A goal that a lot of businesses are aiming for in 2026? Sustainability. While there are several facets of sustainability (we wrote an entire post around sustainable materials and design), one of the keys is through upgrading everyday tech to more eco-friendly solutions. From lighting to appliances, the sky is the limit when it comes to green energy and products and we should know – our analog technology checks all of the boxes.
Sustainable Signs: Breaking Down the ROI of Low-Power Displays
Sustainability is a pleasant feature of analog products. Analog clocks, film cameras, mechanical keyboards, modular synthesizers, and so many more examples have the benefit of tactile, tangible movement and sound while drawing way less power and heat than their digital counterparts.
Here’s an overview of how this plays out with our signature Split Flap and Picture Flap displays.
A single broken screen can mar the aesthetic of a digital wall. Photo via Sarah Van Bemmel.
1. Drastically Lower Power Consumption
Picture Flap, which is an image-based display, is sometimes compared to digital displays for museums, offices, and retailers. Chosen for the ability to rotate through imagery, Picture Flap is great for brand portfolios, exhibitions, seasonal collections, and more, similar to how a screen may be used to present the same information. The primary difference is the functionality of Picture Flap, which, similar to a classic train departure board, flips panels over to “create” full images from smaller ones.
Lower Power Stats:
- Picture Flap (6×10 modules or 60 sq ft): 195 watts active power
- Comparable LED Walls:
- Samsung The Wall: 1,700 watts
- Planar DirectLight Ultra: 5,040 watts
- Sony ZRD-CH15D: 2,128 watts
Result: Picture Flap uses 87-96% less power than leading LED walls. Split Flap consumes only a fraction of a digital display’s wattage for the same physical footprint.
The new University of Arizona Picture Flap draws way less power than a digital screen cycling through the same imagery.
2. Minimal Heat Output
Digital screens and LED walls, similar to the ones used in elevator lobbies, at reception, in conference rooms, as restaurant, bar, and coffee shop menus are often “on,” communicating vital information to employees, customers, and guests. Even when running during business hours, these displays generate a considerable amount of heat. When hot, digital screens can undergo hardware failure, reduced performance, and safety issues such as fire risks. Over time, even the most minimal of challenges can shorten their lifespan.
Here’s a breakdown of maximum heat output for LED walls, as an example:
- Picture Flap: ~194 BTU max heat output
- LED Walls: 4,000+ BTU (at the very least)
Split Flap: 180-1,034 BTU across product sizes, a low-thermal system that does not require active cooling.
The Walker Center Split Flap will outlast digital counterparts through lower ambient heat.
Result: Lower ambient heat means reduced HVAC load, no need for climate-controlled enclosures, and better performance in public or passive-airflow spaces.
3. Ultra-Long Lifespan & Low E-Waste
Speaking of lifespan, when evaluating the lifespan of both Picture Flap and LED alternatives, we found that LED often lasts for about ten years (ongoing maintenance should be considered as well.) Meanwhile, Picture Flap usually has around 660,000+ hours of use (about 75 years). The minimal design of Picture Flap (and Split Flap) ensure that the aesthetics of the displays also won’t age out, another advantage over screens. As a result, a Picture Flap can prevent companies from cycling through 7+ displays, which go right into a landfill.
- Picture Flap lifespan: 660,000+ hours (≈ 75 years of typical use)
- LED alternatives: 100,000-150,000 hours before degradation.
Result: Fewer replacements means fewer manufacturing cycles, reduced shipping waste, and less landfill-bound e-scrap.
4. Low Idle Energy & Passive Operation
A huge game changer in conservation was the invention of motion sensors, making it possible for some electronics to only activate when in use. This leads to lower “idle” energy, preventing tech from running unnecessarily. Displays that need to run as menus or to frequently present information in high visibility spaces don’t benefit from the same “sleep mode” as a personal computer, resulting in higher power draws.
Our analog tech, however, are “idle” whenever they’re not in motion. Split Flap’s energy draw spikes only during “flipping” events (0.1-min changes per cycle) and idles the rest of the day. Similarly, after Picture Flap completes a rotation, an image will be displayed until it’s time to rotate again.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Split Flap draws as little as 29-197 watts inactive, depending on size.
- Picture Flap: only 43 watts resting (vs. 1,100 watts for LED walls).
Result: Static visual content costs almost no energy to maintain, which is ideal for sustainability-driven retail and architecture. Consumption scales with engagement, an energy model that rewards minimalism and intentional design.
A Split Flap display can cycle through new messages at the click of a button, and won’t require the same power draw used by Canva to generate custom imagery or copy.
5. Low Energy “Cost” of Content Creation
An easily overlooked factor of digital displays is the energy costs associated with the creation of content. Presentations and graphics for screens, for example, are often made using online tools such as Canva and ChatGPT, which get a considerable amount of energy consumption from online user activity. Meanwhile, Split Flap and Picture Flap don’t require the same amount of ongoing content creation, leading to a small digital footprint.
Overall System-Level Sustainability Benefits
From a high level, here’s an overview of the eco-benefits of analog technology over digital solutions.
- No digital glare, fans, or pixel failures, leading to lower maintenance and part turnover.
- Operates mechanically, allowing attention-grabbing installations in low-power venues (markets, museums, transit hubs).
- Entirely serviceable: individual flaps and motors can be replaced.
A larger investment in modern analog technology also fits into trending, future-proof screen-free spaces, as indicated by architects and designers at conferences such as The American Institute of Architects (AIA) annual conference.
Balancing Digital and Analog
True sustainability isn’t about abandoning digital screens: it’s about finding a smarter balance between digital and analog. Analog displays bring simple, tactile mechanics to life, delivering high-impact messages with a fraction of the energy use and a far longer lifespan than screens. By reserving digital displays for key areas, companies can optimize both performance and efficiency. As brands move toward a carbon-neutral future, low-power, low-waste communication design offers a more strategic and sustainable way forward.