1. White paper
How can IP surveillance systems positively
impact a businesses energy usage
Less is less when it comes to network surveillance and energy
2. Table of contents
1. Introduction 3
2. Camera technologies and features 4
2.1 Camera Resolutions 4
2.2 Multi-View Streaming 6
2.2.1 Megapixel camera being used for overview 6
2.2.2 Megapixel camera with multi-view streaming 6
2.3 360° overview surveillance cameras 7
2.4 Axis Corridor Format 7
2.5 AXIS Camera Application Platform 10
2.6 Lightfinder 11
3. IP Recording and Storage Solutions 12
3.1 Recording and Storage Solutions. 12
3.2 AXIS Camera Companion / Edge storage 12
3.3 Sequential filing system (SFS™) Storage device 13
3.3.1 IT Centric Storage Solution 13
3.3.2 Linear Storage Solution 13
3.3.3 Optimised Server Technology for IP Surveillance 14
4. Government initiatives 14
4.1 Government to Offer Financial Incentive for
Carbon Reduction Commitment 14
5. Conclusion 15
5.1 Comments and clarifications 15
6. Thank you 16
3. 3
1. Introduction
Energy saving is a 21st century challenge with businesses devoted to providing energy efficiency, energy
conservation, and the sustainable use of energy, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions and helping
to prevent man-made climate change. With governments and countries working together to make a
more efficient and sustainable future, it is important that new technologies address everyday energy and
carbon emission challenges. With all businesses being challenged to positively impact their energy con-
sumption and provide sustainability reports, how can IP surveillance systems help a business achieve its
energy reduction commitments?
As governments globally have initiatives in place to incentivise a business to reduce their energy con-
sumption, it is important to understand how new feature rich IP surveillance technologies can reduce a
user’s energy consumption and positively impact a balance sheet. Regardless of the size of a business,
there are government initiatives in place that will help support the reduction in a businesses energy
consumption and in turn help companies with their carbon reduction commitment. Two of the most
common incentives for technological upgrades being used are the ‘Carbon Trust interest free loan’
scheme and the Enhanced Capital Allowance. The Carbon Trust offer government funded, unsecured 0%
business loans for energy saving projects, up to a maximum loan limit of £100,000 available for small,
medium and large companies that don’t fall under the Carbon Reduction Commitment. The Enhanced
Capital Allowance is where the Carbon Trust manage the Energy Technology List (ETL), a list of products,
such as thermal solar equipment, that may be eligible for 100% tax relief under the Enhanced Capital
Allowance (ECA) scheme for energy saving technologies. The ECA scheme provides businesses with
100% first year tax relief on their qualifying capital expenditure, meaning that businesses can write off
the cost of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of purchase. The aim is to provide an incen-
tive to invest in renewable technology and energy saving equipment.
How have IP surveillance systems positively impacted energy consumption and what effect does this
have on a business user? It is well documented that the advancement in camera technologies have
largely been down to the improvement in processing power within the cameras. The greater the level of
processing power, the more demanding we can be with the features that are included. Now that we have
seen significant improvement in the processing power we can expect the camera to be much more ef-
fective. The evolution of a surveillance camera has always been focused on improving the resolution and
picture quality. Now with the advancement of technology in place, image quality should be a given and
the very minimum we should expect from a camera. The focus and investment has been on the develop-
ment of image usability and adding intelligence to the camera, either business intelligence of further
security measures.
One consideration rarely discussed when looking at the design of a surveillance system is the impact and
cost associated with the power consumption of the system. If this is taken into consideration then it can
demonstrate significant cost savings and reduce the total cost of ownership when considered at the
start of the project. With the advancement of new feature rich IP camera technologies and associated
products a client will be able to generate a robust return on investment strategy when looking to up-
grade an antiquated analogue surveillance system.
It is also worth noting that the national and local governments look to incentivise businesses for reduc-
ing their power and carbon usage. The incentives can come in the form of financing green initiatives for
business users, releasing capital expenditure to pay for the project, or even reducing corporation tax for
larger business that are classed as high energy users.
