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Earth Day Brings a Renewed Focus on Sustainability for HARMAN

The United Nations estimates that the urban population is increasing by almost 180,000 people each day, and that 60% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2030. The continued rise in overpopulated areas will have a major impact on personal and public transportation as the need for innovative and eco-friendly mobility solutions intensifies. Changes in consumer behavior, an overall increase in environmental consciousness, and new government regulations have also given rise to the demand for every day products with lower energy consumption.

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HARMAN remains committed to providing best-in-class technologies that not only provide a leading customer experience – whether that’s an audio, visual, in-car, in-office, in-theater, at-home experience or beyond – but that are also beneficial to the long-term well-being of the world. In all of our manufacturing operations, our sustainability strategy involves ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions, conserve and protect water supplies, curb energy usage and lower the amount of waste generated. We have taken decisive steps to reduce our footprint by installing a successful pilot program to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during the manufacturing process at our largest facilities, and instituted a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle to approach energy, water, and waste management.

As part of these on-going sustainability efforts, HARMAN introduced GreenEdge, a new concept in energy-efficient audio and infotainment design. GreenEdge amplifiers have an efficiency level of more than 90% and consume less power than other systems, while still producing a higher output for an unbeatable listening experience. Patrons of stadiums, theaters, and cinemas can experience first-hand how you can make environmentally responsible choices without compromising the acoustic experience. On the road, GreenEdge helps lower emissions in traditional vehicles, thanks to lighter-weight materials and reduced power consumption.

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Concerns about how to reduce vehicle emissions and CO2 pollution resulted in the development of electric and hybrid cars. However, the transition to these vehicles presents its own unique challenges. Engine downsizing or the use of turbo-chargers can contribute to a reduction of emission levels, however it also means familiar audio cues are no longer present. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users can’t rely on sound to determine how fast a vehicle is approaching or how close it is. In order to improve pedestrian safety around electric vehicles, HARMAN developed the HALOsonic external Electric Sound Synthesis (eESS), which creates a specific sound to alert pedestrians that a car is approaching.

In the coming years, the electric market will likely transition from early deployment to mass market adoption. By 2020, the number of electric cars on the road is expected to range between 9 million and 20 million, and between 40 million and 70 million by 2025. The increase in electric mobility creates new requirements for in-vehicle audio systems that are lightweight, energy efficient, and composed of sustainable materials. To meet these growing demands, HARMAN developed a suite of audio solutions that reduce power consumption and increase efficiency without compromising sound quality by embracing new materials and speaker designs. In addition to GreenEdge technology, our portfolio includes several solutions that are lightweight, employ sustainable materials, and are energy efficient:

Whether at home or on the road, the need to reduce energy costs, protect the environment, and conserve natural resources remains vital. Earth Day is an excellent time to celebrate our progress, but also provides an opportunity to place a renewed focus on our efforts. And, as evidenced by technology like our GreenEdge products, an increased focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility can be accomplished without any impact to customer experience, or the creation of best-class products. Learn more about our sustainability efforts here.