As it turns out, COVID-19 will finally not be the main topic this fall, but it cannot exactly be said that things have improved much for us. A new threat is proudly taking up the baton, namely: energy prices and the measures that come with them.
In this newsletter we have put together a few ideas on how to reduce the electricity consumption of your projection technology, and we will also introduce several projects we completed over the past year.
Tip #1 A new RGB laser projector
(Series 4)
Even though it is not the cheapest solution to the problem of energy prices, it is certainly a very good move in terms of long-term savings and reduced operating costs. With laser projectors you are able to cut electricity consumption by up to 60%. The savings come from two angles. The first is the fact that you no longer have to buy or replace lamps. The price of a xenon lamp depends on its output: the more powerful the lamp, the higher the price and at the same time the shorter the lifespan. Cinemas that screen often and have a 4kW lamp in the projector replace it as often as twice a year, while most cinemas do so once a year. At a price of around 30,000 CZK per lamp, that adds up to substantial savings.
The second and even more appealing saving is the fact that a laser light source is able to save up to 60% of electricity at the same output, which will most certainly have a very positive impact on your annual bill. Another advantage is that the SP4K and SP2K projectors are not as demanding on cooling, so you can reduce the power of the ventilation motor or even switch it off entirely.
Series 4 laser projectors are available both in 4K and in more affordable 2K variants.
If you would be interested in a non-binding quote, definitely let us know.
Tip #2 Remote powering of projection technology on and off
(for ingest, show creation, and so on)
Cinemas that have Series 1 and Series 2 projectors cannot power on the projector remotely, and in some cases cannot power on the cinema server remotely either. The way this is usually handled is that the operator has to physically go to the cinema and switch the technology on manually, or assign someone else to do it. It often happens that the equipment then runs all day or overnight. We have managed to solve this problem with smart automation, through which you can switch your technology on remotely. You can power on and off the projector, server, audio processor, and amplifiers, as well as the ventilation, lights, or curtains.
Tip #3 Replacing a dedicated cinema server with an integrated one
(Barco ICMP-X)
Dedicated cinema servers, such as the Qube server (XP-D and XP-I), are designed as server-grade devices and therefore have a redundant power supply in case one of them fails. These power supplies are also designed to keep running at least partially even when the cinema server is switched off. They consume electricity, albeit a negligible amount, continuously.
A RAID array made up of several 3.5" drives also consumes somewhat more energy than an array built from three 2.5" drives, which is what the integrated Barco Alchemy ICMP-X server uses.
The new energy-efficient Barco Alchemy ICMP-X servers consume significantly less energy than dedicated servers, which is thanks to the fact that the technology has been miniaturized and can be fitted directly inside the projector.
If you would be interested in a non-binding price quote, please let us know.
Tip #4 Swap your bulbs for LEDs
This tip probably needs no lengthy introduction, and we are sure every one of you knows it well, but it has not been put into practice everywhere. LEDs look good, they are energy-efficient, and they will help you significantly reduce your operating costs.
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Check your stock of 3D glasses and batteries
With the upcoming premiere of Avatar: The Way of Water and the revival of 3D technology, we recommend checking that your 3D system is working and making sure you have a sufficient stock of glasses and batteries.
IMPORTANT! If you are running low on glasses or batteries, please send us your order well in advance, because manufacturers' lead times are currently very long.