4. 4
2. Camera technologies and features
Through the introduction of new camera technologies and features we have seen significant improve-
ment in an operational surveillance system. The primary reason is often to improve security however it
is worth considering how these technologies and features can positively impact the power consumption
of a surveillance system and identify further cost saving and benefits that haven’t been considered in
the past.
2.1 Camera Resolutions
Through increased processing power built into the cameras, there has been significant advancement in
camera capabilities that have evolved with the adoption of IP technologies. With greater resolution be-
ing offered from 1 megapixel through to 8 megapixels running at 25/30 fps, the field of view from each
camera is significantly improved resulting in a total reduction in the camera count without compromis-
ing on the quality of the images being captured.
Pixel Density Distances
The distances shown are not absolute maximum distances possible for each pixel density value.
To enable a fair comparison between all of the different image resolutions all values were calculated at the same
horizontal field of view (80 degrees)for each camera. By increasing the focal length of the lens on the camera and
reducing the FoV these distance would increase.
The table should be used as a very general overview guide and the values shown are not absolute.
The table below gives a direct comparison to the percentage increase and decreases against each of the
resolutions. For the purposes of the comparison the settings are in accordance with the parameters set
above.
In order to give a direct comparison between the resolutions a generic site has been marked up to high-
light a potential camera layout using a 8Mpxl camera as chosen by the client. The brief given was to give
detection levels of coverage to the perimeter of the site boundaries and also detection levels coverage
to the roadways between the container areas. The perimeter boundaries measured 2000 meters and the
roadways measure 3870 meters.
Identification Recognition Detection
SVGA 800x600 AXIS P1353 2m 4m 19m Identification @ 250pix/m
1Mpxl 1280x720 (720p HD) AXIS P1354 3m 6m 31m Recognition @ 125pix/m
2Mpxl 1920x1080 (1080p HD) AXIS P1355 5m 9m 46m Detection @ 25pix/m
3Mpxl 2048x1536 AXIS P3346 5m 10m 45m
5Mpxl 2592x1944 AXIS P1357 6m 12m 62m
8Mpxl 3840x2160 (4K UHD) AXIS P1428 9m 18m 91m
All distances calculated at 80° FoV
All distances rounded to nearest metre
Pixel Density Distances
The distances shown are not absolute maximum distances possible for each pixel density value
To enable a fair comparison between all of the different image resolutions all values were calculated at the same horizontal field of view (80 degrees)for each camera. By increasing the focal length of the lens on the camera and reducing the FoV these
The table should be used as a very general overview guide and the values shown are not absolute.
Detection SVG % +/- 1Mpxl % +/- 2Mpxl % +/- 3Mpxl % +/- 5Mpxl % +/- 8Mpxl % +/-
SVGA AXIS P1353 19m -63% -142% -142% -226% -374%
1Mpxl AXIS P1354 31m 63% -49% -48% -100% -190%
2Mpxl AXIS P1355 46m 142% 49% 0 -35% -98%
3Mpxl AXIS P3346 45m 142% 48% 0 -35% -98%
5Mpxl AXIS P1357 62m 226% 100% 35% 35% -47%
8Mpxl AXIS P1428 91m 374% 190% 98% 98% 47%
Detection @ 25pix/m
Figures rounder to the nearest full %
Example showing
perimeter cameras
5. 5
When doing a direct comparison between the numbers of cameras required in order to generate the
same level of coverage across the site, there are significant changes in the quantities of cameras re-
quired. The table below shows the comparison assuming cameras can be located in the optimum posi-
tions with the same levels of spacing between each to give the minimum levels of cameras required. In
reality we understand that a design will rarely have this luxury, but for the purposes of a comparison
this is a fare way that reflects the quantities required.
The table above shows the reductions in the camera count required, in order to get the same level of
coverage across the site. Whilst there are the obvious cost savings that can be seen, that sit with the
number of cameras required alone and all the associated works that go with the installation; cabling,
commissioning, storage, infrastructure, civils etc. what will the impact on the power consumption for
the system have between the different solutions?
As you can see from the table above there are additional cost savings specifically related to the power
consumption of the cameras. When looking at an upgrade of the whole surveillance systems, the cam-
eras contributions that are related to a basic function such as the resolution can go a long way to
demonstrating a quick return on investment. This will in turn help a business meet its carbon reduction
commitments, which are only seen as a percentage against usage rather than a direct monetary value.
Detection Perimiter Roadways Total
SVGA AXIS P1353 19m 106 204 310
1Mpxl AXIS P1354 31m 65 125 190
2Mpxl AXIS P1355 46m 44 84 128
3Mpxl AXIS P3346 45m 44 85 129
5Mpxl AXIS P1357 62m 33 63 96
8Mpxl AXIS P1428 91m 22 42 64
Detection @ 25pix/m
Perimeter @ 2000m
Roadways @ 3870m
3870
Example showing
internal roadways
Based on Fixed IP cameras (24x7
operaton, 25fps) to cover 5870m Camera No. Annual Power Consumption Annual Power Cost 5yr Power Cost
SVGA Resolution 310 19840 kWh £2 976,00 £14 880,00
1Mpxl 190 12160 kWh £1 824,00 £9 120,00
2Mpxl 128 8192 kWh £1 228,80 £6 144,00
3Mpxl 129 8256 kWh £1 238,40 £6 192,00
5Mpxl 96 6144 kWh £921,60 £4 608,00
8Mpxl 64 4096 kWh £614,40 £3 072,00
Power calculatons based on 15p per kWh UK average (source: CompareMySolar)
5yr Power Cost are assuimng no rate changes
64 KWH per camera
£9.60 per camera
2628 0,15
0,15 9,6 394 0,15
6. 6
2.2 Multi-View Streaming
With the increase in resolution, came the ability to use multi-view streaming from a single camera. This
essentially means that you get multiple views from a single camera position, giving the operator the
perception that they are looking at a number of different fixed camera positions. This is great if you have
an overview camera that you would like to zoom into multiple areas at the same time for monitoring
purposes. An example of a scenario would be the entrance to a building where you would like to focus
on the entrance door, reception area and barriers. Each specific view can be segregated into a viewing
window and shown individually back to the monitoring workstation. This has the potential to reduce the
cameras significantly if the correct camera is chosen. If a high megapixel camera is used, and split into
a number of different viewing windows the resolution of each viewing window can be kept to the same
as a smaller megapixel camera, so therefore not compromising the quality if the image. With multi
streaming capabilities running up to 8 views from a single camera then reduction can been seen straight
away. As the processing power within the camera further increases along with the pixels available the
number of stream is likely to increase further which will again have the potential to reduce a camera
count.
2.2.1 Megapixel camera being used for overview
2.2.2 Megapixel camera with multi-view streaming
The example here shows how a single camera, positioned correctly can get the desired coverage at the
same resolution as a number of smaller resolution cameras. Aside from the obvious installation benefits
of only having to install a single camera, run one cable and maintain one camera, there are the on-going
annual costs associated with the powering of a camera.
7. 7
This example shows a direct correlation between cost savings on offer from using different camera
technologies to achieve the same level of coverage without compromising on the image quality or op-
erational performance of the system. This examples demonstrates a potential power cost saving of
85% based on the quantities being used. As this is assuming a best case scenario of having the ability
to utilise a single high megapixel to replace 8 lower resolution cameras, then the results will vary de-
pending on the camera count.
2.3 360° overview surveillance cameras
With the introduction of 360 and 180 degree overview surveillance cameras, this has added further
scope to the capability of reducing the camera count. With the ability to de-warp images and still run
multi-view streaming, this has afforded clients the ability to install centrally located cameras that can
look and record in all directions simultaneously. With the introduction of this type of camera technol-
ogy this has the potential to significantly reduce the camera count whilst improving the camera cover-
age of a site and reducing any blind spots. As a minimum, a client could expect to see a potential 75%
reduction in the camera count assuming 100% visibility of an area of 650m2 / 7000sq ft as 1 360 de-
gree camera can cover the whole area instead of using 4 cameras pointing in different direction whist
still leaving a blind spot directly under the cameras. Based on the number of cameras it would take to
cover a large area it would be unlikely that a client would wish to have 100% coverage using tradi-
tional cameras. Utilising this camera type will increase coverage of the site, but will also reduce the
potential camera count in turn showing power consumption savings.
2.4 Axis Corridor Format
In many surveillance situations there are areas that are more vertical than horizontal in shape. This in-
cludes staircases, hallways, aisles, roads, runways, tunnels, and many other applications. In these situa-
tions, the traditional landscape format is not the optimal solution since it creates video streams where
a large part of the field of view – specifically the sides of the image – is redundant. In turn, this means
that the image quality is not maximized because the full area and resolution of the camera’s image sen-
sor is not utilised. In the process, bandwidth and storage is also wasted.
Axis’ unique solution to this problem is the Corridor Format. The new format allows you to get a verti-
cally oriented, “portrait”-shaped video stream from the camera. The video is adapted perfectly to the
monitored area, maximising image quality while eliminating bandwidth and storage waste.
Based on 8 fixed camera views 8No. 1Mpxl Cameras
1No. 5Mpxl camera with 8No.
Multi-view streaming enabled
Annual Power Consumption 504 kWh 64 kWh
Annual Power Cost £75,60 £9,60
server power and camera power camera power with 1% increase to load)
Power calculatons based on 15p per kWh UK average (source: CompareMySolar)
8. 8
Axis’ Corridor Format is even more useful for modern HDTV network cameras that deliver a 16:9 aspect
ratio since the resulting image will have a 9:16 aspect ratio – just the right thing for narrow corridors,
hallways or aisles. Due to the change in the aspect ratio there is the potential to reduce the camera
count in line with the new vertical field of view from the same came. Where we see the new capabilities
of corridor format and an increase in the field of view, we see the number of cameras required reduce
and in turn reduce the total cost of ownership and demonstrate power consumption cost savings. Very
wordy sentence. Needs abriviating or splitting up.
With corridor format being well aligned to segments such as retail and transportation, it is anticipated
that small savings over multiple sites make this technology a compelling argument.
Corridor Format Images
By using Axis Corridor format the customer is able to fully maximise the horizontal field of view.
This has the potential of reducing a camera’s blind spot and increasing the available detection zone.
If an elongated horizontal view is not required then Axis Corridor format, in conjunction with a varifocal lens, can be
used to increase the pixel density within the scene.
The benefit of this is there are no extra hardware cost or increases to the cameras bandwidth as its transmitting the
same image.
By doing a direct comparison of the AXIS Q1615 with the varifocal lens set at 2.8mm, you are able to
see the level of coverage increase when changed from a 16:9 format to a 9:16 format. With the tradi-
tional 16:9 view the AXIS Q1615 is able to provide coverage of 25 pixels per meter up to 42m to achieve
detection levels of evidence. When the same camera is rotated to 9:16 it is able to provide the same
level of 25 pixels per meter up to 53 meters. This change in aspect ratio increases the coverage distance
from the same camera by 27%. What is great about utilising this technology is that the varifocal lens
can also be zoomed into the full capability of 8mm and as a result utilised across other segments such
as critical infrastructure. As with the same comparison, the example shows both coverage areas achiev-
ing 25 pixels per meter at the furthest point. The 16:9 aspect ratio achieves a coverage area of 107m
from the camera position with a blind spot of 9.m meaning the coverage is 97.5m. When we change the
cameras aspect ratio to 9:16 we achieve a coverage of 112m with a reduced blind spot of 5.6m, meaning
the total coverage area is 106.4m. This shows an increase coverage distance of 9.5% by changing the
aspect ratio from the traditional format to that of corridor format. Again this shows an improvement in
the coverage of the surveillance camera by merely changing the aspect ratio.
If we use a similar scenario to that used for the resolution example we can do a direct comparison for
an environment that requires perimeter detection and coverage across the roadways.
Detection Perimiter Roadways Total
2Mpxl AXIS Q1615 16:9 - 2.8mm 42m 48 93 141
2Mpxl AXIS Q1615 9:16 - 2.8mm 53m 38 73 111
2Mpxl AXIS Q1615 16:9 - 8mm 97.5m 21 40 61
2Mpxl AXIS Q1615 9:16 - 8mm 106.4m 19 36 55
Detection @ 25pix/m
Perimeter @ 2000m
Roadways @ 3870m
2000
9. 9
The table above shows the impact and benefit that utilising an Axis camera in corridor format has. You
can see that there is direct correlation between the cameras count required and the additional coverage
being generated from a change in the aspect ratio. The AXIS Q1615 with a focal length of 2.8mm shows
an increase in the camera count by of approximately 27% if retained in the 16:9 ratio rather than 9:16
corridor format. This is also seen when the focal length is changed to 8mm and the same increase in
camera count is in line with the different in coverage generated. It is important to see how the reduction
in cameras can also reduce the power consumption impact on the surveillance system.
The table above shows how the reduction in camera count can positively impact the power consumption
of a surveillance system. With corridor format cameras being deployed in environments such as retail
centre, shops, railway stations etc. The users are likely to be multi-site users that will show big cost sav-
ings across their region if deployed correctly.
A further benefit that can be seen from corridor format is the improvement in the resolution from a fixed
camera position.
The image below left was captured using an AXIS P3346 camera in 1080p resolution. In 16:9 mode in
order to capture the whole of the corridor area, the part of the image that we are not interested to the
left and right is also captured. This results in less pixel density in the corridor which is the area of inter-
est.
The image below right shows Axis’ Corridor Format. The camera sensor is physically rotated by 90 de-
grees and the image electronically counter-rotated to ensure the correct orientation for viewing. This
image is refocused to match the top and bottom view of the original 16:9 image resulting in a higher
pixel density in the area of interest.
The comparison below shows the improved image quality available with Axis Corridor format when
digitally zooming into the image. Recognition is now possible where it wasn’t before. This has been
achieved using the same camera which means there in no increase in cost to get an improved and more
usable image.
10. 10
A common theme and benefit of IP cameras is the positive impact in the reduction of cameras required
to generate the same level of visibility as a traditional analogue system or even against an alternative IP
systems that doesn’t share the same feature rich functionality. Not only do fewer cameras require less
energy to run but there are also further benefits to be seen in other aspects of the surveillance system
such as Network infrastructure and storage hardware. The reduction in cameras has a positive impact
on the associated infrastructure required to run the system and fewer cameras results in less storage
and associated hardware.
2.5 AXIS Camera Application Platform
AXIS Camera Application Platform is an open platform that makes it possible for application developers
to market and sell Axis-compatible applications. The platform supports video analytics applications that
provide the products with intelligent capabilities such as recognition, counting, detection and tracking
etc. directly on the camera. One of the key benefits other than adding value and business intelligence to
the camera is the significant reduction in hardware and cost associated with the analytics. With a new
server less architecture being required this reduces the need for a server and any associated costs.
Outside of the obvious cost saving specifically related to the hardware, there is the ongoing cost savings
related to the power requirement of the systems. Less hardware means less power.
The open application platform has attracted great interest among Axis’ development partners. AgentVi,
Aimetis, Cognimatics, Digital Barriers and Via:Sys etc.
To use Digital Barriers as an example, they have created SafeZone edge which is a server less iLIDS
primary approved analytics package. For the purposes of a side by side evaluation, Digital Barriers have
been able to do a direct comparison between a 4 camera server based solution and a 4 camera server
less ACAP solution as they have both offerings in their portfolio.
This offers a side by side comparison between both solutions. One important fact that is worth recognis-
ing is that there is NO compromise in operational performance between the two solutions. Whilst the
savings between each of the solutions is only small for the comparison, you will see that as a percentage
increase it is significant and the more cameras that are added to the system the greater the saving that
will be seen.
Based on 4 x IP cameras (outdoor) with video
analytics on 4 channels (24x7 operaton)
Server---based Video Analysis
(e.g. original SafeZone Server product)
Edge---based Video Analysis
(SafeZone---edge product)
Annual Power Consumption 857 kWh (381 kg) 252 kWh (112 kg)
Annual Power Cost £129,00 £38,00
server power and camera power camera power with 1% increase to load)
Power calculatons based on 15p per kWh UK average (source: CompareMySolar)
Server specificaton, power and support costs based on Dell PowerEdge R210 II (source: Dell.co.uk)
11. 11
2.6 Lightfinder
A day and night camera is designed to be used in outdoor installations or in indoor environments with
poor lighting. A day and night, color network camera delivers color images during the day. As light di-
minishes, the camera can automatically switch to night mode to make use of near infrared (IR) light to
deliver black and white images. Maintaining image sharpness and low noise, particularly in varying
outdoor lighting conditions, has proved challenging.
Axis Communications’ research and development have led to the introduction of the new and revolu-
tionary Lightfinder technology. The Lightfinder technology is the result of a meticulous choice of the
right sensor and the right lens, together with the elaboration of the image data coming from the com-
bination of sensor and lens. The fusion of these factors – sensor, lens, in-house chip development and
knowledge in image processing – provides network cameras incorporating this technology with out-
standing performance.
The key feature is in the name. The Lightfinder camera can operate in significantly lower lux levels to
traditional surveillance cameras on the market. Aside from the improvement in the image quality in
demanding low light environments, but we have the potential powers saving related to reduction in ad-
ditional lighting sources being required.
Camera during the day Camera during the night (Without added lighting)
For the purposes of the comparison, a fixed camera has been positioned every 25m to cover a perimeter
measuring 300m. Lighting has been mounted every 50m to increase the lux levels in the environment.
Lightfinder Camera during the night
Based on Fixed IP cameras (24x7
operaton, 25fps) Power Usage / kWh Number Annual Power Consumption Annual Power Cost 5yr Power Cost
AXIS P3346-V Fixed Camera 0,0065 12 683.28 kWh £102,50 £512,50
Lighting Source 0,4 6 21,024 kWh £3 153,60 £15 768,00
£3 246,63 £16 233,15
Power calculatons based on 15p per kWh UK average (source: CompareMySolar)
5yr Power Cost are assuimng no rate changes
64 KWH per camera
£9.60 per camera
2628 0,15
0,15 394 0,15
64 #REF!
9024 1353,6
7104 1065,6
3904 585,6
3520 528
12. 12
The lightfinder camera now has the capability to utilise any ambient lighting in the area. This means that
the additional lighting required for the system is removed saving the hardware, installation and also the
power associated with the lighting element of the surveillance system. When doing a direct comparison
between the two solutions, there is potentially a significant power cost saving if the lighting is removed
of 96%. When scaling this technology over a larger site, then the potential cost savings can be huge.
It is worth noting that the technology is called lightfinder, and as a result needs lighting for the cam-
eras to operate efficiently. In the event that there is no lighting in the environment then additional light-
ing sources will always be required and Lux levels should be taken when designing the system.
3. IP Recording Storage Solutions
Just as there have been advancements of technology in the cameras so has there been with the
acces¬sories included. IP cameras are now able to compress images to a much smaller file size allowing
the use of SD cards inside the cameras as the main storage area. As this is a solid state item with no
moving parts there is very little energy associated with this device. A key benefit to this is that it takes
storage load away from a traditional server based unit which again positively impacts the surveillance
systems energy consumption. It is however important to pick the correct recording and storage for the
applications and understand the limitations and benefits they offer.
3.1 Recording and Storage Solutions
With the advent of new technologies the recording and storage methods of surveillance systems has
been improved significantly in regards to the reliability, cost and performance. The size and technical
complexities of the system will largely dictate the type of storage that needs to be considered. As IP
cameras are fully networkable there are also cost savings specifically related to the power requirements
of the system that can be seen.
3.2 AXIS Camera Companion / Edge storage
AXIS Camera Companion is the market’s easiest video surveillance solution for small systems from 1 to
16 cameras. With AXIS Camera Companion, all video is recorded on SD cards in the cameras, without
the need for a DVR or server based recording platform - making each camera a smart, independent
video recording device. The system consists of standard Axis cameras, SD cards, software clients for PC
and smartphones, and standard network equipment.
There are a number of operational and technical benefits to this system in addition to the platform being
a free software. As this is a DVR or server less solution it removes the risk of the solution having a single
point of failure. The software will need to be installed on a PC or laptop in order to commission the
system but for the purposes of monitoring and viewing images, this can be done from an alternative
devices such as a smart phone or tablet often used for other applications.
Whilst there will be cost’s incurred whilst using, charging and/or powering the devices in which a server
less solution will use to view the footage, this is a device that is multipurpose and power consumption
can be directly related to other activities.
For the purposes of doing a direct comparison between the two solutions, there is a compelling argu-
ment to use a server less or hosted service. ACC saves 85 % in annual power costs specifically related
to the consumption of the system. It is worth noting that for the purposes of the exercise both systems
used the same cameras being performed in the same operational environment.
Based on 10 x Fixed IP cameras (24x7 operaton at
30fps) DVR Solution AXIS Camera Companion
Annual Power Consumption 2926 kWh 394 kWh
Annual Power Cost £394,20 £59,10
server power and camera power camera power with 1% increase to load)
Power calculatons based on 15p per kWh UK average (source: CompareMySolar)
Server specificaton, power and support costs based on DVR with RAID5 storage
13. 13
3.3 Server based Recording solutions
There is nothing more data intensive than video other than multiple streams of High Definition video and
your choice of server solution can have a significant environmental impact. In recent years server tech-
nology has evolved allowing for specialist technology giving more powerful servers with higher density
on board storage solutions. As High Definition becomes the ‘de facto’ standard in professional security
installations, Secure Logiq brings to the industry the missing piece of the HD Surveillance Jigsaw by
manufacturing a range of hardware appliances specifically designed and optimised to efficiently store,
transmit and display multiple streams of HD video data. By utilising this specialist technology, as well as
significant cost savings there is a greatly reduced environmental impact and we will look at some of
these factors below compared with other commonly used technologies
Requirements
Here we will look at three of the options available on the market today and compare the overall power
consumption. For comparison we will be looking at a 600 analogue camera system migrated to IP using
the AXIS Q7046 Blade encoders. We will assume a constant recording bit rate of 2Mbps at 25IPS re-
cording stored for a duration of 31 days with a peak bit rate of 3Mbps to allow for processing calcula-
tions. All calculations are based on the following table.
3.3.1 IT Centric Storage Solution
Due to their multipurpose design and generic non-optimised nature, most IT Centric servers have a
processing cap of 256 Mbps which can often be more of a limiting factor than the on board storage
which typically does not exceed 21TB in RAID5. Electricity costs have been calculated at 15p per kWH,
cooling costs and power are linear and cooling power requirements are generally similar to the total
server power requirements.
3.3.2 Linear Storage Solution
Linear storage is relatively new to the IP CCTV scene and does require integration to specific VMS plat-
forms for optimum efficiency. Using a sequential storage method offers significant power savings in
comparison to conventional server technology. Because the drives that are not being recorded on re-
main static they use less power and become more energy efficient. The disadvantage of this method is
that the throughput is limited to the read write speed of a single disk so on large camera count many
more machines have to be used to achieve the same result. Linear storage also relies on server technol-
ogy to process the IP video which must also be accounted for when calculating power.
14. 14
3.3.3 Optimised Server Technology for IP Surveillance
By utilising best in class components, tested together and optimised for IP surveillance applications
Secure Logic have created a range of servers which at the top end can handle 4000Mbps throughput
with 480TB useable data on board a single 4U unit. Because they are often running well under peak
processing power and feature advanced RAID arrays to spread the load average, power is significantly
lower than the peak power requirements. Additionally each unit will replace multiple units available in
comparison to other solutions offering significant power savings. The units in the calculations below
feature 750Mbps throughput (duplex) and 140TB useable on board storage.
4. Government initiatives
We can see that the advancement in IP surveillance technologies have been able to demonstrate sig-
nificant cost savings associated with the energy consumption required to run a network video surveil-
lance system for 24/7 365 days over a 10 year period. Not only are we able to show a robust return in
investment against the energy savings alone, but due to the government initiatives in place are we able
to get capital expenditure released that allows the government to pay for the upgrade. In addition to this
with the incentives that the government has in place to companies for reducing their carbon footprint
then there is corporation tax benefits to be gained as well.
4.1 Government to Offer Financial Incentive for Carbon Reduction Commitment
The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) has been on the horizon for many
years but, because of its complexity, has received little publicity and awareness remains low among the
organisations that will be affected by it. Its purpose is to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and
increase energy efficiency by providing a financial incentive to improve performance.
