Solutions include sustainable facilities, power use optimization, and reduced energy consumption.
Occupancy sensors for lighting controls can result in at least 50% energy savings post-implementation
Green solutions are now high on the radar of most organizations advocating sustainability as employees slowly make their way back to the office. While remote and hybrid working is still being practiced by some organizations, the reality is most companies eventually will want to have their employees back on-premises.
Despite increased cases of COVID-19, most organizations in Southeast Asia have gotten their staff back on site. As such, workplaces now would have to adapt to the new lifestyles of returning employees. This includes making sure the buildings are safe for work as well as leveraging new technologies to create a better working environment.
In Singapore, Nanyang Polytechnic and Schneider Electric launched a one-stop Sustainability Experience Centre to help Singapore’s small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement green technologies at the workplace.
This can help Singapore achieve its goal of making at least 80% of buildings green by 2030, according to the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Masterplan.
One of the green solutions offered at the center is sustainable facilities management.
For example, augmented reality is tapped for instant diagnosis, and when coupled with contactless and predictive maintenance, the overall power efficiency of a venue is significantly improved.
This helps SMEs operate more sustainably and enhances the productivity of the maintenance crew, as repairs and rectifications can be reliably predicted, and preventive maintenance is made ahead of time.
The center will also see students gaining valuable hands-on experience in cutting-edge solutions used by the industry to meet sustainability goals.
For example, students from Nanyang Polytechnic’s Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering will learn how to integrate multiple systems and devices to collect and analyze relevant data. The first-hand experience would provide gainful insights to these students, thereby preparing a steady pipeline of talents to meet the demands for sustainability solutions in future industries.
Green solutions at the core
Another key showcase at the center helps SMEs identify solutions to optimize power usage and reduce energy consumption. With the deft application of automation and sensors, lights would be activated only in areas when needed; and data usage patterns can also be analyzed in real-time.
Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Building Operation 3.0 makes this possible by pulling in data from a wide range of sensors, running analysis, and providing users with suggestions to maximize energy use and reduce overall cost. It can also adjust lighting and temperature on the fly.
According to Singapore’s Energy Efficiency Programme Office, occupancy sensors for lighting controls can result in at least 50% energy savings after implementation at workplaces. Implementing such energy-efficient measures helps SMEs reduce operating costs and become more competitive.
Schneider Electric and Nanyang Polytechnic are also co-training a nexus of the future-ready workforce to meet the increasing demands of companies seeking to implement sustainable transport solutions, through electric fleets.
To date, staff from more than 20 SMEs have been trained on the key skills of managing electric vehicles (EVs), including setting up charging systems and processes for these EVs.
To ensure buildings have enough electric supply capacity for EV charging stations, Schneider Electric also developed an EVlink Wallbox, to integrate with a load management system to regulate the amount of electricity allocated for EV charging in real-time.
This allows building owners to deploy such sustainable solutions with minimal infrastructure cost while ensuring that critical functions are prioritized to prevent electrical overload.
For Nanyang Polytechnic’s Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Jeanne Liew, their expertise in engineering systems and data analytics, alongside Schneider Electric’s technology and solutions will enable SMEs to have easy access to kickstart their green journey.
She added that this is also a great opportunity to strengthen and inculcate a sustainability-conscious mindset among youth and empower them to play a role in bringing about a greener future.
“Our commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers and dedication to sustainability is core identities of Schneider Electric. The Sustainability Experience Centre is a fantastic two-pronged approach where we can showcase our technology to the industry while training the next generation who can help them implement these solutions,” said Yoon Young Kim, Cluster President, Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei, Schneider Electric.
