Reduce your Carbon Footprint
1 Nov 08
Use Your AV Systems to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
We already know that updating to energy-saving light bulbs, turning off devices at the power point, switching to renewable energy sources and driving less all make a significant impact in both our home and office. But your AV systems can also help? Here are some things to think about
1. Use Video Conferencing
As costs have come down and network reliability has improved, more companies are choosing video conferencing (VC) to increase productivity and improve efficiency. Now businesses are realising that VC can also be used as a "green" technology.
How? Well in basic terms, by not driving a car or catching a plane to meet in person, we essentially eliminate our carbon dioxide emissions. As you read this, many thousands of people are on their way to management meetings, Board meetings, client meetings, interviews, training or just to meet staff or colleagues in different locations. And no matter whether we are going by car, train, bus or plane, there is a significant cost involved: time, money and your carbon footprint.
Instead, many smart businesses are using their VC systems to get the same outcome in a more profitable and greener way.
And don't think VC is only for businesses with interstate offices. It has fast become a valuable communication tool for organizations (big and small) with multiple offices or clients within the same state.
2. Smart Control Systems
With so many electronic devices in our home and workplace, it is too easy to waste energy by leaving equipment on. Smart control systems have the ability to make life easier by controlling AV equipment, lights, blinds, heating, cooling and security systems.Now families and offices are also seeing them as another way to go 'green'.
Centralising the control of these components reduces the chance of accidentally leaving them on and the scheduling capability of controllers mean you can direct your systems to switch elements off after certain times. All helps to reduce any of our unintentional energy wasting activities.
3. Choose Equipment Wisely
Like all electronic devices, some products and brands use less energy to run than others. Whereas compulsory energy ratings schemes are in place for products such as white goods, the same system does not exist for AV equipment. However, the Federal government recently announced a voluntary program to encourage manufacturers to label televisions so consumers can make energy-wise choices.
Many 'green' conscious manufacturers are giving it their full support. In fact, Panasonic has already pledged that it will introduce energy rating labels for it's Viera Plasma and LCD televisions during the coming months. With a mandatory scheme expected to be introduced in 2009, we believe many manufacturers will have similar strategies in place.Stay tuned!
In addition to this, we are also told that key manufacturers are developing their Plasma technology to significantly reduce its power consumption. Improvements to product design and manufacturing will enable the next-generation screens to use up to 50 per cent less power than existing models. So we still can watch our favourite shows or run our digital signage and reduce the impact this is having on our environment.
With new studies finding that consumers are placing more value on doing business with companies who are green, and employees would rather work for organizations who they perceive to be environmentally ethical, it might be the right time to take a closer look at what you can do.
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