Partnering with Crestron to advance the principles of Sustainability in AV (SAVe) June 2025
“AV solutions” is the term for a comprehensive, integrated system of AV technologies and services that are tailored to meet a client’s specific needs. If a client needs a better way to run hybrid meetings across multiple locations, an outcome-oriented solution will go far beyond just the products that are installed. It’s the sum of listening and consultation, smart system integration, customization and design, and service and support – all culminating in a solution that addresses the totality of the client’s needs, from user-friendly operation to long-term reliability and scalability.
Clients receive real value from smart design that incorporates the best-chosen products. Recently, ClearTech CTO Joe Perez, representing Sustainability in AV (SAVe), participated jointly with Crestron in a webinar that dove deep into the benefits of sustainable product and solution design – for end users, facility owners, and the planet itself.
The webinar began with an introduction by Crestron’s Senior Sustainability Program Specialist, Mike Rogers. He outlined the company’s progress in meeting the sustainability mandates required in many global markets and showed how customers gain from improvements in energy efficiency, product capabilities, and device longevity. More capable and efficient products, integrated into smart designs, yield benefits ranging from lower solution costs and expanded solution scope.
Following Mike Rogers’ overview of Crestron’s activities, Joe Perez discussed the importance of advancing sustainability, the value of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as a blueprint for progress, and the marked rise in demand for sustainable AV solutions. That shift – driven by global regulatory requirements, financial incentives, ethical considerations and stakeholder pressure – has made sustainable solutions a critical factor in purchasing decisions and system design.
But how can manufacturers and integrators operate more sustainably, especially in an era of rapid technological change and economic uncertainty? Perez highlighted multiple resources and partnerships available to dealers, integrators and manufacturers who want to make progress on this front. In fact, SAVe, which Perez cofounded, has developed an educational and training program that helps participating organizations develop sustainability plans and, upon successful implementation of them, become SAVe Certified. Another of the organization’s initiatives, SAVe: A Second Life, is designed to help integrators and end users find a second life for AV products at the end of their first life by donating them through a network of NGO’s that SAVe has established. SAVe has also published an industry-first Guide to Sustainable AV Design and Installation.
Created with the assistance of Crestron and other partners, the guide helps integrators incorporate best practices into the solutions they provide. Topics include selecting environmentally responsible brands and products, reusing and repurposing existing AV equipment and cabling, prioritizing energy efficiency and multifunctional solutions, minimizing the use of excess cables and components, implementing automated shutdown and preventative maintenance protocols, and designing tech technologies and products that reduce the power consumption of AV equipment.
The key to providing real value to end users
It’s critically important to remember that sustainability is only achievable when treated as part of a larger discussion with customers. That conversation begins with understanding clients’ priorities. Everything from budget, performance and reliability to brand image, employee satisfaction, and specific corporate mandates should be examined so that the solution is, above all, workable and efficacious.
By considering all the factors that drive customer decision making, sustainable products and solutions can be developed to address the totality of the buyers’ needs. Armed with that big-picture understanding, integrators and manufacturers can dramatically increase the value they provide. Sustainable product and solution design can reduce electricity consumption and operating costs. Products designed for durability typically last longer and require less maintenance. A focus on modular design, easier repairability and scalability also adds to solution life by providing more flexibility to adapt as technology evolves. Likewise, the incorporation of centralized control systems and automation not only saves energy by turning off unused equipment, it makes managing AV assets simpler for end users.
And then there are benefits that may be harder to measure but are no less valuable. They include enhanced corporate image (which is increasingly important for investors, partners and customers), improvements in attracting and retaining talent, and positive brand perception.
Manufacturers’ technology expertise combined with integrators’ understanding of the end-user experience creates a powerful synergy to advance sustainability while advancing customer objectives. “That’s our ultimate goal,” says Perez. “By working together to address the big picture of sustainability and customer needs, we can offer better solutions for all our stakeholders.”Learn more about sustainability at Crestron and in this companion conversation with Joe Perez about ClearTech’s approach to sustainability.
