Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: rhade on 25/02/2011 23:46:59
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Much as I hate that use of the word "green," but I was wondering about the environmental impact of neon signs. Are all those neon advertisements as bad for the planet as I suspect they are, and if so, what can be used instead? LED, perhaps?
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The term Neon Light is often used for a whole range of lighting some of which is not based on neon. It is the case, I think, that a true neon lamp is just a glass envelope containg two metal electrodes and neon at low pressure. It uses very litle power and was used a lot as indicator lamps before the LED was invented. They are fairly "green" rearding pollution from the materials point of view. They have a slightly shorter expected life than an LED, though still quite impressive. They need to run at a higher voltage though so LEDs are genearlly more acceptable today.