CBS Outdoor, one of the world’s largest out of home media companies has recently completed the installation of 200 illuminated, shelter-size poster cases in the New York subway.  The poster cases are  fitted with Bright Green Edge^TM - Bright Green Technology’s LED-based illumination system.

The full roll out of the 200 units followed the successful conclusion of a series of pilots initiated by CBS Outdoor.  CBS’s executive vice president and National Operations Director, Bill Murphy commented: “As part of our green initiative, CBS is doing everything possible to make our displays more environmentally friendly and sustainable.  Using the Bright Green Technology illumination system in the New York subway has helped us to do just that.”

CBS originally approached Bright Green Technology to provide a sustainable backlighting solution for its poster sites. The pressure to reduce energy costs has been high on the agenda for both CBS and their advertising clients. CBS’s decision to use Bright Green Technology’s Sustainable Backlighting ^TM will save an estimated $80,000 per year in energy and maintenance costs, not to mention reducing their carbon footprint by as much as 300,000 lbs of carbon over the expected 6 year lifetime of the units.

CBS was also looking to eliminate the frequent bulb outages common with traditional fluorescent bulbs - Bright Green Technology’s LED systems are maintenance free and don’t require a switch for at least 50,000 hours (approximately 5 ½ years).

Titan Worldwide operates prime advertising sites in New York’s Grand Central Station and is constantly looking to maximise revenue from this highly prestigious site.

The challenge to Bright Green Technology was to design and build a LED backlit display (3.5m x 1.1m), replacing a bank of phone kiosks.  As well as low power draw and recyclability, Titan needed display that could be reposted quickly and safely without disrupting pedestrian flow.  Eliminating maintenance was also a big factor so that site visits could be kept to a minimum.

 The Bright Green Technology Approach

With Bright Green Matrix^TM, we were able to deliver a complete retrofit system, positioning a suspended array^TM of LEDs behind the graphic to create a bright and even backlight.

Load bearing sliders were used to open the door for reposting - a quicker, easier and safer option than hinges for large display areas.

Power draw is just 225W for the whole area, a fraction of the energy requirement of a close packed array of fluorescent tubes.

The Result

The result is a large area display with diffuse, bright illumination.  Power use is dramatically reduced and there are no ongoing maintenance costs.  The slider based design allows quick access to change the poster, reduced disruption and labour costs.

Titan Worldwide installs Bright Green Matrix^TM in Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Bright Green Technology’s Sustainable Backlighting^TM system - Bright Green Matrix ^TM - has been chosen by Titan Worldwide, to backlight large advertising panels in Grand Central Terminal.

Bright Green Matrix is an LED backlight system designed to illuminate large format signs, light boxes and displays.  A patent pending suspended array^TM of LEDs is used to increase or decrease the light output, in line with the performance and budget requirements of the project.  Bright Green Matrix offers a real alternative to fluorescent tubes by reducing energy consumption by up to 80%, eliminating maintenance costs and producing evenly lit graphics without the ‘zebra’ striping associated with tubes.  Bright Green Matrix can be used equally effectively in new build constructions or retro fitted into existing installations.

Andy Clark, CEO of Bright Green Technology explained: “We’re delighted that the outdoor advertising industry is embracing environmentally friendly technology.  Our system has been designed to dramatically reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of backlit advertising and signage, whilst driving down the total cost of ownership and improving the quality of illumination.  We’re proud to be associated with an installation right at the centre of the US advertising industry.”

The Brief

The Imperial War Museum required a number of large illuminated display panels for a special exhibition documenting the life of Ian Fleming (author of the James Bond novels).

It was imperative that the high resolution graphics were bright and evenly illuminated.  Also, in order to promote their commitment to the environment, the displays had to have low energy consumption.

The Bright Green Technology Approach

The exhibition designers specified our Bright Green Edge ^TM display panels as they offered a bright, evenly lit and slim-line solution.  The clever design uses LED light sticks and a special diffusing acrylic to project light through the graphic face.

