Sign Builder Illustrated - May 2008 - (Page 61)

goes into infrared radiation, which produces more heat than light.” Incandescent lighting is still used in marquees, chase lighting, and seasonal lighting. After these regulations become effective, some applications for bulbs 25 watts or less may still be available. “The trend for the future—and one that’s much more energy-efficient— lies in fluorescent and LED lighting,” Richards says. However Tim Barrett, national sales manager of sign products for Actown in Spring Grove, Illinois, (which produces power supplies and transformers for both neon and LED lighting) points out that LED—when compared to neon—might not be the most efficient energy source. “I think it’s fair to say that there’s a cozy relationship between power utilities and LED manufacturers,” he comments. “I believe the current thought process is that LED is the answer to energy efficiency. That may be true down the road, but it’s not necessarily true now.” Barrett says that, in some applications, LED may be more efficient, especially with red. But white is an entirely different story. Despite the many recent improvements in LED white, Barrett says, “White LED in terms of lumens per watt is not as efficient as neon, by a substantial factor of two to one. In other words, neon is twice as efficient. “Take a wattmeter and hold it up to white LED and neon,” he suggests. “You’ll see the difference in about twelve seconds. “I think one of the worst things that’s happening is LED vendors expounding on an energy efficiency, which is not there yet. It discredits them, and there’s no need to. It makes no sense. They’re both good sources, and they’re both good for different applications. One thing that both the UL personnel and Barrett agree on is that LED—perhaps because it’s the newer technology— can create the most code headaches for sign builders. Though even here there are some issues on which they differ. “LED codes are most confusing,” Barrett remarks. “Suffice it to say, today’s codes speak very vaguely about the applications and installations of LED [lighting technology].” Add to this, Barrett continues, the regulations tend to differ from jurisdiction throughout the country. “If the code is not clearly defined—and it’s not with Address Changes, Subscription Renewals, New Subscription Requests Visit: www.signshop.com/subscribe for subscription services. (please allow 4 weeks for all changes to take effect) May 2008 Sign Builder Illustrated 61 http://www.signshop.com/subscribe

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sign Builder Illustrated - May 2008

Sign Builder Illustrated - May 2008 Contents SBI Agenda Quotes & Comments Contributors Costly Concerns Dispatches Sign Show Dateline: Time to Find a New Identity Teaching a New Dog Old Tricks Sign Illumination: It’s Time to Pay Attention Restoring Old Photographs for Digital Printing Price Doesn’t Sell the Signs You Want to Make Architects in LED Codes for Electric Signs: Don’t Get Blindsided! Digital Displays at the Pearl Harbor Museum The Art of Wayfinding Signage Grand Format National Following Traffic Sign Regulations Designs on ADA Signage Painting Professionally SBI Marketplace Imagine-It Graphics

Sign Builder Illustrated - May 2008

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