Genelec has consistently pursued an environmentally accountable agenda through both its facilities and products. Over four decades in business, the Finnish company has made low energy consumption and long product lifespan central to its design philosophy. Overall, 94% of the aluminium used in Genelec enclosures is recycled, with the three major sources being beverage cans, old automobile parts and scrap from the production of new aluminium parts and components.

Genelec’s world headquarters in Iisalmi was remodelled and expanded in 2020 with a significant emphasis on green practices. More recently, the headquarters of Genelec Inc, the brand’s North American subsidiary, in Natick, Massachusetts, has followed suit and installed a large array of solar panels, as well as moving to all LED lighting.

The solar panels power the facility and, because of the amount of energy they produce, take the facility is off the grid, producing more energy than it consumes.

This complex, based in the rich audio technology hub of Greater Boston, includes a warehouse, immersive demonstration room known as the Genelec Experience Center, and the main operations for North American marketing, sales support and customer service for the brand. This deployment is part of an ongoing brand-wide initiative to move toward entirely sustainable energy practices, involving solar, wind and hydroelectric energy.

‘Powering our facilities in Finland and now North America, solar power is a major component of sustainable infrastructure,’ says, Genelec Inc MD, Lisa Kaufmann. ‘Continuing a tradition of being a leader in the audio industry, Genelec is excited to carry over the same principles that make our products great and power our research and development cleanly, affordably and efficiently.

‘The year 2021 also marks the 25^th anniversary of Genelec Inc’s operation in North America, and what better year to shift our centre’s energy consumption to a more environmental option? Moving forward, we will continue to seek new ways to reduce our energy footprint and prioritise the health of our planet.’