Lamar Advertising, the United States’ largest outdoor advertiser, is looking to install LED billboards with solar panels in the Terrebonne and Lafourche areas of Louisiana. During the sunny daytime hours, the solar panels collect energy, and then power the already efficient LED-lit billboards. In 2008, Lamar Advertising tested this lighting setup in Florida and concluded that the solar panels actually generate more energy than necessary to illuminate the LED billboards. Although the project will cost more than $10 million, by 2012, more than 1,000 billboards in Louisiana will be equipped with both LEDs and solar panels. The vice president of operations of Lamar said they are committed to finishing this project to show people they can make the similar changes in their homes. Lamar is also taking other steps to be “green,” including printing boards on recyclable materials and using ink with less dangerous fumes.

Although many local billboard companies have already given their billboards an “update” by installing LED lights, the billboards are not using solar power. Though already cost-effective, saving on printing costs and nighttime fluorescent lighting, solar panels could be the icing on the cake when it comes to conserving energy. We hope to see more local billboards sporting solar panels and LED lighting in the future!