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Liberty Place achieves more than 20 percent energy savings with solutions from Johnson Controls

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Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district

Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district

Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district by leading developer Grocon. Spanning five separate sites, including Legion House, a heritage building dating back to 1902, Liberty Place has a total of 58,316 square meters of office space and 2,800 square meters of retail space.

In recognition of the complex’s sustainable design and enhanced operational efficiency, it was conferred the 6- Star Green Star Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia and 5.0 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) by the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Johnson Controls’ integrated building solution, comprising a fully automated tri-generation system, enabled Liberty Place to achieve energy savings of 20 percent, moving it closer to its zero carbon emissions goal.

At the heart of the solution by Johnson Controls lies a fully automated tri-generation plant that is integrated into the daily operations of the building. The system allows for the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat and cooling in a single process. The comprehensive solution from Johnson Controls includes:

 

 

  • Energy-efficient YORK® YK centrifugal chillers and YORK YIA absorption chillers optimally configured in the chilled water system
  • Re-engineering of existing plant room to reduce footprint by a third
  • Re-engineering of pumping systems to reduce chiller pump power
  • Sabroe® SABlight air-cooled chiller to provide option of generating power via synthetic gas produced by gasifier or natural gas
  • Central Plant Optimisation 10 (CPO10) software powered by Metasys® to optimise the performance of the chiller plant
  • Metasys Energy Dashboard software to track savings from each perimeter and provide a holistic analysis of the building’s energy efficiency

“We have achieved a major milestone at Liberty place by managing a fully automated tri-generation system that is truly integrated into daily building operations. The fact that the entire system is running smoothly demonstrates the value of the integrated solution from Johnson Controls,” said Dru Spork, Grocon’s Sustainability and Services Manager.

To learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/libertyplace.

REC invests S$200 million to automate and upgrade technology over the next three years

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Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

As escalating climate change remains the biggest challenge today and the nascent renewable energy sector picks up speed, REC, a global provider of solar energy solutions, has announced a total investment of S$ 250 million in automation, technology upgrade and research and development (R&D) efforts to unleash the full potential of solar as a source of renewable energy.

At its manufacturing facility in Tuas and in the presence of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), S Iswaran, this morning, REC unveiled plans to invest S$200 million in Singapore that will further increase its productivity and efficiency through automation and technology upgrading.

This will fully convert all 1.3 GW of REC’s solar modules capacity in Singapore to TwinPeak production. These panels yield the highest energy efficiencies as compared to any other multi-crystalline panels that are mass-produced today. Committed to its vision that every person benefits from electricity generated directly from the sun, REC’s move to expand its capacity and technology with sustainable, reliable and high performing products is closely aligned with the Singapore government’s plans to grow the cleantech sector.

The Singapore government has recently announced about S$900 million of R&D budget in Urban Solutions and Sustainability, one of four key technology domains to be funded under the national Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan. This RIE initiative, amounting to S$19 billion, maps out the focus for Singapore’s R&D efforts for the next five years.

Said Steve O’Neil, CEO, REC, “With such a strong commitment to cleantech innovation, Singapore is the ideal location for REC to channel new innovations and push the boundaries for solar solutions. We are very excited to share our roadmap for advancements in solar energy production as we dedicate resources for research and development into our game-changing TwinPeak solar panels.”

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Lauded for its high performance, the high power 120-cell module, Twin Peak, was launched by REC last year. Developed based on Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) technology and half-cut cells, TwinPeak solar panels convert more sunlight into electricity as compared to standard modules, effectively allowing customers to derive the most energy and value out of their installations.

For commercial, industrial and residential entities in Singapore, this is of extreme importance, given the limited rooftop space. Putting it into context, REC’s recent 2.2MW TwinPeak installation in Singapore is able to generate an additional 157MWh of clean energy annually as compared to standard panels.

The additional clean energy produced by TwinPeak panels can power up to 38 HDB 5-room flats yearly or the equivalent of 1,088 light bulbs. Similarly, it is also able to mitigate an additional 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – the amount that takes the planting of 3,200 new trees to offset.

