Creating Sustainable AV Systems
Extron is committed to designing products and programs that contribute to a more sustainable future. Our greatest impact on sustainability derives from the way we design products, making it easy for our customers all over the world to implement and manage AV systems for maximum efficiency.
Our products are designed to be energy efficient and cool-running, while being exceptionally reliable with many years of trouble-free operation. We were the very first manufacturer to introduce Energy Star qualified commercial audio amplifiers and now offer more than 25 energy efficient amplifier models. Extron leads the AV industry with a complete range of energy efficient products.
Our sustainability initiatives help customers implement and manage their AV systems for maximum energy efficiency. We focus our efforts on these five major sustainability categories:
- Energy saving technology
- Product life and system longevity
- Thermal management
- Smart spaces - Including automation and resource management
- Our roles in ongoing sustainability programs
Energy Saving Technology
Regardless of the AV application or environment, you'll find Extron energy saving technologies in a broad variety of our products. From amplifiers to switchers to videowall processors, innovative circuitry decreases power consumption for times when the device is not in use.
ECO Standby and InstaWake+
Extron's exclusive ECO Standby technology places the amplifier into standby after just eight seconds of inactivity. When in standby, it draws under one watt of power; then, when a signal is detected, it returns to full power in under five milliseconds using our InstaWake+ technology. Five milliseconds – that's fast enough that even the sharpest beginning of audio is not cut off. This maximizes the amplifier's time in its lowest power state to conserve more power than ever before. For applications that require the amplifier to always remain active, the auto-standby and ECO Standby features can be easily and independently disabled.
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XPA U 4004 FX 1/8 Power: 265 Watts Idle Power: 1 Watt Standby Power: 1 Watt kWh per Year: 267 kW-hr Annual Energy Cost ($0.15 - $0.45 per kWh): |
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Competitor A 1/8 Power: 414 Watts Idle Power: 114 Watts Standby Power: 31 Watts kWh per Year: 752 kW-hr Annual Energy Cost ($0.15 - $0.45 per kWh): |
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Competitor B 1/8 Power: 460 Watts Idle Power: 138 Watts Standby Power: 92 Watts kWh per Year: 1254 kW-hr Annual Energy Cost ($0.15 - $0.45 per kWh): |
| Model | 1/8 Power | Idle Power | Standby Power | kWh per Year | Annual Energy Cost $0.15 - $0.45 per kWh |
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| XPA U 4004 FX | 265 Watts | 1 Watt | 1 Watt | 267 kW-hr | $40 - $120 |
| Competitor A | 414 Watts | 114 Watts | 31 Watts | 752 kW-hr | $113 - $338 |
| Competitor B | 460 Watts | 138 Watts | 92 Watts | 1254 kW-hr | $188 - $564 |
Thermal Imaging of an Extron audio amplifier and a competitive audio amplifier running under identical loads and power
Thermal Imaging of an Extron audio amplifier and a competitive audio amplifier running under identical loads and power
Operational Efficiency
Operational efficiency is front of mind when our engineers begin a new design. Efficient products provide many benefits. They run cooler, last longer, and require less HVAC load for cooling. It also means you can get away with fewer racks because there's no need to leave open rack space above or below our products. In mission-critical environments, where 24/7 uptime is crucial, our cool-running products provide maximum dependability for years of reliable service.
Standby Efficiency
Many of our powered products feature a standby mode, which places the system in a low-energy state after a set time or when manually engaged. The goal of this is to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed by the product when not in use. For instance, all Extron amplifiers have an auto power-down feature that places the amplifier into standby, consuming less than one watt of energy. Many other products, from switchers to videowall processors, also feature a standby state.
Product Life and System Longevity
Extron AV systems deliver reliable service over many years. Hard data shows that our AV systems provide high availability over long service lives. This substantially reduces cost of ownership, minimizes replacement costs, and keeps them out of the E-waste stream. We perform rigorous functionality, reliability, safety, durability, and efficiency testing at our accredited in-house certification test labs. Power supplies are crucial components. Our Everlast power supplies have MTBFs of 280,000 hours up to 1,000,000 hours versus 30,000 hours for typical AV power supplies.
