Summer is the perfect time to kick back, relax and give your screens a break. If left running around the clock, those bright, hardworking displays can drain your school’s energy all Summer long. With a few smart moves, you can keep your signage system healthy, conserve energy and save money! We share how you could save £150 (based on an average 5 screens) this Summer break with your screens ready to shine when your students return.
While a powerful communication tool during the school year, digital signage can also become an unnoticed drain on energy resources if left unused during the quieter months. You could save £30 per screen in just 6 weeks! If you leave a 100-watt TV on 24/7 for the 6-week holiday, it would use around 100kWh and with electricity costs about 30p per kWh (UK average as of 2025) – that’s £30 per screen.
Fortunately, there are several practical ways to reduce energy usage over the Summer, while preserving the system’s integrity and readiness for the new academic year.
Make the most of your digital signage downtime
Set Summer hours for your screens
For displays that need to stay on for Summer clubs, admin areas, or visitors, you can adjust the schedule. Most screens let you automate on/off times, so set your screens to sleep outside of working hours and enjoy the savings without lifting a finger.
For a more time-focused option, with TrilbyTV you can use our Schedules feature to set up specific timings for different content and room requirements. This gives you the option to repeat the schedule on certain days of the week or for it to only run between certain times and dates. Instead of playing 24/7, your signage can be set to operate and show relevant content only during particular hours, or even on specific days.
For example, if Summer clubs only occur between fixed hours of the day, you can set up schedules to conserve energy during the hours when the content isn’t needed. This can also be useful in a time when visitors might be less familiar with the school, with clear digital signage helping to create a more welcoming and accessible environment.
Dim the brightness
Bright screens consume significantly more power. Your signage doesn’t need to shine like your content if it isn’t getting the same amount of foot traffic during the Summer break. Reducing screen brightness cuts down on energy use and helps extend the life of your displays. If displays must remain active in reception areas or entryways, lowering the brightness can lead to substantial energy savings.
Many screens also have auto-brightness settings; turn them on and let the display adjust to the lighting around it. Some modern displays feature ambient light sensors or auto-brightness settings that adjust output based on environmental lighting, offering a hands-free way to conserve power.
Centralised device management
Using centralised management software or an MDM can allow you to monitor, control and adjust your digital signage devices remotely. Not only does it support efficient energy-saving, but it allows you to identify certain devices that may be running unnecessarily.
Unplug the extras
If you have anything linked to the screen such as unused player devices, USBs or similar that aren’t going to be used, remove it. The extras might still be drawing power even when the screen is off. Think of it being the same as turning off the lights when you leave the room.
Do some digital cleaning
With fewer daily distractions, Summer is the perfect time to refresh content and scheduling strategies. Use this time to check your content and playlists, clean up old media files and get your screens organised for the new academic year.
Switch to energy-efficient hardware
Plan for efficiency. While not exclusive to Summer, the break offers a valuable window for assessing and updating current hardware. If you’ve got some budget and spare time, consider upgrading older screens to newer, more energy-efficient models. Older displays and media players often lack the energy efficiency of newer models. Many now include sleep modes, energy-saving functions and better brightness control.
School’s out! Now let’s power down
Hit the off switch
Ultimately the best power saving tip – Power down unused displays; if a screen isn’t being used – turn it off. Switching off unused screens across your school can lead to big energy savings over the Summer months. Many schools operate signage in canteens, hallways, libraries and common areas that remain unused or lightly visited during the Summer break. Turning off these displays, or scheduling them to shut down outside of limited hours can drastically reduce electricity consumption.
With thoughtful planning and a few simple actions, you can significantly cut energy use, reduce costs and move closer to your sustainability goals. Let your screens take a break! Time off over Summer isn’t just for students, it’s a great opportunity for schools to save energy, cut costs and get their digital signage ready for the new year.
If you are not already using TrilbyTV, you can find out more about the resources that we have to offer your school by signing up for a demo today. Or why not sign up for a 30 day free trial where you can check out all our fantastic content for yourself, as well as trying out the number one digital signage platform made for education.