Custom vs pre made av racks - For audio visual professionals designing technology solutions for corporate offices or education spaces, one important decision is whether to use custom fabricated racks or pre-made racks. Custom racks allow for unique design to fit the exact space and component needs but pre-made racks are more affordable and sustainable options. This blog post explores green design considerations for AV racks and strategies for integrating technology in a sustainable way.

Sustainability in AV Design

With concerns growing around environmental impact of technology, AV designers and integrators have an opportunity to lead the way in sustainable practices. When designing audio visual systems, consider materials selection, energy efficiency, recycling and end-of-life plans. Using eco-friendly components and designing for easy repair, reuse and recycling can help reduce environmental footprint. Standardizing around open computing platforms also supports sustainability long term by ensuring systems don't become obsolete prematurely.

Material Selection

Choosing materials for AV racks is one of the most impactful green design decisions. Steel, plastics and other materials commonly used for racks have large carbon footprints related to manufacturing and transport. More sustainable options include:

Reclaimed/Recycled wood: Reused wood from other construction prevents additional deforestation. It has low embodied carbon and can be recycled again.

Bamboo: A rapidly renewable grass with structural properties similar to wood. Low impact to grow and harvest compared to lumber.

Aluminum: Highly recyclable and requires much less energy to produce than steel or plastic over time. Look for recycled content.

Prioritizing reused, recycled or renewable materials wherever possible reduces environmental impacts of AV rack fabrication. Using locally sourced materials also lessens transportation footprint.

Energy Efficiency

For integrated technology, energy usage is a major operational cost and source of greenhouse gases over time. When designing AV racks, consider:

LED lighting: Highly efficient and long lasting LEDs save huge amounts of energy compared to incandescent or fluorescent over the lifetime of a system.

Power supplies: Look for 80 Plus certified power supplies which convert over 80% of electricity to output, cutting waste heat.

Cable management: Well organized cabling prevents excess heat from buildup and inefficient air flow which stresses components.

Cooling: Efficient fans or passively cooled designs minimize energy for ventilation and cooling.

Designing for low energy use and optimal thermal performance helps AV racks operate with less environmental impact throughout their usage.

Ease of Repair, Reuse, Recycling

Long-term sustainability also depends on how well a system is designed for maintenance, upgrades and end-of-life handling. Consider:

Modular components: Easily removable/replaceable parts like power supplies, motherboards and drives simplifies repair and reuse of parts over time.

Standard interfaces: Consistency with rackmount, power and cabling interfaces supports reuse of parts or entire racks in other applications later.

Labeling: Clear identification of components and their functions facilitates disassembly for repair or recycling at end of useful lifespan.

Construction: Use of common fasteners avoids specialized tools for teardown. Welded frames complicate recycling.

By anticipating repair, reuse or recycling needs upfront, AV racks can have a second or third life, preventing waste and reducing overall environmental footprint in long run.

Open Systems and Standardization

Proprietary or specialized technologies tend to become obsolete quickly as new innovations arrive, whereas open systems remain upgradeable over a longer period. Consider the following strategies:

Open source/Linux platforms: Highly flexible, customizable and upgradable operating systems versus proprietary embedded OSboxes.

off-the-shelf components: Commodity CPUs, RAM, disk drives etc. stay current with innovations versus specialized appliances.

Modularity: Motherboard, CPU, storage in modules for easy swapping versus integrated systems.

Rack/power standardization: Use EIA-310 rack formats and common power interfaces to mix vendor solutions over time.

Adopting open, modular and standards-based approaches supports reuse of components even as new technologies emerge, maximizing useful lifespan and sustainability of AV rack investments.

Case Studies

Library Media Center Renovation

A large public library undertook a green renovation of their media center technology spaces. They opted for custom fabricated racks made from reclaimed hemlock frames, recycled steel and bamboo panels. Components were chosen for energy efficiency and ease of reuse - LED lighting, 80 Plus power supplies, commodity server parts over appliances. Cabling was organized with excess slack for future re-termination. When system upgrades were needed 5 years later, 90% of parts were redeployed in new configurations, avoiding waste. Clear labeling and construction facilitated disassembly at end of useful life for nearly complete recycling. The unique green rack design and focus on reuse has significantly reduced environmental footprint over time.

University Lecture Hall Upgrades

A university upgraded their lecture capture and presentation systems across 15 large classrooms, consolidating into standardized AV racks. They used pre-configured open frame racks from a single vendor for ease of installation, standardization and long term support. Racks included modular power, storage and switching equipment, all with passive cooling for high efficiency. High performance solid state video capture cards were selected over proprietary appliances. A Linux-based video platform and open API standards supported integration of various capture sources. 5 years later systems remained fully upgradable by swapping modules as needs evolved, avoiding premature replacement. Standardization simplified maintenance and maximized usable lifespan through replacement of parts not entire systems.

Conclusion

By prioritizing green materials, energy efficiency, reuse and open systems approaches, AV integrators can significantly reduce the environmental impact of technology solutions over their full lifecycles. Whether using custom or pre-made racks, sustainable design practices help lower operating costs while supporting reuse, repairs and reuse. As technology evolves rapidly, standardizing around reusable, recyclable components that stay upgradeable maximizes value and sustainability of AV investments for years to come. Leadership in these practices helps propel our industry towards an eco-friendlier future.