REC also announced today, an investment of S$50 million in the development of a novel solar panel with 350 watt power, over the next five years. In partnership with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore’s flagship solar energy laboratory, this technological breakthrough will generate 1.35 times more energy, at a comparable cost and size to standard multi-crystalline modules.

Said Prof. Armin Aberle, CEO, SERIS, “Collaborations between university institutes and industry are very beneficial for growing the solar sector, especially when it comes to developing and commercialising new technologies. With REC on board to further the green agenda in Singapore and the region, we believe this will stimulate other companies to follow suit and enhance their R&D investments to address the issues of climate change and dwindling resources.”

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

Added O’Neil, “REC constantly strengthens its position as a leader in terms of solar panel reliability, performance and cost. With SERIS’ support, we’re in a good position to ride on market opportunities where growth prospects remain positive.”

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed between REC and SERIS.

“We warmly welcome REC’s S$200 million solar manufacturing expansion, which will further strengthen Singapore’s cleantech industry ecosystem. The investment is testament to the competitiveness of Singapore’s advanced manufacturing sector in terms of engineering talent, automation expertise and supplier base,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). “REC’s S$50 million R&D collaboration with SERIS will accelerate the commercialisation of innovative solar technologies in Singapore,” he added.

Complete low-voltage solution cuts engineering costs and project delivery time for Bangkok’s new EmQuartier mall

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Bangkok's new EmQuartier Mall.

Bangkok’s new EmQuartier Mall.

ABB, the leading power and automation group, has installed a smart low-voltage network in a cutting-edge shopping mall in Bangkok, the EmQuartier. The project is the first retail development to use ABB’s Emax 2 circuit breakers and Ekip control and connectivity features for remote management of its power grid. ABB’s complete low-voltage solution improved the project’s delivery time by 35 percent and reduced engineering costs by around 60 percent, due to its integrated SCADA functionality.

Giampiero Frisio, managing director of ABB’s Protection and Connection business, said, “The solution developed for EmQuartier demonstrates why ABB is the technology leader in low-voltage energy. Building operators need solutions that make energy management easier and that help reduce total operating costs – ABB’s complete solutions simplify the whole process for everybody: panel builders and system integrators save time and money while making the end-user’s operations simpler to manage, safer, more reliable and energy efficient. By pioneering the introduction of more integrated, intuitive and connected low-voltage solutions, ABB is taking power and productivity to the next level.”

The EmQuartier is a 250,000-square-metre luxury shopping and entertainment venue and a key part of the Mall Group’s multibillion Baht transformation of Bangkok’s business district. ABB developed the centre’s low-voltage network in partnership with local panel builder PMK Group. Emax 2 circuit breakers’ built-in sensors and connectivity, configured with Ekip View supervision software enable remote monitoring, management and control of the low-voltage network at the shopping mall.

Emax 2’s connectivity features enable it to integrate into a wide array of automated systems.

Emax 2’s connectivity features enable it to integrate into a wide array of automated systems.

With each node in the electrical distribution network connected, everything from energy consumption to trend analysis and testing can be managed remotely. The air circuit breakers’ intuitive touchscreen user interface supports ten different languages, including Thai, helping make the network simpler to manage.

Chanapatt Pattaramaetakul, chief marketing officer of PMK Group, said: “The EmQuartier is a landmark in Bangkok’s economic development – and the development of its low-voltage network demanded a different level of innovation and quality. Working closely with ABB from the outset enabled PMK to offer a smarter solution in considerably less time.”

The solution for EmQuartier uses Emax2 circuit breakers, which can monitor, manage and even limit power consumption. Emax 2’s connectivity features enable it to integrate into a wide array of automated systems so that facility managers can receive alerts and communicate remotely via a tablet. ABB’s Ekip View supervision software connects more than 100+ Emax2 air circuit breakers with all the molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) and other devices, like miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and multimeters, as well as the mall’s central monitoring system.

With each node in the electrical distribution network connected, everything from energy consumption to trend analysis and testing can be managed remotely.

