The Environmental Benefits of Solar Surveillance Trailers

Eco-Friendly Solar Surveillance Trailers

With companies across all industries striving to reduce their environmental impact, integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar power, into business operations is becoming increasingly important.

While opinions on climate change may vary, what is clearly apparent is that switching to renewable energy can deliver a multitude of benefits.

Whether it's the immediate benefit of reduced operating costs, or how sustainable energy sources contribute to a greener future for the next generation, we can expect to see the adoption of solar power increase exponentially in the coming years.

Below, we explore how Mobile Solar Surveillance Trailers can align with a company's sustainability goals without compromising the performance or reliability of their security profile.

How Do Solar Surveillance Trailers Work?

Mobile Solar Surveillance Trailers harness the sun's energy to power a portable, rapid-deployment surveillance solution that can be deployed to practically any environment that requires temporary or targeted security. 

We recently explored in detail what a solar surveillance trailer is and how it works, but to briefly summarize, a solar surveillance trailer is comprised of six core components and a range of additional options. 

These are:

1. Security and Surveillance Cameras: The surveillance element of a solar surveillance trailer, one or more security cameras can usually be found at the top of the trailer unit.
2. Mast: The cameras will be mounted onto an extendable, rotating mast that raises them up to 20 feet. The mast will be constructed of galvanized steel or aluminum to provide strong and stable performance in outdoor environments.
3. Solar Panels: As stated above, the solar panels harness the power of the run to charge internal batteries that power the surveillance cameras.
4. Batteries: During periods of no sunlight, the internal batteries of a solar trailer deliver continuous power. This means trailers can operate at night, during the winter, or on cloudy days.
5. Trailer Base: The trailer unit's base provides convenient mobility and portability. It will have a towbar, meaning the trailer can be affixed to a vehicle and moved from site to site. 
6. Charge control: The charge control will regulate power distribution for optimal performance and allow users to view live information on battery life and historical performance. 
7. Optional extras: Additional features such as horn speakers, sirens, LEDs, lights, and specialized camera systems such as time-lapse video cameras or LPR cameras can be added to enhance a trailer's functionality and security profile.

What are the Environmental Benefits of Solar Surveillance Trailers?

Solar surveillance trailers can significantly reduce an organization's overall carbon footprint by minimizing their reliance on fossil fuels and other non-sustainable energy sources to power security systems.

For example, surveillance trailers have traditionally relied on diesel generators for power. These generators emit high levels of pollutants and greenhouse gases, which can severely damage our environment. 

Solar trailers, by contrast, are incredibly environmentally friendly and produce no direct emissions. 

To put this into some kind of context, the carbon footprint of a solar trailer vs. a diesel generator over a 12-month period is detailed below:

Diesel Generators:

• Diesel Consumption: A typical diesel generator used to power a surveillance trailer would consume around one gallon of diesel per hour.
• Daily Usage: Assuming this generator runs for a full 24-hour period, it would consume 24 gallons of diesel per day
• Annual Consumption: This would amount to 8,760 gallons of diesel used over a year.
• CO2 Emissions: Burning one gallon of diesel produces 22.4 pounds of CO2.
• Total Annual Emissions: 8,760 gallons * 22.4 pounds/gallon = 196,224 pounds (or about 89 metric tons) of CO2 emissions.

Now compare these figures with the emissions created by a solar surveillance trailer:

Solar Surveillance Trailers:

• Diesel Consumption: Solar surveillance trailers do not consume diesel, so they have no direct CO2 emissions from fuel burning. 
• Indirect Emissions: There will inevitably be some indirect emissions related to the production and installation of solar panels. However, these are significantly less than those from burning diesel, and they are spread out over the solar panel's lifetime (which is estimated to be 20-25 years).
• Net Reduction: Switching from diesel-powered surveillance trailers to solar surveillance trailers could reduce a company's CO2 emissions by up to 89 metric tons over a 12-month period.

Additional Environmental Benefits of Solar Surveillance Trailers

Using a solar surveillance trailer rather than a diesel-powered alternative doesn't just help reduce CO2 emissions; there are several other additional environmental benefits they deliver, including:

1. Reduced Air Pollution: In addition to CO2, diesel generators emit other harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which damage air quality and can contribute to serious health problems. 
2. Transportation Impact: Solar surveillance trailers require zero maintenance, unlike diesel-powered trailers, which require regular refueling. This refueling process involves someone driving to the trailer's location to top up the unit manually. The additional transportation this creates adds to the environmental impact.
3. Sustainability: Unlike diesel, solar energy is completely sustainable and does not deplete natural resources.

