or solar powered signage. The trouble is that many of those fixes may take years to make back the cost – and most corporations are limited in affording such luxuries in these stagnant economic times.


Retailers are now fighting the green battle on two fronts. There is still a strong requirement for them to be eco-friendly, but with cash in very short supply, financial accountability is paramount.

The good news is that there are still plenty of affordable ways to go green and maintain your finances.


Here are five ways to help you convey an eco-friendly image with your signage:


1. Compact Fluorescent Lights


These advanced light bulbs use up to 75% less energy than regular bulbs and they last about six to twelve months longer. Experts say that replacing regular lights with CFLs can be the cheapest most effective way to get big savings on energy bills;


2. Retrofit existing signage


Simply adding a timer or converting a mechanical transformer with an electronic one can reduce your operating costs by as much as 30%. Businesses can typically expect an 18 to 48 month return on their investment depending on the scale and nature of the conversion. In some cases, it may be more cost efficient to simply replace the signage. Not only will you experience the energy efficiencies, but you will also be able to refresh the look of your business and depreciate the capital expense;
 3. Maintenance


Ballast and other electrical components over time rust and perish creating resistance in the electrical circuit which in turns reduces the energy efficiency increasing the electrical running costs of illuminated signs. The replacement of these components at regular intervals can help keep your signs energy efficient and also help reduce the possibility of component failure and costly call outs between services.



4. Signage Reclaiming program


An effective way of reducing waste is the reclaiming of existing substrates or the re-purposing of other object items for new signage projects. Although this process requires a lot of coordination, it means that most eco friendly products can be considered in design and used to reinvent the new signs. To find out more about the type of products that can be repurposed into signage, call us on 1800 300 103 or email us here


5. Signage waste management


The signage manufacturing process creates a significant amount of unused product including vinyl, scraps, acrylic scraps, wood panels and unused overstock. Many of these items can be re-used again for community projects or recycling centres. Re-use and recycling centres take donations of reusable materials such as plastics, textiles and paper, contact your local recycling centre for more information.


How green is your organisation? Let us know your thoughts!