June 7, 2010
Taking A Hard Look At What’s Next For
Green AV Across Our Industry
by Scott Walker
Over the course of my time writing
for Systems Contractor News, I have
focused heavily on the LEED sustainability
rating process and recommended
that the AV industry should seek to
overwhelm USGBC with attempted
innovation credits based on AV solutions.
However, a funny thing happened
while writing the September article on
innovation credits: by the time I finished
writing it, I had convinced myself
that we were, quite probably, on a road
to nowhere.
It Seemed Like Such A Good Idea At The Time
USGBC had created a fantastically
popular rating system for green buildings,
so seeking a home for sustainable
AV solutions within LEED seemed like
the obvious first place to go, but the
obstacles were great. The first obstacle
was just getting a seat at the table. A
project’s potential innovation credits are
typically identified at the LEED charrette,
which usually takes place early
in program phase or schematic design
phase. A handful of consultants might
find themselves at that table, but this is
not a place where most AV manufacturers,
integrators, and software programmers
have a home, and there aren’t
enough consultants to make much of a
difference over the next few years.
The second and more profound
obstacle became apparent when I was
doing my very unscientific research for
Systems Contractor News’ September
column. I tried to measure how much
impact we could have on the LEED
rating system if we launched a full-on
assault of innovation credits, and I
found that the results would be negligible.
Most commercial LEED projects
are new construction; new construction
takes years to complete and even longer
to actually earn their LEED certification,
and I estimate fewer than a dozen
or so actual proposed AV innovation
credits on real projects are under consideration
at this time. So, if we green
AV advocates go nuts starting now and
begin in earnest proposing AV innovation
credits on every project we can, we
might successfully earn 100 or so actual
credits on real projects by the end of
2012. And that’s being optimistic.
Currently, nearly 30,000 commercial
projects are in the pipeline for LEED
consideration, and nearly all of them
will earn their requisite four or five
innovation credits. Thus, by 2012, if
we in the AV industry earn 100 of the
roughly 120,000 innovation credits on
these 30,000 projects, our credits represent
0.083 percent of just the innovation
credits earned. We’re not going to
get anyone’s attention when we’re not
even one-tenth of one percent of the
innovation credits, which themselves
are only five percent of the total credits
within LEED.
Enter Plan B
In 2009 the InfoComm Board of
Directors authorized the creation of a
Green AV Task Force. Our mandate
was to create a body of green AV
knowledge and associated best practices.
While we did many good things
on the task force last year, we essentially
missed the mark of our stated
mandate because there was/is no generally
accepted definition of what a green
AV system is nor is there a good way
to measure or compare a purported
“green AV” installation against a standard
“non-green AV” system.
Last fall the Green AV Task Force
met and decided to change course,
deemphasize our pursuit of LEED,
and create our own AV sustainability
rating system. We presented
our idea to the InfoComm Board
in December, and in February they
approved this new initiative and
the AV Sustainability Task Force
was formed to guide the initiative.
The task force is made up of representatives
from AV manufacturing,
integration, consulting, software
programming, as well as an end user
/ technology manager representative,
since this initiative ultimately
will benefit the buyers of our solutions
while it seeks to raise the value
proposition of those who can deliver
sustainable solutions.
Our framework seeks to learn
from LEED but not copy it. Our system
invites participation throughout
the project from AV program phase
through occupancy from the entire
AV ecosystem. Now, AV manufacturers
will have a place where their green
products, shipping practices, and
facilities can count for something.
Consultants, integrators, and software
programmers will collaborate to
share responsibility in the planning,
design, integration, and programming
of systems to minimize energy consumption while still promoting
AV quality. And finally the buyers
of AV goods and services will have
a clear way to specify their sustainability
goals and measure the ROI of
their sustainable AV investments.
The current draft framework of the
rating system will be unveiled for input
and feedback from the AV community
at a free session Friday, June 11, from
10:30 a.m. to noon at InfoComm
2010 in Las Vegas, NV. The session
will take place at Las Vegas Convention
Center in room N-252. Come
share your ideas with us. We want the
energy and vision of the entire industry
fueling this initiative.
The era of talking about green
AV is over. We’re in the action
phase now
Scott Walker, CTS-D, LEED AP, is
president of Waveguide Consulting
and past president of InfoComm
International. In June 2007 he made
history when he became the world’s
first LEED-accredited certified technology
specialist in design.
Green Scene
Powersoft
Manufactures
Green
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Powersoft managing director Claudio
Lastrucci (left) with visitor Kurt
Springer, director of touring for MSI,
at the Powersoft manufacturing plant.
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FARMINGDALE, NY—Powersoft has formed
a manufacturing partnership with the
MetaSystem Group, a group of Italian
companies that operate in the electronics
field with a specific focus on the
automotive, telematics, energy, photovoltaic,
telecommunications, and broadcasting
sectors. The MetaSystem plants
feature solar cell production of electricity
as a cornerstone of green manufacturing
practices and have advanced automatic
assembly, visual inspection systems,
and cutting-edge, in-circuit testing
equipment for efficient production. Leviton Reduces
Energy Use
MELVILLE, NY—Leviton Manufacturing
Company has collaborated with Long
Island Power Authority (LIPA) to build
in long-term sustainability initiatives
at its Melville world headquarters. On
Earth Day, LIPA executives visited Leviton’s
facility to present a rebate check as
part of the utility’s Commercial Efficiency
Program, which offers businesses discounted
energy rates and rebates for
installing energy-efficient devices and
systems. Many of the installed systems
at the complex include daylight harvesting,
commercial sensors, and lighting
energy management systems.
New Casio Site
DOVER, NJ—Casio America has launched
its “Green Slim Projector” website, providing
consumers with new details about
the company’s recently announced line
of mercury free, high brightness projectors.
The site will also be a resource for
up-to-the-minute industry news.
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