We all want to save money and protect the environment so we’ve become increasingly conscious of our energy usage and more specifically the energy we waste.
When considering audio visual equipment, we want the very best energy rating while still benefiting from a feature rich product using the most advanced technology.
The Future’s Bright
New LED technology used in digital displays, digital signage, monitors and TV’s these days is more energy efficient than ever, leading to lower cost to run and lower cost of ownership over the life of the product as reliability is increased this also means you won’t have to replace as often.
LED panels offer outstanding image quality, with deep blacks, bright whites and breathtaking vivid colours while using minimal power.
With modern AV equipment allowing you to control your devices from anywhere via an app this means you could turn off the equipment if you get home and realise it has been left on. This also means no more “Did I turn my screen off?” moments on your journey home.
The latest AV equipment now includes features to help reduce energy consumption such as automatic brightness control, automatic inactivity power off/sleep mode, and human recognition features that mean the equipment powers down when people leave a room.
You can even schedule the equipment to turn on or off at specific times.
If, for instance, you have digital signage you can have them powered down in times when you know there will be nobody around to see them, such as class times, meal times, etc.
Compared to older plasma and LED technology the latest models of AV tech can save educational establishments hundreds of pounds over the year.
Be Energy Efficient
Modern AV equipment can help you become more energy-efficient by providing greater control over your devices’ energy usage and reducing unnecessary energy waste. Here are some other tips to help you become more energy efficient.
Think Smart: Fit smart sockets and plugs. With automatic controls these allow you to have greater control over things plugged in, setting various automated tasks for groups of equipment is made simple.
Switch Off: If you’re not using it, switch it off. Get everyone used to turning things off when not in use. If they don’t perform tasks while idle (updates, back ups, etc.) don’t leave them on stand by either; completely switch them off.
Unplug: This is an often overlooked little tip but, at the end of the day unplug things. The next day people will consider if the item they’re about to plug back in is actually going to be used.
Turn down brightness: If you have a monitor or screen without automatic controls, turn the brightness down, you’ll save a considerable amount of power with just this simple action.
Set it up: Make sure you’ve been through the menus on your device, set up all of the power saving options and tweaked all of the settings so you get the best experience while being the most energy efficient.
Always check the label: The energy label has been around for more than 25 years across Europe. It makes it easier for us to choose energy efficient products, and has helped manufacturers and retailers develop more innovative and efficient products.
The energy label was revised and improved in 2021 and features:
- A new, simpler range: A to G.
- A QR code which links to additional product information and can be scanned with your smartphone.
- New and improved icons to improve clarity and provide additional information at a glance.
- The energy consumption of the products is shown in the middle section of the label; consumption is presented either as kWh per year, kWh per 1,000 hours or kWh per 100 cycles, depending on the product group.
Previously the most efficient products that would have been labelled as A+++, would now roughly be class B or C, which goes to show just how much energy efficiency has improved.
