Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
ColumnsSecurity Leadership and Management

Finding Sustainability's Purpose in Security

The most environmentally sustainable building in the world is the Change Initiative Building in Dubai, based on the LEED Commercial Interiors rating system.

Trends
May 1, 2014

The most environmentally sustainable building in the world is the Change Initiative Building in Dubai, based on the LEED Commercial Interiors rating system. Bill Jolly, Director of MEP (Mechanical, electrical and plumbing design) and Sustainability at Ramboll, the lead engineer on the Change Initiative Building, said: “Our mechanical, electrical and plumbing design teams along with the fire engineering and sustainability teams embarked upon a mission to ensure that the most cost-effective sustainable solutions were offered to our valued client. In order to achieve these particular targets and to ensure the most cost-effective recommendations for the customer, the team evaluated each and every possible solution available.”

Yet, nowhere in Jolly’s quote does he mention security systems. Not the power supply needed for an IP camera, nor the batteries required for a wireless access control device.

It is worth noting exactly what sustainability is. The University of Maryland website says that the widely accepted definition of sustainability is to “...meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission, 1987). In addition, “Sustainability is not solely about environmental stewardship, although many people associate the term with the environment. As the graphic here demonstrates, the social and economic dimensions are equally important and round out what is referred to as the ‘triple bottom line,’ a standard of ethical responsibility many corporations, institutions and governments have adopted as a guiding principle.”

At the recent ISC West Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, sustainable security solutions were both everywhere and nowhere. As a judge for the Security Industry Association’s New Product Showcase at ISC West this year, I had the opportunity to participate on one of seven judging committees. Interestingly, several of the nominated solutions within locks, access control and video were actually quite green. Presenters went out of their way and spent a significant amount of their limited presentation time (12 minutes) to document how much lesselectricity their solution used than current products.

One presenter shared that from concept for raw materials to electrical requirements to recycling at the end of its lifecycle; its product’s overall impact on the environment met the highest LEED standards. Further, the presenter noted that so many RFPs now require sustainability standards and information, and that this type of design was becoming a necessity to compete.

Which means that you, dear Security Leader, are participating in your enterprise’s move toward sustainability for both social responsibility and for cost reasons, if you aren't already there. The logic path indicates that you are driving change back up the supply chain by directing the architects and engineers to include sustainable or environmentally friendly solutions within specifications. They are rewriting specifications, and the suppliers in the market are responding. So, while it seems to be happening everywhere, it is still hard to find case studies that point to “sustainable” as a core driver for change and buying decisions.

That's because sustainability as a topic has been elusive for the security market. Our sister publication,SDM, recently published its third “Green” focused issue. It found that in 2012, most security dealers and integrators focused their operational efforts to be green, with stories of recycling and turning lights out. There were no stories of a manufacturer losing out on a project because the energy consumption of their product was too inefficient or the materials used too damaging to the environment. In 2014, things are moving toward the line card, and sustainability is creeping into the products and the discussion. But it appears to be an evolution, not a revolution.

This brings us back to the New Product Showcase. With more than 100 entries across 26 categories from access to video (with green in the ‘Gs’), the Green category received zero entries. Yet in the judge’s discussions, the topic was everywhere. Many of the entrants across all of these other categories continued to discuss the fact that sustainability, customer demands and corporate citizenship goals had driven a “new and greener design for our new ….” 

Is sustainability changing the solutions you are specifying in your enterprise? Or is it lonely to be green? Please let us know. Because so far, sustainability is everywhere. And it’s also nowhere.  

KEYWORDS: green security ISC West sustainable security

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Coding

AI Emerges as the Top Concern for Security Leaders

Half open laptop

“Luigi Was Right”: A Look at the Website Sharing Data on More Than 1,000 Executives

Shopping mall

Victoria’s Secret Security Incident Shuts Down Website

Laptop with coding on ground

Stepping Into the Light: Why CISOs Are Replacing Black-Box Security With Open-Source XDR

Gift cards and credit cards

Why Are Cyberattacks Targeting Retail? Experts Share Their Thoughts

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

June 24, 2025

Inside a Modern GSOC: How Anthropic Benchmarks Risk Detection Tools for Speed and Accuracy

For today's security teams, making informed decisions in the first moments of a crisis is critical.

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

From animal habitats to bustling crowds of visitors, a zoo is a one-of-a-kind environment for deploying modern security technologies.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Stranger in a Strange Land: Finding the New Normal of Security Culture - Security Magazine

    Stranger in a Strange Land: Finding the New Normal of Security Culture

    See More
  • Supreme Pharmaceutical medical marijuana greenhouse is in Kincardine, Ontario,

    Finding the Balance in Property Management Security

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • Hospitality-Security.gif

    Hospitality Security: Managing Security in Today's Hotel, Lodging, Entertainment, and Tourism Environment

  • Physical-Layer-Security.gif

    Physical Layer Security in Wireless Communications

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing