Driving Sustainability through Energy-Efficient AV Solutions
At Atlona, we are dedicated to designing energy-efficient AV products for our education and commercial customers that deliver performance while minimizing environmental impact. Our innovative solutions not only reduce energy consumption but also empower integrators to create more energy-efficient systems. Here are just a few examples of how we are shaping a greener future for AV through cutting-edge technology and sustainable design.
Key Initiatives
Keeping Systems Relevant and Out of Landfills
Innovation brings new AV products to market seemingly every month. Many of those products represent new technologies that replace the previous generation and send it to the landfill. Atlona made a commitment to our customers with our OmniStream® Networked AV platform to utilize an updateable platform. Our OmniStream 2.0 firmware update brought major new features and improved the specifications of our existing hardware, allowing our customers to update the functionality and performance of their existing OmniStream installations without requiring them to replace equipment. This eliminated electronics waste by increasing the useful lifetime of their equipment and investment.
Harnessing AV Control for Greener Systems
From the introduction of the Velocity® Control System in 2017, it was engineered to be a more efficient control system. Instead of the traditional one controller per room model, IP-based Velocity used one processor, or “Gateway” on the network to control many rooms. This means less electronic hardware to manufacture and put into use. Plus, PoE-powered touch panels mean systems are more power efficient. With the advent of Velocity’s Remote Gateway, AV Teams within an institution, or the AV companies that support many institutions, can remotely manage individual rooms and installations. Not only can systems be managed for potential inefficiencies, but remote management reduces ‘truck rolls’ and fuel usage.
New Designs, More Capability, More Efficiency
Working with our customers to meet their AV needs, Atlona strives to offer more capability while still harnessing more efficient technology with each generation of products. Take, for example, our AT-VTP-8E Velocity 8 Button Keypad Controller. Compared to the now-retired AT-ANC-108D, 8-Button Network Control Panel, the new VTP-8E can run circles around the ANC-108D offering IP-based control for up to 10 devices without the need for a control processor. Its e-paper display offers more information than the labelable buttons of the ANC-108D. Plus, it draws less than 1 watt while it’s predecessor drew 3.3 watts.
Energy Efficiency Can Be Convenient
Atlona’s Network-Enabled Occupancy Sensor, AT-OCS-900N, monitors a room’s occupancy, temperature, and ambient light for any device or system that needs that information. On the one hand it can advise the lighting system when the room is empty so lights can be turned off or, when the sun is present, to illuminate the meeting space. This small sensor can also work with Atlona’s Velocity control system to activate the AV system as team members arrive for a meeting. The AV system is only active and consuming full power when it’s needed.
Saving Power at the Display
Going back to our original HD scalers, video switchers, and presentation systems, Atlona has included Automatic Display Control (ADC) capability to control the on and off status of the display. When the video signal is detected at the device, the “on” command is sent to the display via IP, RS-232, or CEC. “Off” is similarly managed to reduce the total operational cost of the system. A side benefit of ADC is reducing system costs by eliminating a control system and reducing installation time.
To further reduce costs in the simplest of systems, Atlona offers the Display Controller, AT-DISP-CTRL. The DISP-CTRL detects connection of a source device with an active signal, and then automatically sends a control command to power up a display. Similarly, when the device is disconnected, the DISP-CTRL delivers a command to power down the display. Preventing unnecessary display power consumption contributes to lower power usage and conservation goals for an institution or company.
Energy-Related Products Directive
Atlona products are designed to meet stringent energy efficiency standards. These include the US Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program (sunsetting in 2025) as well as the European Union’s Energy-Related Products Directive (ErP Directive 2009/125/EC). The ErP Directive is a regulation that sets rules for improving the energy efficiency and environmental impact of products that use or affect energy, from appliances to AV products alike. Its goal is to reduce energy consumption and pollution by ensuring products sold in the EU meet certain eco-friendly design standards.
Our commitment to these standards is demonstrated by our external power supplies that meet this directive and our GAIN Series of Power Amplifiers that meet both ENERGY STAR as well as ErP Directive 2009/125/EC.
While the ErP mandate serves the EU, Atlona feels it’s important to our global customers to reduce our energy consumption and lower our environmental footprint. This results in cost savings on energy usage for our customers and AV system operators. We respect and encourage our customers’ demands for greener, more sustainable products.
REACH
REACH, or Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals, is a regulation in the European Union governing the disclosure, documentation, and safe handling of chemical substances. Officially known as Regulation 1907/2006, REACH aims to minimize the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment, as well as to enhance innovation and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
REACH places the responsibility on manufacturers and importers in the EU, including Atlona, to provide information on chemical substances in its products (or in their preparation) to the European Chemicals Agency. Of particular importance are chemicals classified as Substances of Very High Concern. Atlona takes this regulation into consideration for all globally shipped products, not just those destined for the EU.
RoHS
The RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is an EU regulation that limits the use of harmful materials, like lead and mercury, in electronics and electrical equipment to reduce environmental pollution and health risks. It ensures that products sold in the EU are safer to use and easier to recycle.
While RoHS is an EU regulation and is not directly enforced in the United States, Atlona voluntarily complies with RoHS standards as we export electronics to the European Union and believe this is good stewardship to meet global environmental standards.
China RoHS – Though similar, RoHS in the People’s Republic of China is a separate and distinct regulation from RoHS in the European Union. AV products are regulated under China RoHS 2 and classified as Electrical and Electronic Products. Atlona maintains a list of products that meet this standard and bear the China RoHS mark on the unit. See https://atlona.com/about-us/china-rohs/.
Packaging and Carton Initiative
Atlona is transitioning to more environmentally friendly packaging materials. This includes a move to kraft paper (high-strength, course paper made from wood pulp) and cardboard-based packaging. For example, polystyrene packing elements are replaced with cardboard where product weight allows, and plastic resealable bags are replaced with kraft paper envelopes. Our goal is to reduce waste from inorganic packaging to recyclable paper-based packaging. Additionally, these packing materials create less waste on installation sites and compress easier when packing needs to be removed by installation teams.
When a more dense material is required to secure heavier products, Atlona uses EPE (expanded polyethylene), which is environmentally friendly and fully recyclable.
Our shipping cartons are transitioning to uncoated carboard stock using soy-based ink for printed labels. Soy ink is a renewable resource, unlike petroleum-based inks. It is also biodegradable, reducing the environmental impact during disposal or recycling processes.
Documentation
Complex products like AV gear often require long, detailed manuals and installation guides. Atlona recognizes that in the past, this collateral contributed to waste as it is often discarded after installation with the product packaging. Today, guides have been replaced with a small card with a QR codes pointing to an online digital install guide, reducing the waste generated during installation. Another benefit is that these electronic guides are constantly updated to ensure our integrator partners and system operators have the most up-to-date product information.
E-waste
Atlona is committed to responsible e-waste recycling by ensuring all discarded electronics in our offices are properly processed through certified recycling partners, recovering valuable materials and reducing environmental harm. By adhering to strict sustainability standards, we prioritize a reduction of landfill waste and preventing hazardous substances from returning to the environment.