How Do Solar Surveillance Trailers Reduce Noise Pollution?

When we consider the typical use cases for solar surveillance trailers, we expect to find them deployed  in parking lots, at commercial properties, on construction jobsites, or at temporary events.

In all of these environments, noise pollution is a serious consideration.

Running diesel generators to power your surveillance system can negatively impact your workforce and surrounding communities due to the persistently high levels of noise pollution these units create. 

Solar-surveillance trailers, by contrast, offer silent operation, making them an attractive alternative. 

Let's take a look at some typical deployment scenarios to outline these benefits:

Diesel Generator Noise Levels

• High Noise Levels: Diesel generators produce noise levels between 75 to 85 decibels (dB) at a distance of 23 feet.
• Negative Impact on Health: Prolonged direct exposure to noise levels above 70 dB may contribute to hearing damage and increased stress levels in your workforce.
• Environmental Impact: Noise pollution can also disrupt neighbors living within the vicinity of your generators, leading to increased complaints and possible legal issues. There are also considerations to be made on how the high levels of noise could impact local wildlife from a conservationist standpoint. 

Noise Levels of Solar Surveillance Trailers

• Silent Operation: Solar surveillance trailers deliver silent operation as, unlike diesel generators, they contain minimal moving parts.
• Health Benefits: This silent operation will contribute to a more pleasant working environment and reduce health risks for your team.
• Considerate Solution: A quieter surveillance solution is less likely to impact surrounding wildlife or risk the wrath of your neighbors. 

What are the Benefits of Reduced Noise Pollution?

There are multiple benefits associated with minimizing the noise on your worksites. These include:

1. Improved Worker Productivity:

   • Concentration and Focus: A quieter working environment is a more efficient one. It ensures workers retain their concentration levels, increasing their productivity and reducing mistakes
   • Communication: Quiter workspaces also contribute to safer working practices. Eliminating persistent loud noises will make communication amongst workers easier, and ensure that projects are coordinated more efficiently.

2. Positive Community Relations:

   • Reduced Complaints: Minimizing noise pollution will reduce the likelihood of complaints from nearby residents, improve community relations, and protect your company's reputation.
   • Regulatory Compliance: Many states and cities will enforce strict regulations relating to noise pollution, especially for construction projects in urban areas. Violation of these codes can lead to penalties. Using a silent solar surveillance trailer will help ensure compliance with local noise ordinances and reduce the risk of associated penalties.

3. Positive Impact on Wildlife:

   • Minimized Disturbance: Running a generator in close proximity to a natural habit will significantly disrupt local wildlife. Reducing noise levels contributes to a better environment and improves biodiversity.

4. Overall Site Safety:

   • Improved Awareness: Removing noise pollutants such as diesel generators from construction zones ensures that signals such as alarms or verbal communications are more likely to be heard and responded to promptly, enhancing overall site safety.

Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

• Noise Ordinances: As mentioned earlier, major cities across Texas, California, and the US have specific noise ordinance codes that set maximum permissible noise levels for construction sites. Utilizing a solar surveillance trailer rather than a diesel-powered option means you have one less noise pollutant to worry about. 
• Occupational Health and Safety: Regulatory organizations like OSHA set and enforce standards and guidelines on noise levels to protect workers' health.

How Do Solar Surveillance Trailers Lower Operational Costs?

So far, we have made a compelling case for the environmental benefits of solar surveillance trailers and how they contribute to a more sustainable future.

However, businesses can reap an additional benefit when they switch to solar-powered surveillance trailers: significant cost savings.

While cost savings are not specifically related to our topic of environmental benefits, it is certainly worth highlighting the win-win scenario that comes with deploying solar surveillance trailers. At the same time as protecting the environment, you can seriously protect your bottom line, too. 

1. Elimination of Fuel Costs

Diesel Generators:

• Fuel Reliant: Diesel-powered surveillance trailers require a constant fuel supply to remain operational.
• Fuel Costs: Diesel prices fluctuate constantly, but for the sake of this example, let's say that a gallon of diesel costs $3.50 (which is reflective of prices as of July 2024 in Texas).
• Consumption: As noted above, a typical diesel generator will consume about one gallon of diesel per hour.
• Annual Cost: When running 24 hours, a generator consumes 24 gallons a day. Over a year, this would amount to 8,760 gallons. 8,760 * $3.50/gallon = $30,660 of fuel costs per generator per year.

