How to Drive Sustainability Through Digitalisation

Digitalisation. Sustainability. Smart buildings.

What do these buzzwords of our current climate have in common? They are more related than you might realise. As remote working becomes the default mode for many companies, the challenge of managing offices and corporate facilities from a distance is one that businesses have to grapple with. Without staff on-site, businesses struggle with monitoring energy consumption and responding quickly to faults, running the risk of wasting resources.

Furthermore, beyond the considerations of the pandemic, SGTech Smart Nation Chapter Chairman, Mr Shih Hor Lau highlighted that switching to virtual modes of operation is more sustainable and in alignment with Singapore’s vision for a Smart Nation powered by digital innovation. It also falls under Singapore Green Plan 2030, which aims for 80% of new buildings to be transformed into low energy buildings by 2030. SGTech will continue to create initiatives to build more active industry participation and co-create smart solutions that can be extended internationally.

Here are some ways in which your company can drive greater sustainability by creating smarter workplaces through digitalisation.

Leveraging Internet of Things and Cloud to Build a Greener Workplace

The key challenge facing sustainability within buildings and workplaces is the difficulty in monitoring the various aspects of the environment, such as lighting, air conditioning, air quality and ventilation, temperature and humidity, and energy consumption.

Enter Green Koncepts, SGTech member and an innovative tech company which helps businesses build more intelligent and green workspaces. In a recent webinar, Mr Kenneth Lee, Founder and CEO of Green Koncepts, introduced the powerful capabilities of Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud to directly addresses and improve the energy efficiency of operations.

Through intelligently implementing IoT technology, they are able to acquire data as well as send commands to machines and equipment within the workplace. Equipped with detailed sensor data collected from the building, companies are then able to process, analyse and make decisions on how to optimise the efficiency of systems.

However, digitalisation comes with its own challenges, such as selecting appropriate sensors and building the necessary infrastructure on the Cloud to store and stream data

Green Koncepts’ EnergetixTM IoT platform is an integrated suite of applications equipped to solve these challenges. Depending on the organisation’s needs, Green Koncepts is able to provide different user interfaces for different use cases:

Digital Floorplans and Mobile Application to manage data on the go
Multi-Building Dashboard to benchmark and compare multiple buildings
Energy Management Dashboard to manage utilities based on building, floor, plug loads. etc
Power Chain Management to observe real-time power distribution and demand, identify power trips and faults
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation (ACMV) Management with digital ducting plans of air-conditioning units
Centralised Fault Dashboards for real-time fault notifications
Safe Workplace Dashboard to manage space occupancy and safe distancing

In summary, Green Koncepts’ EnergetixTM platform supports six core areas:

Energy Management
Air Quality
Intelligent Controls
Occupancy Management
Data Centre and Infrastructure Management
Predictive Maintenance

IoT Platforms vs Traditional Building Management Systems

There are great differences between IoT platforms and more traditional Building Management Systems (BMS) in driving sustainability. Ms Farizan d'Avezac de Moran, Senior Partner of GreenA Consultants, spoke on how businesses can start to think about sustainability and holistic energy management.

Developed in the 1960s, BMS were computer-based systems installed in buildings to manage and monitor equipment and energy use. BMS were expensive and complicated, and were used predominantly in large projects with extensive heating, ventilation and air conditioning, mechanical and electrical systems.

In contrast, with the rise of IoT, businesses are able to integrate the use of internet protocols, open standards, and use AI to drive smarter building outcomes. Furthermore, IoT can be implemented in a variety of projects and buildings, not only in large projects with extensive systems.

Within a building, there are two types of consumption loads that one needs to consider.

Ghost Load refers to the hidden power consumption of equipment on standby that are not switched off (such as photocopy machines and water coolers). Managed Load refers to the direct and visible power consumption of the building systems (such as air-conditioning and lights).

Incorporating IoT and sensors makes visible the often-neglected ghost load, reduces overall building load, controls comfort level of the environment, and monitors consumption and user behaviour. An existing BMS can work harmoniously or independently with an IoT system, subject to the size of building, the complexity of the systems and the control thresholds.

Ready to Start Your Sustainability Journey?

To kickstart your sustainability journey, companies can leverage on the IMDA’s Advance Digital Solutions Grant that encourages companies to digitalise their real estate environment.

Green Koncepts’ Digital Real Estate Management Package is tailored to the grant and provides customised solutions to monitor energy, water, air quality, faults, occupancy or equipment.

Additionally, to experience first hand how different sensors, controllers and applications can be integrated into a building, interested parties can visit Green Koncepts’ IoT Experience Centre.

If you would like to reach out to Green Koncepts, you may contact them at [email protected].

Watch Full Webinar

Interested to watch the full discussion? Head over to the recording to watch the complete webinar session!

Join SGTech Smart Nation Chapter

SGTech's Smart Nation Chapter aims to promote and facilitate the growth of an ecosystem of smart technology innovators and adopters to provider holistic smart city solutions for both the Singapore and international markets.

Please contact [email protected] if you’d like to join or find out more about the chapter.