Beyond Energy Efficiency – ROI for Sustainable Data Centers

This article is contributed by Peter Halliday, Head of Siemens Building Technologies Division for ASEAN.

In March this year, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) launched the BCA-IDA Green Mark for New Data Centers. This would be targeted at data centers that fulfil the established green standards, and it comes ahead of the opening of a data center park in Singapore in 2016.

As Singapore grows to be a data center hub, both the IT industry and building authorities are emphasizing the importance of energy efficient data centers. With servers running 24X7 under tightly controlled environmental conditions and often not at full capacity, data centers are among the world’s largest consumers of energy. IDA estimates that energy consumption accounts for more than 50% of the operating expenditure in a typical data center in Singapore.

In order for today’s data centers to be sustainable, both economically and environmentally, disjointed energy measures are insufficient. There needs to be an integrated approach to data center infrastructure in order for genuine energy optimization to be realized. Read more

Summary of Mandatory Energy Management Under Singapore’s Energy Conservation Act

The requirements for mandatory energy management under Singapore’s new Energy Conservation Act has come into force this Earth Day on 22 April 2013.

The Act requires large energy consuming companies to register with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and implement mandatory energy management practices. Companies are required to appoint an energy manager, monitor and report energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and submit annual energy efficiency improvement plans. Read more

Ecosystem Singapore – Green Coworking Office Space for the Environment

Ecosystem is a new collaborative and coworking space for the environment, and is a joint initiative between Green Future Solutions and Shft.

Ecosystem emulates the development of symbiotic relationships between organisations working in the environmental sector. It is a platform that allows organisations to have close and long-term interactions, generating larger network of people with common interests, more business opportunities and complementary expertise for each other.

The Ecosystem co-working office space near Bugis would be ready in March and we are looking for environmental startups, companies and organisations to join our community. We are offering an early bird rate for those who wish to sign up for a permanent table space and enjoy our services.

If you are looking for an office space for your green startup, check out http://www.ecosystem.sg/ and connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/ecosystemsg or http://www.twitter.com/ecosystemsg.

Raising the Bar For Green Hotels in Singapore

Singapore’s green building and property leader, City Developments Limited (CDL) is raising the bar for green hotels in Singapore with the newly-opened W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, which is a new hotel awarded with the BCA Green Mark Platinum Award. The Platinum Award is the highest rating for green developments in Singapore awarded by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

CDL has been a strong champion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Singapore. This new Green Mark Platinum hotel adds to CDL’s 62 Green Mark developments, including 21 Green Mark Platinum projects. CDL was the only developer to be accorded the Green Mark Champion Award in 2008 and the Built Environment Leadership Platinum Award in 2009, as well as the only recipient of the Green Mark Platinum Champion Award in 2011. Read more

Using Benchmarks and Penalties to Improve Energy Efficiency in Singapore

When we think of long-term solutions to our energy needs, we usually think of sustainable energy sources. Big projects that harness energy from renewable sources, yet do not release the copious amounts of carbon dioxide that today’s conventional sources (oil, gas and coal) do.

There are several problems with pursuing these energy sources as the only solution to our energy needs. They are expensive and would take more research and development before they can compete with today’s conventional sources on a per dollar basis.

More importantly, changing the supply of our energy to more sustainable sources does not do much if energy consumption continues to grow at the rate it has been in recent times. Therefore, it is important that energy efficiency be factored in any solution we choose to implement for our energy needs. Read more

New Funding for Furniture Companies on GREENGUARD Certification

The Quality for Enterprises through Standards (QUEST) Programme by SPRING helps companies to adopt relevant standards and develop capabilities and improve processes. Under QUEST, grants are provided for companies interested in adopting ISO 14064 Greenhouse Gas Management or ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems.

From 15 Jul 2012 to 15 Jan 2013, SPRING will include new funding support under QUEST for GREENGUARD certification for the furniture industry.

Excessive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from furniture, products, surfaces and finishes, could lead to poor indoor air quality in buildings and our homes, and contribute to health problems. For the furniture industry, it is important to ensure that furniture products have low VOCs at acceptable levels. Read more

5 Steps to Build a Culture of Sustainability Through Employee Engagement

Do you have difficulty in engaging employees on sustainability in the office? Are you trying to build a culture of sustainability in your company? This article discusses Engagement 2.0 and shares 5 steps on building a culture of sustainability through employee engagement.

More companies in Singapore are implementing environmental policies and sustainability initiatives in the office, but one common feedback is that it is difficult to engage employees on sustainability and get them to walk the talk, and embed green practices in the company culture. How should local companies engage employees on sustainability?

The potential answer could be found in a 2011 report published by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) in the United States, titled “Toward Engagement 2.0: Creating a More Sustainable Company Through Employee Engagement“. The report highlights a 5-step model for creating a culture of sustainability through environmental and sustainability employee education and engagement, and ultimately embedding it in the corporate DNA. Read more

Nexus-beyond offsetting offers a fair and transparent approach to carbon offsetting

Is your company looking for a fair and transparent way to offset your carbon emissions or support clean development projects in developing countries? If you wish to see your money spent on carbon offsetting going mostly to help the communities and the environment directly, the Nexus-beyond offsetting initiative could be what you are looking for.

Nexus-Carbon for Development

Nexus-Carbon for Development is an alliance of pro-poor project developers who tackle both climate change and poverty in a fair and transparent way. Registered as a non-profit organisation in Singapore since 2008, Nexus acts as a peer-to-peer services platform, creating synergies between its alliance members and providing awareness raising, capacity building, carbon project documentation, and carbon asset management. Read more

Guidebook for Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility by the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

As part of its efforts to promote business sustainability, the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS) recently launched a new publication, Guidebook for Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, which is tailored for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore.

The guidebook aims to inspire SMEs to engage in sustainability and to provide them with practical guidance and tips.

You can read online or download the free Guidebook for Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at the FCCS website.

Introduction

The guidebook begins by explaining the rise of social and environmental expectations in Asia and Singapore, and introduces the concept of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR), including the new ISO 26000.

Next, the guidebook shares some of the drivers and benefits for SMEs that embrace sustainability and CSR, such as: Read more

6 Steps to Minimise Waste and Start a Recycling Programme in Your Company

Is your company interested to reduce waste and implement a recycling programme? Are you looking for tips to start recycling in your company? This article will show you 6 steps to minimise waste and start recycling at your workplace.

First, you would need to form a team and get commitment from your top management and colleagues. Conduct a waste audit and find ways to minimise waste through reduce and reuse. Next, start a recycling programme and educate your staff on how to recycle. Finally, remember to gather feedback, review and improve your recycling programme. Read more

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