Solar Surveillance Trailers:

• Fuel Free: There are no fuel costs associated with solar surveillance trailers.
• Annual Savings: Switching to solar-powered surveillance trailers can save companies up to $36,660 per year.

2. Reduced Maintenance Costs

If you are renting a surveillance trailer, then the hiring company will likely take care of all maintenance issues as part of their contract with you, so we recognize that the information below will not be relevant to all use cases.

However, if you plan to purchase a surveillance trailer because you have longer-term surveillance requirements, such as for law enforcement applications, then maintenance and upkeep requirements will be a major factor in your decision-making process.  

Diesel Generators:

• Frequent Maintenance: Diesel generators require frequent maintenance visits, primarily to refuel the system but also for things like oil changes, filter replacements, and engine tuneups. 
• Maintenance Costs: The annual upkeep for a diesel surveillance trailer can range from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the age of the unit, the quality of the build, and the cost of parts.

Solar Surveillance Trailers:

• Minimal Maintenance: For the majority of your deployments, you will have zero maintenance requirements with a solar surveillance trailer. The only recommended upkeep needed for a solar trailer is a periodic cleaning of the solar panels.
• Lower Costs: The estimated annual cost of maintaining a solar surveillance trailer is between $100 to $200
• Annual Savings: Switching to a solar-powered surveillance trailer will deliver maintenance cost savings between $800 to $1,900.

3. Longevity and Durability

Diesel Generators:

• Wear and Tear: Diesel generators are always on. Otherwise, the surveillance system isn't working. For this reason, they are clearly more prone to wear and tear.
• Limited Lifespan: Diesel generators have an average lifespan of around 10,000 to 30,000 hours, after which they will either require a significant overhaul or replacement. 

Solar Surveillance Trailers:

• Durable Components: Solar panels are typically guaranteed for 20-25 years under normal operating conditions, and the backup batteries can last up to 10 years.
• Longer Lifespan: The extended lifespan of a solar surveillance trailer delivers significant cost savings over time.

4. Reduced Labor Costs

Diesel Generators:

• Regular Refueling: As noted earlier, a diesel generator requires continual fuel; otherwise, it will not work. This means several trips to the generator to refuel it, which takes time, effort, and cost off your bottom line.

Solar Surveillance Trailers:

• Autonomous Operation: Zero requirements for refueling or any type of regular visit to the unit. 
• Labor Savings: By eliminating the refueling process, companies save on labor costs associated with managing fuel supplies.

5. Tax Incentives and Rebates

• Incentives: Many states across the U.S. continue to offer tax incentives, grants, rebates, and financial programs to support the adoption of solar energy. These incentives can significantly reduce the cost of installing and operating solar surveillance trailers.

Real-World Deployment Scenario: Construction Site Security

To summarize the cost savings for a typical construction business looking to secure a jobsite. The calculations below highlight how a site using two diesel-powered trailers fares against a site using 2 solar surveillance trailers: 

• Annual Fuel Cost: 2 generators * $30,660 = $61,320
• Annual Maintenance Cost: 2 generators * $1,500 = $3,000
• Total Annual Cost for Diesel Generators: $61,320 + $3,000 = $64,320

By switching to solar surveillance trailers:

• Fuel Cost: $0
• Maintenance Cost: 2 trailers * $500 = $1,000
• Total Annual Cost for Solar Trailers: $1,000

Annual Savings: $64,320 (diesel generators) - $1,000 (solar trailers) = $63,320

Saving the environment isn't the only benefit of deploying solar trailers; your back pocket can benefit too!

Can Solar Surveillance Trailers Help Achieve Green Building Certifications?

Green building certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), are becoming more important in the construction and real estate industries.

These certifications highlight how projects adhere to sustainable practices and recognize companies that demonstrate a reduction in their impact on the surrounding environment.

The use of solar surveillance trailers can help companies align their projects with several of the key criteria of the LEED certification.

