Through mismanagement of energy usage and because of the wasteful nature of human beings in general, some scientists believe the net effect on the environment will eventually spell gloom and doom for mankind. This is especially true if society fails to curb its incessant appetite for energy. All of this has allegedly affected the Earth’s climate, which some theorize will result in cataclysmic results over time.
Whether you believe in man-made climate change or not, all of us can agree that energy conservation is a good thing. If nothing else, it will save us money. And so energy conservation is taught in schools and colleges and conveyed to the general public through commercials and other propaganda in public spaces. This includes mandates implemented by organizations as well as government agencies at every level—from local to state to federal.
“In 2013 alone, American families and businesses have saved $30 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 38 million homes. To date, more than 1.5 million new homes and 25,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR. Americans purchased about 300 million ENERGY STAR certified products in 2013 across more than 70 product categories for a cumulative total of more than 4.8 billion products since 1993” (Energy Star, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Government, http://1.usa.gov/1TBJrUR).
Sustainable Living
The word “sustainable” is certainly not new, but its introduction into environmental matters began with its use in Agenda 21 as part of the United Nations’ effort to assure a sustainable future (http://bit.ly/1IOmDB0). In this regard, the meaning of a “sustainable living,” as defined by The Free Dictionary, is “…a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and personal resources” (http://bit.ly/1OqaVJn).
Over time, through federal and state programs, homeowners and commercial companies have taken action to minimize the impact of human activity on the environment. One place to begin is the appliances that home and business owners use. Second is the construction and maintenance of the homes people live in, the schools they learn in, and the commercial buildings they work in.
For example, in 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the ENERGY STAR program where products inspected and found energy compliant by a third-party entity were entitled to bare the ENERGY STAR label. Through education and other incentives, these products are commonly sought after in order to achieve energy sustainability, thus making these structures more desirable from a variety of perspectives. In 2005, the ENERGY STAR program was expanded to include the certification of buildings, such as new homes, commercial facilities, institutional properties, and manufacturing plants.
Another avenue of change is GreenCircle certification where, like ENERGY STAR, a third-party verifies compliance with environmentally sound manufacturing processes as well as energy savings characteristics as claimed by manufacturers (http://bit.ly/1OcMoxk).
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, http://bit.ly/22dCkZa) also is a widely recognized green building program administered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), based in Washington, D.C. Again, third-party verification is required to attain certification, which commonly leads to a variety of incentives.
According to USGBC, the organization “…is made up of tens of thousands of member organizations, chapters and student and community volunteers that are moving the building industry forward in a way that has never been seen before. We are a diverse group of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofits, teachers and students, lawmakers and citizens that share the same vision of a sustainable built environment for all within the next generation” (http://bit.ly/1I2ngXD).
Reducing Energy Consumption
The reduction of energy consumption in a building is not always an easy task. Through federal and state incentives, the electric power companies have offered additional incentives to their subscribers which relate to the reduction of energy use, thus energy costs.
One way to do this is to replace all the florescent ballasts and bulbs with low-energy-rated models. There also are monetary incentives for installing energy management systems that integrate with HVAC, lighting, and both fire and intrusion systems, including access control.
Another way to save energy, which is the topic of this article, is to install electrified eco-friendly door hardware, which includes electric door strikes, electromagnetic locks, and energy-efficient power supplies, all designed to enhance the rating of a building by reducing its impact on the surrounding environment. . In a sizable structure, the use of low-energy locking hardware is an absolute must.
There are a variety of ways that manufacturers can do this. One way is to engineer the mechanical elements of an electromechanical lock so it takes less energy to operate. For example, HES has engineered an eco-friendly electric power module designed to operate using less power. This enables an EcoStrike™ to operate using a network PoE (Power over Ethernet), which is used in a networked environment
Product Choices
With all the hubbub about climate change and energy conservation, you’d think that finding ecologically-mindful products on the market would be a cinch, but not so. There are a few that deserve a strong look, mostly offered by global-size manufacturers. The single most theme that runs throughout the lot is minimizing the environmental impact of a facility ‑ be it commercial or residential. In this regard low-current energy devices lead the way.
The need for these and yet-to-come sustainable products is on the rise as more and more communities require eco-friendly structures. When it comes to making the grade during a third-party energy audit; which is required to gain ENERGY STAR, GreenCircle, and LEED certification; every watt counts.
