Electronic Locks - Wireless Or Wired Are Not A Very Green Oriented Product

 It seems that wireless or wired electronic locks are all the rage today in this rapidly progressing tech-electronic age we are in. Products like the Lockwood 001T, pictured here use a battery pack to offer keyless access control options.

But in recent years, many discussions continue to be held about green, ecological alternatives that cause no drain on power or grid electricity supplies.

Many customers seem to be considering the use of wireless battery powered products or even hard wired lock systems to add so called "convenience" to their lives.

While it is understandable that some systems can add convenience and access control to our homes and offices, the available products are not really "green" alternatives.

 The August Lock, came out a little while back, offering the ability to have a keyless/smartphone connected access control solution.

The product is very intelligently designed and may offer concerned customers the alternative they are seeking, however it is worth remembering that batteries require replacing every so often. What happens when your smartphone battery has run out? What happens when the products battery pack loses power?
How do you operate the product without a mechanical "keyed" back up?

The increasing evidence of smartphone theft and the quantity of known hacks, presents problems that many consumers may not have considered.

 At least Kwikset, are including their mechanical "keyed" cylinder in many of their Bluetooth and wireless battery powered products, even though the Kwikset Smartkey product has a poor track record of quality and is too easily compromised.

The Kwikset Kevo product was released last October. It is a Bluetooth, battery powered deadbolt that can be operated by a connected Bluetooth device (smartphone). It also comes with the Kwikset Smartkey cylinder, enabling a mechanical backup solution, even though there are many published records of the Smartkey problems, in the news.

Certainly there are many and varied options for wireless, keypad controlled, keyless solutions, but the quality of manufacture still leaves much to be desired in terms of quality and sustainability.

Many manufacturers continue to bring out ever increasing product options to whet the appetites of consumers.

But not too many are including the necessary mechanical keyed component as a backup.

I realise that many customers are impressed with the ability to grant access to certain people and then change that access on the fly, but the use of electronic products is not a "green" consideration, is it?


Locksmiths have been manufacturing and installing quality mechanical keyed  access control solutions for many hundreds of years. No matter where you live around the world, there are many more physical mechanical access control solutions and lock systems that have and do sustain the test of time. Most people continue to use mechanical key products because they are generally reliable, long lasting and "green", aside from the fact that they are considerably cheaper and better quality.

This winter has proven to be very challenging in North America. Many power grids are running over capacity to keep us warm, secure and to keep products working efficiently.

Many challenges that I have faced this winter and I know of many locksmiths across the world who also have faced similar challenges, include the doors and frames being affected by weathering.

When an entry is affected by weathering, often the doors and frames move, making lock products not line up correctly to enable correct locking and unlocking. Electronic products require that doors and frames be correctly in alignment to ensure proper locking every time. But with the weather affecting our daily lives, electronic products are not operating correctly, often leaving your doors unsecured.

At least with a physical mechanical keyed product, a user can still lock and unlock a lock, irrespective of weather challenges.

There are many competing brands of locksets in the market. Many are quality products that are designed to last. You can choose to include electronic options however I recommend that the physical mechanical products still be used to guarantee that your homes and other dwellings are secure.

I'd be interested to hear your opinions about this in the comments.