Contribution of Solar Surveillance Trailers to Green Building Certifications

1. Use of Renewable Energy

LEED Category: Energy and Atmosphere

• Renewable Energy Credits: Solar surveillance trailers are a demonstrable example of using renewable energy in construction projects. Their use can be seen as part of a company's ongoing commitment to minimizing its reliance on fossil fuels. Therefore, this can contribute to the "Renewable Energy Production" credit in the Energy and Atmosphere category of LEED.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Solar surveillance trailers produce zero greenhouse gases, which aligns with LEED’s goals for reducing carbon footprints.

2. Sustainable Site Development

LEED Category: Sustainable Sites

• Minimized Environmental Impact: Solar surveillance trailers are designed to be relocatable and easy to deploy. They require no extensive installation process as they are fully self-contained, drop-and-go solutions. This eliminates the need for permanent infrastructure changes and minimizes land disturbance.
• Temporary Installations: Solar trailers can be easily relocated within an existing site or to a new project as requirements change. This supports the efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste.

3. Innovation in Design

LEED Category: Innovation

• Innovative Use of Technology: Companies or projects that demonstrate their use of innovative solar powered solutions within their projects can receive additional credits within the LEED process. As a relatively new and emerging technology, solar surveillance trailers may contribute to this category.

4. Materials and Resources

LEED Category: Materials and Resources

• Durability and Longevity: Solar surveillance trailers are built to withstand outdoor elements and deliver long-lasting operation due to their ruggedized design. This durability reduces the frequency of repair and replacement required, contributing to resource conservation.

Integrating solar surveillance trailers into a construction company's overall project plan can help them demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency, contributing to a higher level of LEED certification.

How Do Solar Surveillance Trailers Enhance Corporate Image?

As this post outlines, solar surveillance trailers provide practical benefits for site security, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.

For all of these reasons, adopting solar surveillance trailers can contribute towards the enhancement of corporate image and reputation and how the business is perceived by its stakeholders, clients, and the general public.

1. Commitment to Sustainability

• Green Practices: The visible action of deploying solar surveillance trailers clearly demonstrates that an organization is taking its carbon footprint reduction efforts seriously. 
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Many companies have CSR goals or ESG goals that shape their commitment to matters beyond the confines of their immediate business. Solar surveillance trailers align with the environmental commitments set out in many corporate ESG policies. 

2. Stakeholder Relations

Investor Confidence:

• Sustainable Investments: Investment companies are increasingly prioritizing support businesses that have clearly documented ESG policies. By adopting solar surveillance trailers, companies are better placed to attract socially conscious investors and improve their access to development capital.

Community Support:

• Positive Community Impact: As outlined earlier, reduced noise pollution and lower carbon emissions from locations such as construction jobsites will improve neighbor relations, reduce the likelihood of complaints, and ensure adherence to local government policies. This is particularly relevant to construction companies operating in urban or environmentally protected areas. 

3. Enhancing Brand Reputation

Market Differentiation:

• Innovative Solutions: Adopting innovative, sustainable technology is a great way for companies to differentiate themselves from competitors and win new business from clients that prioritize an eco-conscious approach. 
• Marketing Opportunities: Promoting the use of solar surveillance trailers in marketing campaigns, on social media, and in press releases can enhance brand visibility and reinforce the company's image as a forward-thinking, eco-friendly organization.

4. Achieving Industry Recognition

Awards and Certifications:

• Green Certifications: Utilizing solar power technology can help a company secure green certifications and accolades. These awards can broaden an organization's reach via positive marketing opportunities. 
• Public Recognition: Companies that align themselves with sustainability can position themselves as thought leaders, increasing public opinion and trust.

5. Contributing to Long-Term Business Viability

Future-Proofing:

• Regulatory Compliance: The regulations around fossil fuel usage are only set to become stricter, so companies that have made the early adoption of solar technologies will find it easier to comply with new regulations, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.

Summary: Solar Trailers - A Sustainable Security Solution

Switching to mobile surveillance trailers as part of your overall security strategy will deliver much more than just high-quality, proactive surveillance coverage.

This eco-friendly approach to security directly benefits your corporate image by showcasing your commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.

This can improve stakeholder relations, attract environmentally conscious investors, and meet your client base's growing demand for eco-friendly practices. 

Utilizing solar surveillance trailers is a true win-win solution that supports your business goals and the future of our planet.

To learn more about the market-leading solar surveillance trailer supplied by WCCTV, complete the short contact form below, and we will be happy to provide more information.