In keeping with the spirit of the SDM “Going Green” issue this month, the question posed above seems appropriate and the answer appears to be yes.

There is a natural connection between energy management and access control. A key area of energy management is the connection between energy consumption and occupancy. Access control systems provide the data that building automation systems need to manage energy usage.

When asked by the SDM editors to write a column highlighting “green” concepts, it started me thinking about environmental impact. The more we as an industry can reuse existing cabling the less earthly resources are needed, not to mention that dealers can provide clients with upgraded systems at very competitive costs. What about those millions of feet of coax we have collectively installed in the past 40 years?

How much do you know about green in security installations?

The “green movement” has permeated the security industry on a number of levels from corporate and internal sustainability initiatives to green products and customer offerings. Manufacturers, dealers and integrators are playing their part in the movement with everything from simple, cost-cutting initiatives to documented corporate sustainability policies. Motivations involve a combination of corporate responsibility, the bottom line, and the ability to do business with customers that require a commitment to reducing the carbon footprint.

For David Wade, group director for supply chain at ADT Security Services, Boca Raton, Fla., one turning point in managing his 7,000 vehicles and their costs was transforming a transactional relationship with his fleet management company into “a more collaborative, strategic relationship based on a multi-year horizon.

As energy costs continue to rise in the slowly recovering economy, some homeowners are looking for ways to save money. At the same time, other homeowners have an interest in reducing their impact on the environment and reduced energy use. Security integrators who offer home automation along with energy consumption monitoring services and products can help these homeowners discover how they can conserve energy and save money while creating a healthy bottom line.

Many electronic system contractors (ESC) often know green as motorized shades, LED lighting and home energy management and monitoring. Courtney Baker sees a bigger green. “These are major areas that the dealer/installer community can affect; but being green is a lot more than just saving energy. It is also about indoor air quality, water efficiency indoor and outdoor, material selection and generally being aware of how [a client’s] home ‘should’ work.”