With each node in the electrical distribution network connected, everything from energy consumption to trend analysis and testing can be managed remotely.

ABB is partnering with panel builders and system integrators worldwide to support the introduction of smarter low-voltage power grids that make site management more effective and cost-efficient. Such systems can be deployed at a single site or multiple sites and supervised at a central location. Collecting detailed data from each device at a site enables operators to compare different time windows, or similar time windows at different plants. Monitoring the status of assets for issues such as contact wear, life expectancy, alarms or circuit breaker position, with notifications sent to mobile devices, can ensure more timely interventions.

Green Building Developments Gets Boost from Carrier Singapore’s and Toshiba’s Newest Variable Refrigerant Flow System

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The SMMS-e is the next-gen model of the Toshiba VRF system.

The SMMS-e is the next-gen model of the Toshiba VRF system.

Carrier Singapore Pte Ltd. (Carrier Singapore) announced today the launch of the Toshiba Super Modular Multi System-e (SMMS-e), a next-generation variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system that combines industry-leading energy efficiency with expanded capacity loads and a smaller modular footprint.

 

The SMMS-e is the next gen model of the Toshiba VRF system and boasts a number of industry-leading system enhancements, including an expanded single outdoor unit capacity, as well as an expanded combination capacity.

 

An ideal system to support green building development, the SMMS is designed to help meet increased demand for high-efficiency building systems that use less energy and lower the overall carbon footprint of buildings. Driven by high-volume compressors and Toshiba’s high-performance inverter, the product is said to be one of the most energy efficient in the industry.

The SMMS-e has a single unit outdoor capacity of up to 22HP, which enables building owners to save on the footprint occupied by each system – with a reduced number of combined modular units necessary to obtain a high capacity.

Partial load performance for higher energy efficiency
SMMS-e is the only product in the heating, ventilating and cooling industry that has obtained a European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ESEER) of at least 7.0 for all available chassis options – both on a stand-alone and combination basis. It has also achieved one of the highest-class nominal efficiency ratios in the industry: 6.39 for EER with the 8HP module.

Incorporated in Toshiba’s new VRF system design are three cutting-edge technologies that deliver industry-leading energy-efficient performance:

  • Compressor: Application of a diamond-like carbon coating to the rotary vane of the DC twin rotary compressor successfully reduces friction and provides an expanded RPS range from 15RPS to 115RPS, while ensuring reliable operation.
  • Heat Exchanger: The new and enhanced heat exchanger design improves overall heat exchange efficiency by using a smaller tube diameter to reduce the pitch of the tubes, increasing the number of tube rows.
  • Accumulator: The new refrigerant system is designed with a modified outlet tube, which improves refrigerant circulation and capacity.

High-volume single outdoor unit modules rated as one of the industry’s best
Toshiba 3The expanded capacities on both the standalone (22HP) and combination bases (60HP) enable the reduction in the number of outdoor unit modules and the labour hours required for piping, wiring and hoisting of units onto the top of the building for installation.

Toshiba’s standalone model has one of the smallest footprints among models of the same class in the industry. The two-propeller fan system was newly developed for the SMMS-e to minimise noise.

 

 

 

 

Easier service and maintenance

A contactless communication unit offers ease of service and maintenance.

A contactless communication unit offers ease of service and maintenance.

The SMMS-e is the first system in the industry to include a contactless communication unit as its standard equipment offering, designed for ease of service and maintenance. The SMMS-e is compatible with near field communication, a protocol for contactless communication between devices and smartphones. The SMMS Wave Tool application can be downloaded from a dedicated website and installed on the smartphone.

During installation and service, customers can obtain service and maintenance data such as system configuration and error code history through this application without removing the front panel of the outdoor unit. This feature can be used even when the outdoor unit is not connected to a power source. The data obtained via the SMMS Wave Tool may be sent via e-mail, which facilitates communication between on-premise personnel and colleagues in the office.