Our AV systems are modular and scalable, making upgrades and expansions seamless. We protect users from product obsolescence with End-of-Life / End-of-Support intervals that far exceed industry averages. Keeping our products relevant longer shields users from costly and disruptive upgrade cycles. Our AV systems continue working and providing value in their installed locations over the long haul, rather than ending up in landfills.
Keeping our Cool
Extron products sip electricity and run cool. That's no accident; it's by design. We were the first pro AV manufacturer to introduce commercial audio amplifiers that are ENERGY STAR® qualified and are listed on the UL Solutions SPOT® sustainable products database. They draw under one watt at standby and offer sleep mode with auto power-down. Our Everlast® PS Series power supplies are DoE Level VI rated, consuming ≤0.075 watts at no-load idle. Our Thermal Management Part 1 and Thermal Management Part 2 white papers explain the relationship between lower operating temperature, higher reliability, and longer service life.
One recent technological advance in electronic component manufacturing is the use of Gallium Nitride – GaN. This has begun replacing silicon as the material of choice when manufacturing semiconductors. GaN offers several advantages over silicon, including cooler and more efficient operation. Extron is already incorporating GaN components into our power supplies. This increases the reliability and MTBF of our already-dependable power supplies.
Smart Spaces
Extron AV control systems save energy, time, and money during day-to-day operation of enterprise AV systems. We provide hardware solutions like occupancy sensors that ensure AV systems consume power only when people are there to use them. Our AV control software remotely activates and deactivates AV systems to coincide with business hours, saving electricity and reducing wear and tear on AV equipment like projector lamps. Our asset management software allows technicians to remotely control and monitor hundreds of AV-equipped rooms from a central location, reducing fuel-wasting in-person trips to prepare systems for use, to diagnose issues, or to train end users.
Automation & Occupancy Monitoring
From a resource management perspective, AV automation, including the use of occupancy sensors, helps save energy by turning off lights and other devices when not in use. Other sensors can automate AV system behavior based on the position of a moveable wall. Additionally, today's smart building technologies integrate AV control to automate processes and control vital building systems, including HVAC, lighting, power, emergency actions, utility use, and security.
Workspace Controllers
Extron Workspace Automation Controllers are designed to add easy, secure display control and automation to workspaces of all sizes. Depending on the model you choose, you can have automatic display control via an occupancy sensor - either built right into the workspace controller, or easily integrated as part of a streamlined room automation system.
Resource Management
Extron resource management software allows for continuous, remote monitoring and control of AV systems and other devices from a help desk. This enables you to conserve energy, reduce maintenance time, and save money.
GlobalViewer Enterprise provides a powerful, flexible way to manage, monitor, and control nearly any device over a standard network. Support teams will appreciate the agility and flexibility GVE provides to access usage data, create reports, and control the system from any computer on the network. The Help Desk view offers a look at the entire enterprise in a single window and access to detailed room data and control with just a click of a mouse.
Status Monitoring
Proactively monitor the status of AV equipment based on locations or device types throughout the enterprise, saving time and operational costs.
Task Scheduling
Set a global schedule to turn off all displays in an entire building at the end of the day, and schedule reminders for maintenance and support tasks.
Usage Analysis
Easily view device and room usage trends to identify energy usage forecasts, improve equipment standardization, and maintain inventory lists.
Sustainability Programs
Extron recycles materials and conserves resources and energy at every stage of a product's life cycle: design, production, packaging, sales, service, and disposal. Our operations are compliant with WEEE, the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive that makes manufacturers responsible for recycling and disposal of electronic waste.
Green Manufacturing
We are focused on energy efficiency in both the products we produce and the methods we use to manufacture them.
Extron minimizes waste and contaminants and disposes of them responsibly. We are compliant with REACH, the European Union Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals regulation program designed to protect human health and the environment from chemical substance risks. In the same spirit, Extron is RoHS compliant to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances content limitations imposed for restricted substances, including cadmium, lead, and mercury.
Packaging Design
Our manufacturing engineers not only define how our products are built, they have a hand in determining how they are shipped. Our shipping cartons and cushioning materials are optimized for light weight, low volume, and recyclability, while protecting the contents from shipping damage. Wherever possible, we have replaced foam padding with biodegradable folded cardboard inserts. This reduces petroleum consumption and cuts down on the plastic material waste stream.
