Can we 'green' the security industry?

We're moving into an era where all businesses have to consider how to be green, and I think the security industry is coming along this path, albeit slowly. I've certainly heard stories of how newer technology draws less power than the same equipment that was used for the same purpose 10 years ago. But at the same time, we're adding more and more electronic security technology, and that means more power draw. So, even with we're using less power per device compared to a decade ago, we also are using more devices. A business that 10 years ago had a burglar/intrusion alarm system today might also have an electronic door card access system and a video surveillance system. So, the net effect is that while we're probably using less power per device, we're using more power because we've installed many more devices.

One of the things we've learned in our environmental education is that those power transformers like the ones that you use to charge your cell phone are still drawing power if they're plugged and not charging. (In fact, that reminds me to pause writing this blog post, run upstairs and disconnect my cell phone charger since it should be charged...be right back!) Now there's a movement afoot from both the United States and Canada to specify load, no-load and standby power needs for electronic power transformers and electronic devices. The security industry is arguing against the need to classify electronic security devices as such, because as SIA's Richard Chace and CANASA's J.F. Champagne argued in this letter (PDF download), there is never a time when security systems are turned off.

They make a good point. Alarm systems are designed such that they're on even when they are disarmed such that they can be pinged by the monitoring provider and so that they can check connectivity to all of their subservient sensors. They have to do this even while disarmed so that they can be ready immediately when a homeowner or business owner hits “Arm”. Electronic door access control is also a 24/7 application, as is video surveillance.

The industry fought this in the U.S. (see previous story about SIA's work to revise the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) and seems to have received some understanding of this from the U.S. Department of Energy, and with that letter to Natural Resources Canada, I think they're likely to gain some accommodation from our northern neighbors as well.

But if creating standby-level power usage won't work for our security systems, what can we do to further "green" our industry? Here are my five suggestions: