A different take on sustainable development in the AV industry

Never would I have expected to become a sustainability advocate, and until a few years ago, I didn't even understand the meaning of the word; Sustainable - able to continue over a period of time (Cambridge Dictionary). However, Greta Thunberg and the younger generation keep reiterating, our leaders failed us, both in protecting our planet and our future. Today, as a representative of the millennials, I have no other choice than to act.

In 2015, the United Nations announced 17 Sustainable Development Goals, each having specific indicators and targets. Without reading the entire list, many of you will correctly identify goals such as Climate Action, Affordability, and Clean Energy or No Poverty, however, I won’t be writing about these.?

It’s no secret that there is a skill shortage in Australia, yet we seem to disregard the qualification of experts living in our backyard.

Is the AV industry harsh on recognising overseas experience? International organisations such as AVIXA or Engineers Australia were created to benchmark skills and education levels. Let’s use them to our benefit!

The cost to educate engineers starts at $50,000 and that’s University fees only. It’s easier to explain local market nuances to qualified migrants rather than starting from scratch with an apprentice. In the end, science is the difficult part to teach, but the laws of math and physics are the same everywhere. We try so hard to bring youth into STEM courses, but we can also offer jobs to qualified people.?

Next time you browse CV's, look more into overseas education, experience and applicants on temporary visas.

The first step in assessing a product lifecycle is to measure its impact on the environment. How much carbon is emitted during manufacturing of the product? How much waste is generated through the process? Is it hazardous? Once we gather this data, we will be able to compare different products and set reduction goals for the next decade.???

Although we may not set strict requirements for AV manufacturing yet, we are still responsible for promoting sustainable practices awareness. Organisations such as the Green Star Council of Australia has flagged that all material used in construction will need a Life cycle assessment study to achieve the highest ratings, with the view of expanding this criterion. The technology included in fit-outs will follow next.??

Today manufacturing organisations can meet responsible production targets by creating a 10-year sustainable framework. As these changes are driven by local legislation at manufacturing locations and the consumer market, many corporations have already met this target so, ask your AV equipment manufactures for their product life cycle assessment documentation and sustainability planning reports.

Speaking about responsible consumption, let’s end the Christmas gift exchange and overflow of corporate freebies that end up in landfill. Many organisations already have policies in place not to accept gifts, so do you really need another water bottle or branded pen? I was positively surprised to find out that my employer in their Season's Greetings email invited the mail recipient to choose a charity organisation of choice for us to “make a donation” to on their behalf. A win for all!?

The appearance of the pandemic has put world attention to goal 3, Good Health and Well Being. As an engineer there is not much I can do about vaccine supply in developing countries but I do want to talk about mental health. Like many others throughout my career, I struggled with stress and various forms of depression. Each month, on average 70 people take their lives in NSW alone, and the majority of them are males (70-75%).

I’m asking you, managers, team leaders, and directors, when was the last time you checked on your staff and asked, “are you okay?” In addition, MYOB's recent Business Monitor found that almost half of business owners suffer from anxiety. Everyone, take the time to educate yourself! The world is changing, and we know much more about mental health issue prevention than 5 years ago. So go on, look at an organisation such as Black Dog institute, get training and have a conversation with all staff.?

Lastly, let’s talk about tenders. High profile proposals take weeks to respond to and the selection process is questionable at best. Consultant, client, or whoever is preparing the request for quote (RFQ), please don’t let the responder guess how much work in required.? A clear RFP process and transparent evaluation is a must. Simple steps like page limit and returnable schedule with information you really need, can streamline the process. Let’s be mindful and respect each other's time, if no one reads the answer why bother with a question???

An even more concerning phenomenon is pricing a project below cost. Some do it with a view of getting the cost back-up through variations, and some hope for additional work with the client. In the end, this practice is not sustainable, ruins the economy, and eliminates small businesses. We need to come together as an industry and work on a solution!?

If you are passionate about sustainable development, would like to define tangible targets for AV system design & operation, or simply would like to read part two of this article, feel free to contact me.?

Aleksandra Deren – MSc. Eng. in Electronics and Telecommunication with specialty in acoustics, CTS, CTS-D. With over 10 years’ experience working as an Audio Visual consultant on large scale and unique projects, Aleksandra established her industry reputation as a top audio and sound system designer.? Nowadays is focused on sustainable design management merging different fields of technology.?