Power Supply Trade-up Program
Extron provides 12-volt power supplies with many products. But when power supplies are shared, the unused power supplies are tossed aside and could end up in a landfill. The Extron Everlast Power Supply Trade-up Program helps avoid that. Customers can return a quantity of unused 12-volt PS Series power supplies, and we will exchange them for a new rack-mountable multi-output 12-volt DC power supply.
Learn more about the Everlast Power Supply Trade-up Program.
Return 25 qualifying power supplies to receive a PS 128 8-output power supply.
Customer Product Recycling
As a service to our U.S. customers, surplus Extron products can be sent to our service depot through our Product Recycling Program. Our recycling partner breaks down the products into their various components for responsible, environmentally friendly re-use or disposal.
Learn more about the Customer Product Recycling Program.
Product Spotlight
XPA U 4004 FX
Extron XPA U 4004 FX is a four channel multi-zone audio power amplifier with exceptional flexibility. A single unit can be set up in a variety of configurations to support large systems with multiple speaker types. This amplifier can simultaneously drive 8 ohm, 4 ohm, 70 volt, and 100 volt loads and is easily configurable per channel. It features a variety of Extron-exclusive energy saving technologies to deliver years of reliable, cool-running service.
Learn more about the XPA U 4004 FX.
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Fan-cooled
Premium, long lifespan fans that run quietly at low RPM actively push heat away from sensitive components, extending their life.
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ECO Standby
Enters standby after eight seconds of inactivity, dramatically reducing power consumption.
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InstaWake+
Exits auto-standby mode in under 5 milliseconds to ensure initial audio is not cut off.
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Everlast power supply
Designed in-house for high demonstrated reliability, lower power consumption, and reduced operating cost.
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Rear vents
Heated air exits through rear vents, keeping components cool
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Flexible power allocation
Power is shared between adjacent odd/even channel pairs to provide the right amount of power where it's needed.
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Remote standby
Enables the amplifier to be remotely powered down when not in use, reducing operating cost.
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ENERGY STAR® qualified
ENERGY STAR qualification ensures energy efficient operation and cost-reducing energy conservation.
Everlast Power Supplies
Power supply failures in mission-critical AV products can cause significant disruption to signal distribution and facility operations, creating serious challenges for system integrators, end users, and manufacturers alike. Extron has answered this challenge with the Everlast® Series of high-performance, no compromise, internal and external power supplies, setting a new standard for reliability and efficiency in the professional AV industry.
Designed from the ground up by our Extron engineering team, Everlast Power Supplies use state-of-the-art technology and the highest-quality components to ensure extreme reliability in commercial AV products including Digital Matrix Switchers, Videowall Processors, Distribution Amplifiers, Scalers, Control Systems, Power Amplifiers, and more. Like all of Extron's products, our design philosophy and manufacturing process for the Everlast Power Supplies are driven by safety, performance, reliability, and efficiency, not merely by cost.
Learn more about Everlast Power Supplies.
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Resonant soft switching
Enables the use of larger transistors, which operate more efficiently by reducing conduction loss and minimizing waste heat.
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Robust capacitors
High temperature rated electrolytic capacitors ensure stable operation and long operational life
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Active start-up circuitry
Instead of using a resistor in the start-up circuitry, Everlast supplies use a more expensive transistor, creating a highly efficient, “active” solution
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Resonant clamp technology
Converters in traditional power supplies dissipate unwanted stored energy through a “dissipative clamp circuit.” Everlast supplies employ a resonant clamp design, which recycles the clamp energy in a nearly lossless way.
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Cooling fans
High quality fans with long MTBF ball bearings run at low RPMs for increased life and reduced noise
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Efficient heat dissipation
Keeps components cool, extending product life
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Large transformers
Larger magnetics enable the power supply to run cooler and more reliably
Resources
See how Extron engineering and innovation helps reduce a product's energy usage while enhancing sustainability
Training from Extron offers learning opportunities for professionals who wish to master both fundamental and advanced AV knowledge
Extron is committed to operating in a manner that is compatible with our environment, and are proud to do our part to promote sound environmental practices.
Extron's Green Policy page reflects our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility in the AV industry
Global Support
With offices around the globe, Extron is able to provide dedicated, full-service support to customers worldwide. Extron's global presence means that we are here for you, wherever you are.
View Extron Worldwide Office Locations
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