How important are sustainability and energy efficiency for security businesses and what impact will both issues having on installations of the future? The PSi Panel recently took on the green question
Paul Worsley – Kingdom Systems
Sustainability and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly important across industries, and the security sector is no different. More and more, we’re seeing clients, especially in construction, placing a strong focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles when choosing their systems. It’s clear that concerns around sustainability and carbon footprints are on track to be just as important as traditional factors like performance in deciding which security solutions to use.
This shift is largely driven by growing awareness of carbon emissions – both embodied (from the production and installation of systems) and operational (from their ongoing use). People are becoming much more conscious of the environmental impact of the systems they choose, and that’s pushing businesses, installers, and clients to weave ESG goals into their operations, supply chains, and projects. In such a competitive market, being able to demonstrate strong green credentials – whether that’s through certifications, awards, or aiming for B Corp status – is becoming a real differentiator.
Temporary security solutions are a great example of how this change is playing out. Traditional systems can be resource-heavy to install and run, creating waste and adding to their carbon footprint. By contrast, reusable and easy-to-deploy options – especially those using renewable energy like solar – offer a much greener solution. Solar-powered systems, such as autonomous CCTV towers, are a fantastic innovation, as they eliminate the need for constant battery charges or generators.
Clients are also starting to see the practical and financial benefits of choosing sustainable systems. Solar-powered options, for example, can run independently in remote locations, meeting security needs while ticking sustainability boxes. Going forward, these kinds of considerations are likely to become the norm rather than an added bonus.
In short, sustainability is reshaping the security industry. Energy-efficient and low-carbon systems are becoming a priority, and as awareness grows, future systems will need to meet both performance and sustainability demands.
Mike Isherwood – System Q
Security systems are becoming more energy-intensive due to an increase in resolution, which in turn increases the need for storage. This trend has increased the demand for Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions, which sit in data centres and use more energy than a lower resolution DVR or NVR.
Key sustainability trends in security installations that we see are demand for low-power cameras and sensors, integration to smart power management and energy-efficient LED lighting. There was a trend towards cloud solutions, but high energy costs have meant the cost benefit of cloud-based solutions doesn’t weigh up.
Solar-powered security solutions are steadily rising, but this is driven by the need to protect and monitor remote locations and the decrease in cost of solar components, not because of green energy requirements, although this may change. Rising energy costs, corporate sustainability goals, government regulations and green building certifications may see an increase in demand for low powered solutions, but we haven’t seen a significant trend just yet, mainly because security equipment is insignificant when considering heating or cooling requirements for most buildings and businesses.
David Edwards – Texecom
Sustainability and energy efficiency are becoming much more important, both from a customer demand and regulatory point of view. In my role, I see how these pressures influence the way we design and build our products every day. It’s not just about meeting environmental goals; it’s about ensuring we’re ahead of future expectations and delivering systems that match what customers want.
One of the biggest changes we’ve made is introducing new manufacturing technologies, like the wave solder machine. This isn’t just a small tweak; it’s been a fundamental shift in how we work. The machine has cut energy use significantly during production and improved the overall quality of the products we’re making. These kinds of changes are essential because they help us produce more efficiently and sustainably at the same time. Customers don’t always see the manufacturing side of things, but they care about the end result—quality systems built responsibly.
Energy consumption is also something we’re hearing more about from customers. Residential users are more aware of their electricity usage, and commercial customers have their own sustainability targets to meet. It’s no longer enough for security systems to just be reliable—they need to use as little energy as possible. That’s driving us to think carefully about how systems perform long-term and how we can innovate to reduce their impact.
For me, the focus is on making real changes that have a lasting impact. Whether it’s improving production processes, sourcing more efficient components, or simply being transparent with customers about what we’re doing, it all matters. Sustainability isn’t a tick-box exercise; it’s becoming part of every decision we make.
It’s challenging, but it’s also exciting to see how these efforts are shaping the future of security installations.
Read all the expert comments in the December 2024 edition of PSi magazine
