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Author: Amber Lin

On Earth Day (April 22), a global occasion dedicated to environmental awareness, discussions often revolve around renewable energy and carbon emissions. But increasingly, industries previously viewed as unrelated to sustainability—such as security—are being redefined.

In this low-carbon era, safety and sustainability are no longer conflicting goals. Instead, they are becoming a pivotal part shaping the future of cities and industries. From low-power surveillance cameras and smart building integration to the inclusion of security equipment energy consumption in ESG reports, the age of sustainable security has quietly begun.

Green Security in Smart Street Lighting

In Taiwan, the transformation toward green security is already underway in urban governance. Take Taoyuan City, for example. By implementing a smart street lighting management system, the city has achieved real-time fault reporting, automatic dimming, and remote monitoring—greatly improving lighting efficiency while reducing energy use and maintenance costs. This not only enhances nighttime safety for residents but also contributes significantly to the city's net-zero goals.

Furthermore, smart streetlights are now incorporating more security functions. In Taipei’s Neihu District, smart streetlights integrate environmental sensors, surveillance cameras, and 5G communication modules. These street lights can monitor air quality, pedestrian and vehicle flow in real time, and also support public broadcasting, emergency alerts, parking detection, and message display systems—making them a cornerstone of smart city infrastructure.

Global Perspectives: How European Firms Are Building Green Security Supply Chains

Beyond Taiwan, many international enterprises are actively adopting the principles of green security. UK-based distributor YESSS provides a compelling example of how sustainable practices can be embedded throughout the value chain—from product design to logistics management:

• Low-power, modular design: Extends product lifespan, reduces energy use and repair costs
• Eco-friendly packaging materials: Minimizes plastic and non-degradable waste
• Carbon footprint transparency and green logistics: Incorporates electric delivery vehicles and emission monitoring tools

These practices not only improve environmental responsibility but are becoming key to market competitiveness. Governments and enterprises across Europe are increasingly prioritizing carbon transparency, environmental certifications, and cybersecurity compliance in their procurement of security products—making sustainable security a real and growing requirement.

Evolving Security Tech: From Hardware to Data Platforms

The next stage of sustainable security goes beyond greener hardware—it involves smart systems and integrated data platforms. Smart city projects in cities such as Singapore, Kyoto, and Taipei have already demonstrated this shift. Security platforms are no longer limited to video surveillance; they now consolidate energy monitoring, device health analytics, and carbon data tracking into comprehensive dashboards.

These platforms provide verifiable, real-time sustainability data for companies’ ESG disclosures, while also serving as tools to manage device-level carbon footprints and cybersecurity risks. Future cameras may not only detect threats but also report their own energy usage, firmware compliance status, and integration with carbon tracking databases—transforming each device into a data node that supports both energy management and regulatory compliance.

Making Sustainability a New Standard for Security

For the security industry to fully embrace sustainability, systemic reform is essential. Both governments and enterprises must collaborate to establish governance frameworks and industry standards. Key actions may include:

• Incorporating ESG indicators into procurement: Including carbon disclosure, lifecycle assessments, and cybersecurity compliance
• Enhancing software transparency and update mechanisms: Requiring vendors to provide SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials) and security logs
• Integrating security-related data into ESG reporting: Covering energy consumption, decommissioning plans, and compliance costs

Such initiatives not only strengthen self-regulation within the industry but also provide a foundation for international collaboration and future policy development.

A New Mission for the Security Industry

In a world increasingly defined by resilience and sustainability, the definition of “risk” has broadened beyond theft and disasters. It now includes climate change, energy disruption, cyber extortion, and supply chain trust gaps. As a result, security technologies are evolving from defensive tools into data infrastructures for sustainable governance.

Security is no longer just about protection—it now plays a crucial role in promoting transparency, achieving net-zero targets, and advancing the public good. Earth Day reminds us that the goal is not merely to conserve energy but to fundamentally redefine the role of security in a sustainable future.

📌Disclaimer

The content of this article is for general informational purposes only. It aims to share observations on sustainable development trends in the security industry and related case studies. It does not constitute professional advice or represent any official policy position. Any mention of companies, technologies, or policy measures is for illustrative purposes only and does not imply commercial endorsement or value judgment.

Reference: 

• How You Can Advance Sustainability in the Security Industry
• Going ‘Green’ in the Security Industry
• Connected Streetlights: Deployment Stats & Energy Savings Data | PatentPC
• 智慧路燈的技術發展探討
• Seeds of change: AI-powered farms
• Sustainable Security: Green Products in the Security Sector