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ELECTRIC SIGNAGE 84 • September 2014 • S I G N & D I G I T A L G R A P H I C S I t started with one slender tube of white light with its 360° view- ing angle, energy effi- ciency and cheap off the shelf price. It was the '80s, and fluorescent lamps had become com- monplace for commercial use, influencing the sign indus- try to create big box signs, thin poster boxes, menu boards, awning illumination and more with a new economical solution. Flash ahead to 2014 and LEDs are on the scene. Today, LED solutions are not new to the sign indus- try—they have become a trusted and familiar friend. LEDs have slowly crept into the hearts and shops of the sign industry, displacing multiple lighting sources over the last decade. The latest area where LED products are increas- ing their usage is replacing fluorescent applications. According to a recent survey report from global man- agement consulting firm McKinsey & Company, it is pro- jected that in the year 2016 LEDs will be a $54 billion industry versus $10 billion in 2010. Granted, most of this is outside of the sign industry, but it is an amazing leap forward. It does show how the world of illumination is changing and how consumer awareness and technology L E D S I G N L I G H T I N G Kicking the Fluorescent Habit Why it makes sense to switch from fluores- cent to LED lighting B y J I L L B o N I L L A Shop owners like Robert Mongiello, Vogue Signs, Ventura, Calif., are discovering that LED lighting solu- tions have some significant advan- tages over tradi- tional fluorescent systems. Jill Bonilla is the Marketing Manager for SloanLED.