When is it Green to Replace an Exhibit?

Posted by Cat Virca in Planning, Tips, Trends

It’s a great question for EXHIBITOR’s Ask Mr. Green blog: how long should you keep an exhibit to be environmentally responsible? The question came from a company that was thinking of replacing their exhibit after seven years. So what’s the lifespan of green exhibits?

Tom Bowman, president of Bowman Global Change in Signal Hill, California responds by first stating that on average, an exhibit lifespan is a little more than five years. That also happens to be the depreciation schedule for capital assets like exhibits, and it coincides with the time when marketers feel the need for new graphics and colors for refurbished, if not entirely new, exhibits.

Some clients use their exhibits for ten years, Bowman writes. He cites one client who’s used an exhibit for 15 years by mixing in new pieces and components. So what is the verdict on green exhibits? Here are some of Bowman’s points:

• The greenest exhibit is the one you already own. Building a new one consumes energy and resources, and creates some pollution. Use your exhibit for as long as possible.

• Extend the exhibit lifespan by rearranging the parts, using new colors on finishes, and adding some new items.

• Shipping your exhibit consumes energy. Consider renting properties locally if you plan to retire your exhibit.

• Energy-efficient improvements in green exhibits – lighting systems, electronics and printers – mean it may make sense to replace what you’re using.

Bowman holds back on giving the “green light” to this specific questioner, suggesting they save money and the environment by renewing their current display.

Read the full article.