How Much Electricity Does a Neon Light Sign Use?

Measure the power consumption of a linear light source like a neon tube by using a ratio of watts used per foot of neon. The power consumption of a given neon tube depends on the type of transformer used and the color of the neon, but consumption of 3 1/2 to 4 watts per foot for red neon is typical. 

 

That means that a foot of red neon tube that burns for 12 hours per day will consume from 15.33 to 17.52-kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Measure the efficiency of neon as a proportion of lumens -- a unit of light output -- per watt.

Compared to LED

Light-emitting diodes are suggested as energy-efficient alternatives to neon tubes, but the comparisons, which often claim a 90 percent energy savings for LED, often fail to take into account the relative inefficiency of LED light sources as compared to neon. 

While an LED light source of a similar color and size to neon may consume less power, a foot of LED tube lighting left on for 12 hours per day may consume as little as 3.5 kWh per year; the LED typically outputs much less light than the neon tube. Adjusting the brightness of the LED for comparison to neon, the difference in power consumption is less pronounced.