The following is a list of products that have earned the distinction of being “eco-friendly” because of the reduction of energy consumption. There’s a link provided when possible at the end of each one for your convenience.
EcoFlex Mortise Cylinder Lock by Corbin Russwin: The EcoFlex electrified mortise cylinder lock is designed to operate on less power, thus saving the client up to 96 percent in energy consumption. This will prolong battery life when a central power supply is not employed. In a large facility or in a campus setting this equates to the need for fewer power supplies and the ability to run power cable for greater distances without the customary crippling voltage drops that go with it. The net effect in the long term is to save a significant amount of energy and thus money.
According to Corbin Russwin, “In fail-safe applications, such as stairwells, the EcoFlex electrified mortise lock offers a potential savings of 50kWh per opening. [It offers] higher performance and reduced maintenance.”
In terms of current draw, the EcoFlex consumes a peak current of 500mA while only requiring 15mA to maintain the secure condition of the lock, and thus the door. The EcoFlex is BHMA Grade 1 rated, which means it was tested and confirmed to withstand over 1 million openings and closing cycles without failing. For additional information, go to http://bit.ly/1lXg6u3.
HES 1500/1600 Series Eco-Friendly EcoStrike™: HES, a leader in electrified door control hardware, will soon offer a low-current option in the all-new 9700 strike series in the form or interchangeable power modules, models 1500 and 1600. One of the purposes of this feature is to accommodate network driven PoE (Power over Ethernet) applications where electric locks are powered and controlled over the facility LAN (Local Area Network).
“HES has been the industry’s leader for almost 40 years, and our new electric strike line is going to set new design standards once again,” said Michael Webb, vice president of new product development, ASSA Abloy.
One remarkable feature about this new series is the interchangeability of the faceplates, latches, deadbolts, and other accessories. The HES 1500/1600 power modules will be available in spring of 2016.
PowerPlex by Kaba: The PowerPlex lock is eco-friendly because of its low power consumption. It does not use batteries nor are there bothersome wires to install, making it even more attractive to customers looking to lower the overall ecological impact of their facility. Through what Kaba calls it "No-pump Technology," the unit sleeps until called upon to provide access.
“This self powered, eco-friendly electronic lock wakes up by pressing the fist button of the code, requiring no pumping, wires or batteries. It also can be programmed at the lock itself or via computer using optional software,” says Kaba.
The PowerPlex s BHMA Grade 1 rated and is ADA compliant. For additional information, go to http://bit.ly/1k6YNol.
Sargent IN120 WiFi Mortise Lock: Behind the IN120 is an ecologically-friendly electrified mortise cylinder lock that is specifically engineered to conserve energy. By consuming less power than comparable models of a more traditional design the building owner realizes a monetary savings. Not only that, but your customers will also be in a better position to achieve LEED, ENERGY STAR, and GreenCircle certifications.
According to Sargent, “Our unconditional aim is to make sustainability a central part of our business philosophy and culture, but even more important is the job of integrating sustainability into our business strategy.”
The IN120 is third-party certified for BHMA A153.13 and is rated as Grade #1. It has a backset of 2-3/4 inches and can be masterkeyed or grand masterkeyed as required. It's ideal for commercial buildings, college and universities, dormitories, correctional facilities, hospitals, warehouses, and other applications where network connectivity is assured using 802.11 (WiFi). For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1Odtk1Q.
Securitron Sustainable EcoPower Supply: Where traditional access control power supplies consume almost the same power from the public electric bus when in standby as when under load, the Securitron EcoPower supply self reduces its energy consumption to a mere 8.5 mW, which translates to only 0.0085 Watts, reducing total power consumption at the door by 99% (from an average of 20W to. 0.3W) So impressive is the EcoPower technology that Securitron earned GreenCircle certification. The value of this achievement is especially realized in larger jobs where there are many doors as well as power supplies that service them.
“The built environment is undergoing an inspiring shift in adoption and performance, and our goal at ASSA Abloy is to provide the industry with the most sustainable access control solutions,” says David Corbin, senior product manager with Securitron. ”By offering sustainable technology alternatives at all points of a door with EcoPower, EcoFlex™, EcoMag and EcoStrike, we demonstrate that access control performance can be greatly improved.”
For more information on the EcoPower product, go to http://bit.ly/1ZghzcP.
