Advertisements in transit shelters can now be lit up 24 hours a day even if they are far from a conventional power source thanks to a new line of solar-powered outdoor advertising lighting unveiled Monday by Carmanah Technologies.
The i-PANEL LED technology to illuminate ads is the latest transit product offered by the Victoria company that is already lighting up transit shelters from Los Angeles to London with its i-SHELTER security lighting and its i-STOP illuminated bus stop signs.
Frank Palmer, chief executive officer of the advertising firm DDB Canada said his company and clients are seeking energy efficient solutions and the new Carmanah ad lighting fits that agenda.
“I think it is a great step forward,” Palmer said as the new ad lighting panels were displayed in downtown Vancouver alongside the artwork of the Rendezvous Gallery. “The companies we are working with all want to be socially responsible.”
“Something like this would appeal to us because our clients are requesting it… These people `at Carmanah` get full marks for what they are doing with it.”
Transit shelter advertising represents a lucrative market, generating about $300 million in annual revenues and growing at a rate of eight per cent a year.
Carmanah’s latest deal, potentially worth $1.56 million, will provide the Tri-Country Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon with more than 550 Carmanah i-SHELTER solar-powered LED bus shelter lighting systems.
Almost 200 bus shelters in Vancouver have Carmanah lighting, but the ad panel technology is not in use here.