Expanded Flexibility in Piping Design
toshiba 2With the SMMS-e, up to 18 units of8HP module indoor units can now be connected. When the SMMS-e modules are used in combination, the number of connectable indoor units is also improved to 64 units.

The SMMS-e also features improvements on maximum piping length; the maximum pipe length between the outdoor unit and the farthest indoor unit is increased to 235 metres, while the maximum height difference between the indoor and outdoor units is extended to 40 metres, both of which are best in the industry. The piping length from the first branch joint to the farthest indoor unit is also extended to up to 90 metres. These enhancements provide the utmost flexibility in design and installation.

Carrier Singapore distributes Toshiba air conditioning products in Singapore as part of a global alliance agreement between the two businesses. For more information, log on to www.carrier.com.sg.

Johnson Controls Helps Hong Kong Landmark Sun Hung Kai Centre Exceed Energy Savings Goal

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Sun Hung Kai Properties is a pioneer in the application of new green technologies.

Sun Hung Kai Properties is a pioneer in the application of new green
technologies.

Johnson Controls’ comprehensive building solution has enabled 34-year-old Sun Hung Kai Centre, a 53-storey mixed-use development and headquarters of leading developer Sun Hung Kai Properties, to achieve energy and cost savings of around 10 percent, and reduce its carbon footprint by 300 tonnes per year. This translates to annual savings of close to USD 75,000 with an anticipated return on investment of only two years.

One of the most valuable real estate developers in Asia, Sun Hung Kai Properties is a pioneer in the application of new green technologies. Sun Hung Kai Centre is among the few buildings in Hong Kong that has achieved the “Excellent” certificate awarded by the Hong Kong Environment Technology Centre, as well as achieved global certification from the International Standards Organisation (ISO) for its accomplishments in improving quality and environmental management.

Sun Hung Kai Properties set out to further reduce the building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint by five percent with minimal disruption to the occupants. Working with Johnson Controls, the company doubled its energy savings goal.

At the centre of the Johnson Controls’ project is the optimisation of the building’s central chilled water plant, which typically consumes about 40 percent of the total energy consumption in the building. Johnson Controls’ Central Plant Optimisation 10 (CPO10) software, integrated with its Metasys ® building management system and YORK® YK centrifugal chillers incorporate best practices from world-class chiller plants to optimise plant configurations. As a result, chillers with different tonnage and starters can be utilised depending on building load and ambient conditions.

Johnson Controls also introduced its proprietary fault-diagnostic software, Connected Services, which allows for remote monitoring of chillers round-the-clock. With that, Sun Hung Kai Centre receives real-time information on its chiller plant performance, as well as timely insights through monthly, customised reports indicating the health of the chillers.

“Johnson Controls gave us valuable counsel and with their integrated solutions, we were able to exceed our energy savings goal. We are deeply impressed by their level of expertise and professional service,” said Ricky Kwan, Head of Technical Services, S.H.K. Real Estate Management Company Ltd.

Big Ass Fans expands into South and Southeast Asia with Singapore subsidiary

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3) Big ass fans pics

SINGAPORE — US-based Big Ass Fans, the world’s largest manufacturer of energy efficient fans, continues to expand globally and is now better serving the South and Southeast Asia markets via its Singapore subsidiary. Big Ass Fans Singapore brings a green building technology that works to the region, where sub-tropical climates help drive demand for energy efficient means of cooling.

 

Big Ass Fans Singapore is offering a wide range of fan products to the region from large diameter High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans to the popular Haiku ceiling fan, Energy Star rated as the world’s most efficient ceiling fan. Big Ass Fans product range covers any space from residential and commercial to industrial and agricultural applications, and allows for the elimination or reduction of air conditioning, thus providing real energy savings without reducing comfort.

 

Big Ass Fans are not simply a means for a more comfortable and sustainable living, but the residential and commercial fans are also designed to enhance the overall design of the spaces where they are installed. Case in point, the Haiku ceiling fan has won dozens of international design awards to include red dot and most recently a Design for Asia award. With sleek, modern designs, it is no wonder why leading designers and architects have a strong preference for specifying Big Ass Fans.

