Access Control’s Low-Carbon Pivot: DoorKing, LiftMaster, FAAC
Gate operators sip electricity day and night. A busy slide gate may cycle only a few minutes per day yet sit in standby for the other 1,400-plus minutes, slowly bleeding watts and carbon. That idle draw adds up, especially for projects chasing tight operational-carbon budgets. We measure how three heavyweight brands are trimming the fat—and where their next climate wins lurk.
Why the idle watts rule the footprint
A typical residential gate operator pulls 15–18 mA in standby, equal to roughly 0.3 kWh per day on a 24 V system (USAutomatic, 2024). At 500 installations this climbs past 55 MWh a year—the same electricity a mid-size school burns for lighting. Designers focused only on motor horsepower risk missing that sleeper load.
DoorKing: beefy hardware, slim efficiency story
DoorKing’s solar-ready 9024 advertises 8 A peak draw and batteries good for 40 cycles, yet the company does not publish standby current or embedded-carbon data (DKS brochure, 2025). Accessory power is capped at 250 mA, the lowest of the three brands compared (AllSecurityEquipment, 2024). Low accessory amps help but without idle metrics specifiers must guess the true energy bill. That gap will trip LEED v5 Energy & Atmosphere reviewers.
LiftMaster: sipping power like a smartwatch
The RSL12V’s EverCharge board idles at only 8 mA—including the radio receiver—by shutting down ancillaries ten seconds after close (LiftMaster, 2024). That is half the industry norm and a key reason installers pair it with 20 W solar kits on off-grid ranch gates. A quick life-cycle calc shows the low-power logic trims operational CO₂ by roughly 40 kg over ten years versus a 20 mA benchmark gate. Not headline grabbing, yet every kilogram counts once carbon caps hit.
FAAC: Euro muscle meets modular brains
FAAC’s 746 ER clocks a 300 W motor but offsets the heft with a display-based controller that can be swapped in minutes. Boards, encoders, even the oil-bath clutch are field replaceable. That design for disassembly speaks to the circular-economy push sweeping EU electronics. With global e-waste topping 62 million t in 2022 and only 22 % recycled (ITU, 2024), modularity is fast becoming the new efficiency metric.
Smart controls as carbon arbitrage
Modern boards already throttle peripherals; the next leap is grid-aware gate logic. Think time-shifting charge of backup batteries to low-carbon hours or responding to utility demand signals. APIs exist in LiftMaster’s MyQ ecosystem today but are closed. Opening those hooks could let integrators claim demand-response credits under California’s Title 24 2025 update.
The PCR hurdle: hardware finally gets a rulebook
Until 2022 no dedicated PCR covered electromechanical building hardware. SS-EN 17610:2022 now plugs that hole, complementing EN 15804 for everything from door closers to mechatronic locks (SIS, 2022). Gate operators fit the scope, so manufacturers can draft EPDs without inventing a new rule set. None of the three brands have published one yet—a missed marketing shot as low-carbon procurement migrates from façades to site equipment.
Data to gather before your first EPD
- Gate life expectancy in cycles and years
- Standby current at 25 °C and ‑10 °C
- Carbon intensity of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) supply chain
- Rates and routes for component take-back or refurbishment Reliable numbers here slash verifier back-and-forth and keep the LCA timetable predictable. Don’t wait for R&D to dig through service manuals after the project starts, that’s realy painful.
The takeaway for specifiers
Energy-thrifty firmware, snap-in electronics, and a published EPD are fast becoming table stakes. DoorKing rules in ruggedness but needs transparency. LiftMaster leads on idle draw. FAAC rides Europe’s repair-first wave. Pick the mix that fits the project’s carbon math—and nudge your vendor for an EPD while you are at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much carbon can a low-standby gate operator save over ten years?
A unit idling at 8 mA instead of 20 mA on a 12 V battery avoids roughly 120 kWh in that period, equal to about 40 kg CO₂ on the current U.S. grid (EPA eGRID, 2025).
Is there a Product Category Rule (PCR) for gate operators?
Yes. SS-EN 17610:2022 sets PCR guidance for building hardware, including electromechanical locks and gate devices, alongside EN 15804.
Do any access-control brands already offer EPDs?
As of October 2025, none of the major gate-operator manufacturers have published a verified EPD, so early adopters can still grab the spotlight.
Can solar panels fully power a commercial slide gate?
Yes, provided standby draw stays below about 15 mA and daily cycles are modest (under 100). LiftMaster’s RSL12V paired with a 30 W panel is a common example (LiftMaster, 2024).
What end-of-life options help shrink scope-3 emissions for gate electronics?
Designs that allow PCB swap-outs, vendor take-back, and local e-waste recycling align with circular-economy targets and can be credited in Module C of an EPD.
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
