The digital signage market is not just growing; it is exploding. Projections indicate it will soon hit $32 billion. Across India, businesses in cities from Delhi to Mumbai are rapidly installing these displays. After spending years helping companies fine tune their digital displays, I can tell you that making smart choices about how much power your digital standee power consumption uses is critical. Let us examine how much energy these displays use and what it will cost your business.
Considering energy consumption is more than just saving money; it reflects a commitment to sustainability. I have learned a few things over the years about digital standee power consumption and want to share them with you.
To figure out how much energy a digital standee uses, you have to look at all the parts that make it up. The answer is not always obvious. Several things affect how much power these displays need.
What Impacts Digital Standee Energy Use?
Several factors affect the level of digital standee power consumption. Here are the primary ones.
LED Versus LCD Screens
The kind of screen makes a big difference in power use. Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens are the most common. LED displays usually use less power than LCDs. LEDs can be just as bright while using less energy. If lowering your electric bill is a priority, LEDs are a great choice. I have seen clients cut their monthly energy bills significantly by switching to LED displays.
Size and Brightness Matter
Bigger screens need more power. More brightness also means more energy use. Think about how bright the area around the display is. A display inside a dim shopping center does not need to be as bright as one in direct sunlight. Adjusting the brightness can really cut down on power usage.
What You Show
The content you show matters too. Static images use less power than videos. It is like how a picture on your phone uses less battery than streaming a movie. If your display mostly shows static content, your energy costs will be lower than if you are constantly playing videos.
How Long It Is On
It seems obvious, but the longer your digital display is on, the more energy it uses. A display that runs all day every day will use much more power than one that is only on for part of the day. Think about your business hours. Does the display need to be on when you are closed? If it does not, set it to turn off automatically.
Calculate How Much Energy Your Digital Standee Uses
Now that we have talked about what affects energy use, let us figure out how to estimate how much energy a digital standee uses. This will not be perfectly exact, but it will give you a good idea.
- Find the Wattage: Look for the wattage on the manufacturer’s label. It is usually on the back of the display or in the manual.
- Figure Out Daily Usage: Estimate how many hours the display will be on each day.
- Calculate Daily Use: Multiply the wattage by the daily operating hours to get the daily energy use in watt-hours. Then, divide by 1000 to get kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Calculate Monthly Use: Multiply the daily use by the number of days in the month.
- Estimate Cost: Multiply the monthly use by your local electricity rate per kilowatt-hour. You can find this on your utility bill.
For example:
Let us say you have an LED display that uses 100 watts and runs for 12 hours a day.
- Daily use: (100 watts * 12 hours) / 1000 = 1.2 kWh
- Monthly use: 1.2 kWh * 30 days = 36 kWh
- If electricity costs $0.10 per kWh, the monthly cost would be: 36 kWh * $0.10 = $3.60
This simple math gives you a decent idea of the costs of digital standee power consumption.
How to Use Less Energy With Your Digital Standee
Using less power with your digital standee is not just about saving money; it is about helping the environment. I often share these tips:
1. Choose Energy Star Displays
As I said before, LED displays usually use less power than LCDs. When you are shopping for a new display, look for models with good energy efficiency ratings. The Energy Star label means the product meets energy efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
2. Adjust the Brightness
Most digital standees let you change the brightness. Turn the brightness down as low as you can while still being able to see the display well. Many displays also have sensors that automatically adjust the brightness based on the light around them. Turning this on can really cut down on power use.
3. Set a Schedule
Do not leave digital standees running when they do not need to be. Use the scheduling features to automatically turn the display on and off based on your business hours. This easy step can really lower your electricity costs.
4. Think About Your Content
Static images use less power than videos. Use static images or shorter videos when you can to save energy. Make your videos smaller by lowering the frame rate and resolution. Also, use darker colors, as brighter colors need more power.
5. Use Power Saving Modes
Many digital standees have power saving modes that automatically use less power when the display is not being used. Turn these on to reduce wasted energy. Some displays also have motion sensors that turn on the display when someone gets close and turn it off when no one is there.
6. Keep It Clean
Dust on the display screen can make it look less bright, which makes you turn up the brightness and use more power. Clean the screen regularly to keep it bright and save energy. Also, make sure there is enough air flow to prevent overheating, which can also make it use more power.
7. Think About the Lighting
Look at the lighting where the display is. If it is already well lit, you might not need to run the display at full brightness. Try different brightness settings to find the best balance between being able to see the display and saving energy.
How It Works in Real Life
I have helped many businesses make their digital signage more energy efficient. Here are a few examples:
Example 1: Retail Store
A retail store had several large LCD digital standees that were always on. After looking at how much energy they used, I told them to replace the LCDs with LED displays, adjust the brightness and set on/off times. The store lowered its energy use by 40% and saved $2,000 each month.
Example 2: Restaurant
A restaurant used digital standees to show off its menu and specials. I told them to use static images instead of videos and to turn on the power saving mode when they were not busy. This lowered the restaurant’s energy use by 25% and saved $1,000 each month.
Example 3: Hotel
A hotel used digital standees in its lobby to give information about its services. I suggested they install light sensors that automatically changed the display brightness. This lowered energy use by 20% and saved $750 each month.
These examples show that even small changes can really affect how much energy a digital standee uses and how high your electric bill is.
What Is Next for Energy Efficient Digital Signage?
The future of digital signage is very focused on energy efficiency. As technology gets better, I expect even more new ways to lower electricity costs and help the environment.
One new technology is e paper displays, which use much less power than LED or LCD displays. E paper displays only use power when the content changes, which makes them good for static signs. Another thing is powering digital displays with renewable energy like solar panels, which can really lower electricity costs and help the environment.
People care more and more about the environment. Businesses that care about sustainability will do better. By using energy efficient displays and saving energy with digital standee power consumption, businesses can lower electricity costs and improve how people see their brand, which will attract customers who care about the environment.
Main Points: How to Manage Digital Standee Power Consumption
It is important to understand and manage digital standee power consumption. By choosing energy efficient displays, adjusting brightness, setting on/off times and saving energy, you can lower electricity costs and help the environment. I hope you will use these tips and help make the future greener, one digital display at a time.