For more information, visit www.BigAssFans.com

 

Johnson Controls joins White House discussion on reducing the use of high-global warming potential refrigerants

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Company commits to $50 million in R&D spending over three years focused on developing and expanding its low-global warming potential portfolio of heating and cooling products

SINGAPORE– Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, today will join private and public sector industry leaders in a White House roundtable discussion to phase down the use of high global warming refrigerants, which are used in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Johnson Controls commits to spend over $50 million over the next three years to develop new products and improve and expand its existing low-global warming potential (GWP) portfolio.

The President’s Climate Action Plan highlights the urgent need to reduce emissions caused by some hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, and is seeking goals, commitments and partnerships that catalyze the transition to more climate-friendly alternatives, where practical. According to the White House, emissions of high global-warming-potential HFCs – potent greenhouse gases – are expected to nearly double from current levels of 1.5 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 3 percent by 2020, and triple by 2030 if action is not taken.

“We applaud the Administration and the regulatory agencies for taking a collaborative approach with industry to manage the phase-down in use of HFCs,” said Laura Wand, vice president, chiller solutions, at Johnson Controls’ Building Efficiency business. “

At the event, Johnson Controls will stress the importance of considering the energy efficiency of the system when selecting a new refrigerant, not just its low global warming potential. Up to 98 percent of the total CO2 equivalent emissions over the life of air conditioning equipment can be due to energy use alone, not the global warming potential of the refrigerant contained. According to Wand, some new refrigerants being released on the global market can in fact lower equipment efficiency which will have a negative impact on the environment.

“The energy efficiency makes the greatest impact on the total carbon-footprint of a system over its life,” said Wand. “Therefore, when making choices on refrigerants, we cannot sacrifice energy efficiency.”

Johnson Controls has advocated for the interests of its customers during discussions with industry associations and legislators on the regulations and standards related to refrigerants. Similarly, the refrigerants that it chooses for its products will best fit the needs of its customers and the environment based on safety, energy efficiency, reliability, availability and cost.

The company has already spent more than $26 million over the past 3 years in the development of low global warming potential technologies.

ABB and Philips Join Forces

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ABB and Philips join forces in commercial building automation for energy efficiency and increased functionality

Philips’ lighting systems will connect seamlessly with ABB’s building device controls, reducing the cost of renovation of mid-and small-sized commercial buildings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – ABB, a leading power and automation technology provider, and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), the global leader in lighting, today announced a collaboration to simplify the integration of connected lighting systems and building device control for commercial buildings. Combining Philips’ wealth of expertise in LED lighting systems with  ABB’s knowledge of building automation will benefit systems integrator, commercial building owners, facility managers and the people who work in these buildings.

Philips’ connected lighting system will interface seamlessly with ABB’s automation software to offer the ability to control a commercial environment including lighting, blinds, building access and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).  The introduction of the solution from ABB and Philips will make it much simpler to reconfigure spaces. In a hotel this could mean altering the lighting scene after combining several separate rooms into a large meeting room, just through one click.  Or in a shopping complex, a building manager can simply reconfigure the access, HVAC and lighting when a single unit is split into smaller ones.

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting, said: “Philips’ LED lighting combined with controls can deliver up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional lighting, while providing high quality light for a comfortable, more productive work environment. Together ABB and Philips will support our customers by making it easier to introduce the latest technology to drive energy efficiency and increased functionality.”

Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s Low Voltage Products division, added: “The future is the ability to reconfigure spaces at the touch of a button, while reducing energy consumption. ABB and Philips will work together to offer a simple, scalable solution to streamline the introduction of this technology in commercial buildings.’’

Currently, re-configuring different building systems requires entering lines of code for each separate element.  By enabling the control of all the different elements of building automation through compatible software, building management is simpler and more affordable to install and maintain.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting constitute 70% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings and the introduction of building device control can improve energy efficiency by approximately 30%. Upgrading to more energy efficient systems represents a significant opportunity for building managers to save on operational costs.