Today, businesses of all types are under pressure to prove their environmental and sustainability credentials. The security industry is no exception.
As surveillance cameras become increasingly commonplace and are increasingly relied upon to monitor public places and traffic flow, it follows that the number of cameras we are likely to see on our streets, in our schools and shops are likely to multiply in number.
So as the need for surveillance tools grows, so does the requirement for a sustainable approach to how they are made, how they are distributed and used and what happens to them at the end of their natural lifecycle.
Application to the entire value chain
A sustainable business needs to be able to significantly reduce the impact it makes on the environment by harmful chemicals, materials and waste generated by processes needed to manufacture products and services.
From camera manufacturers to systems integrators, environmental consideration must be applied to the entire value chain: from the selection of suppliers to provide the materials used to build the cameras right through to the use of the final product and its end of life recycling.
Here at Axis Communications, we have performed life cycle analysis and carbon footprint studies which show that the greatest single impact on the environment comes from the energy consumption of the products during many years of use by the customers.
When specifying a network camera, end users should consider choosing one that is good on energy performance but doesn’t compromise on image quality.
The life cycle analysis was conducted on the Axis Q6032-E PTZ which has an estimated useful life of ten years. We looked at raw material extraction and processing, manufacturing, transportation (between manufacturing sites and to customers), use and end of life.
For the purposes of the study, we assumed that the product was produced at Axis’ contractual manufacturer in Poland, and sold and used in the EU.
Largest potential environmental impact
The results showed that the phase which has the largest potential environmental impact is utilisation and the use of electricity. Utilisation accounted for approximately 85% of the product’s environmental impact during the entire life cycle.
This was followed by manufacturing and then raw material extraction, processing and transportation.
By way of comparison, the amount of energy used by the camera over ten years equates to the amount of energy that a 60 W regular light bulb consumes during constant use for approximately 4.2 years.
Environmentally friendly approach to surveillance
With a sustainable supply chain, network video cameras can offer an environmentally friendly approach to surveillance.
In certain cases, network video surveillance also enables organisations to use their resources more efficiently and effectively. It can significantly contribute to a reduced environmental impact for customers that use them for remote monitoring.
This means that a customer who, for example, has responsibility for a number of stores spread over a large geographical area is able to monitor these units without having to travel to them (thereby reducing fuel consumption, air pollution and traffic congestion).
In line with a prosperous and growing surveillance industry, the pressure is on us all to work together to reduce waste and improve the management of our resources.
Phil Doyle is regional director for northern Europe at Axis Communications (UK)
Next time on The Networker: the Network Video Clinic looks at how consumer electronics are driving advances in video surveillance
To download the full Axis Communications’ 2010 Sustainability Report access: http://www.axis.com/files/brochure/report_axis_sustainability_2010.pdf (a dedicated link is provided at the foot of this page)