The UK Government was the first in the world to introduce a cap and trade scheme to put a price on the
use of CO2 for high intensity energy users such as power producers and chemical manufacturers. Most
of the large industrial plants in the UK are now captured under EU regulations for controlling CO2 emis-
sions and participate in the mandatory EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
The UK Government is again taking the lead with the CRC, applying the same cap and trade formula to
large organisations, with a focus on increasing energy efficiency. It is the first mandatory CO2 scheme
in the world to cover both public and private sectors of the economy.
What is cap and trade?
The CRC will operate as a cap and trade mechanism, providing a financial incentive to reduce energy use
by putting a price on CO2 emissions from energy use. Organisations within the CRC will be required to
buy one allowance for every tonne of CO2 they are responsible for each year. The overall emissions re-
duction target is achieved by placing a ‘cap’ on the total allowances available to each group of CRC
participants.
Within the overall limit of the CRC, participating organisations can choose the most cost-effective way
to reduce their emissions and meet compliance targets. This could be through buying extra allowances
to cover any short-fall or by making investments to lessen energy consumption and hence the allow-
ances that they have to purchase.
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Which organisations will be affected?
The CRC will apply to public or private organisations (including subsidiaries) which have at least one
half-hourly electricity meter (HHM) or those with a total annual energy consumption of at least 6,000
mega-watt hours of electricity (equivalent to an electricity bill of £500,000). Initial indications are that
around 5,000 organisations will have to participate. Public sector organisations such as local authorities
and all central Government Departments will make up a significant number of these, with other partici-
pants including supermarkets, banks and water companies.
Energy costs usually represent a small amount of annual expenditure for the organisations targeted by
the CRC, so to date there has been little incentive to reduce consumption. However, these organisations
are collectively responsible for around 10% of the UK’s CO2 emissions.
Next steps
There are significant financial and even criminal penalties for non-compliance with the CRC, so it is
imperative that all organisations that will be affected start to prepare and plan now:
Allocate accountability within your organisation for CRC obligations.
Once the impact on your organisation has been established, all registration procedures must be com-
pleted within the stated deadlines.
It is then essential that you calculate and begin to monitor your energy consumption – reports will need
to be submitted covering energy use from April 2010.
Once an energy forecast has been completed then a financial budget for compliance should be prepared
– it should include the cost of purchasing allowances for 2011, the cost of any improvements planned to
lower energy consumption and reduce your organisations obligations as well as any associated adminis-
trative costs.
Performance in 2010 will determine the amount of allowances you have to buy in 2011 and your league
table position – so there will be a financial incentive to improving performance from April 2010.
Even if you do not currently qualify as a participant in the CRC it is still worth taking the time to prepare;
you may be forced to comply anyway by the Secretary of State. Even if you are not, reducing energy
consumption will bring its own rewards in lower energy expenditure and lowering your organisation’s
carbon footprint.
5. Conclusion
It is clear to see that the advancements in new IP surveillance technologies can demonstrate areas of
cost savings directly related to power consumption. Not only does this show the potential benefits of
upgrading from an existing analogue system to a new IP system, but it also shows the importance of
selecting the right camera and storage vendor. The importance of a feature rich solution, now impacts
other decisions makers that sit outside of the traditional security team.
5.1 Comments and clarifications
It is worth noting that the testing conditions for each of the applications, may differ depending on the
environmental conditions of each site. The potential capabilities of the different camera technologies
and features, has been designed to highlight the potential areas that can reduce camera counts and
what effects this has on other elements of the operational system.
It is always recommended that each surveillance system is designed specifically for the application in
which it is intended. All technologies and feature are there to improve the systems capabilities, but may
not too suitable for each application.
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6. Thank you
Markus Lai – NEur Manager, Sales Engineering
Axis Communications
Paul Bristow – Sales Engineer
Axis Communications
Dan Meyrick – Business Development Manager
Digital Barriers
dan.meyrick@digitalbarriers.com
www.digitalbarriers.com
Robin Hughes – Sales Director
Secure Logiq
r.hughes@securelogiq.com
www.securelogiq.com
Author: Steven Kenny - Business Development Manager AE program, UK and Ireland
Axis Communications
