Home security has always been important, but like many areas it is only recently that the sustainability of protecting your property has come under scrutiny.
Having an eco-friendly yet secure setup no longer means making compromises in either direction, and it’s down to a combination of modern, smart solutions and renewable energy tech that this is possible.
The rise of smart security
Cross-compatibility, interoperability and remote access have been part and parcel of the home security market for many years now.
What has changed more recently is that disparate systems have been unified and automated through central, smart devices and software which can oversee everything from an intercom access control system and exterior camera setup to internal motion detectors and beyond.
What is more, such capabilities are not distinct to security alone, but are further combined with other aspects of smart home automation, such as heating and lighting.
Allowing users to orchestrate and micromanage every element of their premises, or allow software to take the reins for them, is convenient. It also paves the way for a more sustainable and energy-efficient approach.
The implementation of solar power
Renewable energy comes in many forms, and one of the most readily accessible of the bunch is solar power. Again, this is not a recent breakthrough, but one which we have been able to harness for some time. The difference is that improvements in solar panels, as well as falling prices, have made them more potent and accessible than ever.
In turn, they make a perfect match for home security setups, because of course the often passive nature of surveillance systems is such that it does not necessarily require an always-on connection to a mains power supply.
Being able to keep remote cameras, alarms and motion detection systems up and running with just the sunlight, in combination with onboard rechargeable batteries, means homeowners can keep utility bills down, keep their properties secure, and do their bit for the environment as well.
Making the leap to on-demand security, rather than always-on alternatives, is generally more sustainable across the board. Not only will solar-powered lights and cameras effectively be free to run, but even their fully wired equivalents need only draw power from the mains when an intruder is detected.
And of course with smart, connected configurations, you can get automatic notifications sent directly to your smartphone, even if you are on the other side of the planet, so you can decide on what action to take when your security system is tripped.
The role of responsible manufacturers
Another point to make with regard to the eco-friendliness of home security is that manufacturers in this sector are starting to get onboard with the idea of sustainability as a selling point.
Consumers are more clued-up on the environmental impact of the purchases they make today, and this applies to everything from groceries to high-end electronics and automobiles, so home security cannot afford to be any different.
Including solar-powered equipment that is controlled intelligently is just one of the ways manufacturers are going about this. They are also choosing to re-think the effect that the materials they use for their products, as well as the way they package and ship them, can have on the planet and on their carbon footprint.
Reparability, reusability and recyclability are the three key concerns in this context, and we are very much entering an era in which the disposable ways of the bad old days are being pushed to one side. All that remains is for homeowners to make sustainable choices when choosing security systems as well.