One display featured a huge backlit map - an ideal application for the new Bright Green Matrix^TM product range.  Bright Green Matrix^TM uses a patent pending support system to position an array of LEDs directly behind the graphic - a real alternative to fluorescent tubes without the issue of ‘striping’ and costly maintenance.

The Result

Since the completion of the project in May, thousands of people have enjoyed the Ian Fleming experience at the Imperial War Museum.

The cost to power the displays is 80% less than if fluorescent tubes had been used and the quality of the illumination is far superior.

The Bright Green Team Continues to Grow

Bright Green Technology, the leader in solid state backlighting for signs and displays, has made two significant investments; appointing Dan Kiely as Head of Operations and Terry Cattle as Head of Product.

Andy Clark, CEO comments, “We have a great opportunity to build on our current successes. More and more customers are looking to replace traditional fluorescent tubes with sustainable LED lighting solutions and we are now perfectly placed to help them.  Dan and Terry are highly experienced and motivated individuals; Bright Green is privileged to have them on board.”

Dan Kiely is based in the New York office and comes with a wealth of business management experience in the UK and the USA, Terry Cattle has spent 10 years in senior marketing management positions in the sign and display sector.

The arguments for replacing fluorescent tubes are becoming ever more compelling. They save money, energy and reduce carbon. Typical payback times are between 12 and 18 months. The new team will help to support the existing customer base whilst developing new opportunities in the UK, USA and Europe.

PRESS RELEASE - BRIGHT GREEN TECHNOLOGY 20 October 2008

 Immediate Release

 Dublin goes Bright Green - again!

 Bright Green Technology, the leading supplier of LED lighting solutions for display advertising, is delighted to announce a repeat order for LED illuminated displays on Dublin’s light railway system, the LUAS.

 The initial pioneering project, ordered during 2005, was the first major contract to specify LED lighting technology for 6-sheet advertising panels.   Bright Green Edge ^TM was specified to meet the brief of reducing power costs and eliminating maintenance, whilst creating bright outdoor displays.

The project has been so successful that the clients have come back to Bright Green Technology to supply a further 120 displays for the recently extended line network.

 It has been calculated that since the first poster cases were installed the client has reduced their energy use by more than 80% and saved thousands of pounds in maintenance costs as a result of the decision to use LEDs rather than traditional fluorescent tubes.

 Andy Clark, CEO of Bright Green Technology stated, “Naturally we are delighted to receive such a strong endorsement for our products and service. Many more potential customers are now talking to us about replacing fluorescent tubes with Bright Green Sustainable LED lighting products - the benefits are so compelling - you can save money, save carbon and save energy”

 Bright Green Edge^TM and Bright Green Matrix^TM illumination systems are available directly from Bright Green Technology Limited.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8332 6001, mail@brightgreentechnology.com or visit www.brightgreentechnology.com

 - Ends -

Please visit www.brightgreentechnology.com for a range of downloadable resources, including images.

 Bright Green Technology Limited - Background Information

Bright Green Technology specializes in solid-state backlighting systems that dramatically reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of backlit advertising and signage.

 Our Sustainable Backlighting^TM technology produces a beautiful, consistently-lit surface while consuming up to 88% less energy, five times the longevity and none of the hazardous waste issues associated with fluorescent tube systems.

 The result: better backlighting with a tiny carbon footprint at lower cost.

 Copyright Statement

Copyright© 2008 Bright Green Technology Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Trademarks

Bright Green Technology Limited Trademarks include:
Bright Green Edge^TM; Bright Green Matrix^TM; Sustainable Backlighting^TM.

The backlit advertising panel replaces a bank of phone kiosks, hardly used now that we all have mobiles.  The brief from our client was to deliver a system that was safe, easy to operate, looked amazing, was maintenance free and reduced energy use.  As you can see from the picture, I think Bright Green Matrix has delivered - or, in the words of our client “it really pops”!

In spite of the large area, the power use is only 180W (1.6A from the mains) and at least 5 years of maintenance free life is expected.  If you’re NY based, you can see it in the flesh at the end of the North East passage.

We’ll write this up as a case study in a bit more detail as soon as we can.

Imagine my relief then, when we tested the latest version of our Edge technology and found that the future had arrived.  We’ve designed around a new generation of LEDs and the performance is quite something; we measure an increase in light output of more than 50% compared to our previous Edge system.  There’s a small increase in power consumption of just over 10%, taking a 6 sheet (shelter size) display to a consumption of 65W.  In light efficiency terms, the lumens per watt output now exceeds fluorescent tubes.

So, today we proudly announce the next generation of Bright Green Edge - brighter, more efficient, cheaper to operate and sustainable.

And I promise not to talk about the future for at least 3 months!

But first let me quickly introduce myself – my name is Dan Kiely and I am Bright Green Technology’s COO and am based in our NY office. What attracted me to BGT was how the company made it easy, accessible and most importantly, economical to go green. Let’s be honest, we can’t all have windmills on our roofs – we need practical ways to help the environment and save ourselves a few pennies in the process.

Which brings me back to politics. There’s been a lot of debate about whether implementing green reforms causes job losses. Some would say if we add strict environmental controls to our factories, for example,  then companies will have to cut jobs to make up for the higher costs and will make us less competitive. But more and more people are starting to argue the opposite – that in fact going green can create jobs and even entire industries.

If governments help companies to develop these technologies then we can develop a green economy and live better, cleaner and greener than ever before. In future blogs I’ll take a look at how various governments, big and small, are helping their towns, cities and countries to go green as well as some policies that are making the green transition more difficult.

If you have an example of a government supported green technology initiative write us using our contact-us form and we’ll publish the latest and greatest.

But before I go did you know a Bright Green Technology backlit display produces  1,800 pounds less carbon compared to a fluorescent unit while saving more than $275 in energy costs each year? – that’s cool technology in action!

*Based on unit being lit for 12 hours per day and $0.15 per kWH

Energy and maintenance costs are reduced, but by how much?

Is there significant ROI?

What’s the breakeven point on the investment?

Is this an important financial decision or one to ignore?

We’ve put together a case study to help.  But first a caveat; all the data comes from our friends in the outdoor industry, from the leading multinational contractors and from our Bright Green experience around the world - so this is much more than a back of an envelope calculation but much less than a fully researched study and exact figures will vary with circumstances.

Here’s the scenario: a 6-sheet ’shelter size’ box, single-sided, 6 x 58W tubes, 24/7 operation, power at £0.12 per kWhr ($0.25).  We’ve assumed an annual ‘planned’ retube and 1 ‘unplanned’ visit in 5 years to replace a tube or failed ballast.  Sound familiar?

Replacing the tubes in a 1000 boxes with a Bright Green system has a dramatic financial impact:

• More than £1.8 m in operational savings in the first 5 years
• At least 70% energy saving (with a further £25,000 ($50,000) saved per 10% increase in energy cost)
• Maintenance costs are eliminated

These savings add up quickly, in fact in this example the payback time for the higher inital costs is just 12 months.

It’s important to note that these impressive operational savings take no account of the revenue benefits of installing an LED system and therefore understate the full financial impact. These benefits are threefold.

First, the sales upside from providing advertisers with higher quality displays, second, reduced rpitvchinebates from failed tubes and third, the green premium that comes from pitching a sustainable solution to clients, local authorities and site owners.  If each of these factors increased revenues by just 1% each over the lifetime of the system (less than our industry colleagues suggest), then the total financial impact of the decision increases to more than £3m and the breakeven period shrinks to just 7 months.

Do let us know your thoughts on this example - we’d be delighted to run your figures through our economic model and calculate savings for your illuminated displays.

It’s time to save money - dump the tubes!