Global climate change is one of today’s most talked about issues, and we’re all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. This is especially true on campuses where students are calling for “greener” solutions. And, let’s face it – saving paper and waste just makes sense – not only in terms of the environment, but in your bottom line. Now, we’re not trying to “green wash” digital signage, which obviously has its own carbon footprint, but it can definitely make an impact on your green efforts through reduced printing, energy management and education – which helps build a green office.
Estimates are that the United States uses one-third of the entire world’s paper. Obviously, getting your messages out using digital signs doesn’t use any paper like traditional bulletin boards, posters, banners, newsletters and so on. No trees are cut down; no water, inks or solvents are used; and when the message is no longer relevant, it doesn’t go to a landfill to decompose and emit methane – it’s just deleted.
In the US, electricity generation accounts for roughly 40 percent of emissions, the largest of any source. Displays that are left on 24/7 consume power, but some folks just can’t physically turn them all on and off every day. Well, some digital signage systems have device control built in, so it can be done remotely from your desktop. If you’re running 16 displays, you could potentially reduce your carbon footprint by nearly 27,000 pounds of CO2 a year with device control. And an added bonus is that your displays will last longer if you don’t burn them out as fast by leaving them on all the time.
You can also use your digital signage content to educate viewers. Offer energy saving tips and advertise your recycling efforts. Make people aware that you’re trying to change the culture. You can even tie into your building management system to show current consumption rates of energy and water so people see how much is being used and hopefully cut down.
Now, some people think that digital signage is just too expensive compared to print communications – but that’s not true. The bottom line is that it not only helps you to “go green”, but it’s also cheaper over time and more effective than print for large audiences.
In fact, the larger your audience, the more cost effective it is.
- First, buying a digital signage system is a one-time cost, whereas printed materials are a continuing revenue drain that seriously adds up over time and increase each year.
- Second, you have a potentially unlimited audience for your communications versus a set number with print runs; and digital signage can handle hundreds of messages at once, as opposed to the limited space you have in print.
- Third, digital signage is modern and dynamic, not static like paper – it grabs attention, and screens in high-traffic areas expose people to your messages in frequent, short bursts that make a lasting impact over time through repetition.
- Lastly, digital messaging allows immediate corrections and retirement of messages, versus lingering paper waste and printed corrections or updates.
The sum of all this is that, in addition to real ecological savings, digital signage offers more ways to reach more people at a lower cost per person. That’s two green benefits!