Posts

GROHE Innovations Promote Sustainable Water Management

Reading Time: 2 minutes

For GROHE, water is not only a source of joy, but also a precious resource. Globally, access to clean drinking water is not a matter of course; it often takes a back seat to public perception given the good water supply of industrialised countries in the Western part of the world. On 22 March 2019, the World Water Day initiated by the United Nations wants to remind people of this issue, indorsing this year’s motto of “Leaving No One Behind – Water and Sanitation for Everyone”.

Sustainable Use of Water Is an Integral Part of the GROHE Brand
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sanitary fittings, GROHE’s mission is to develop intelligent technologies that enable people to consciously and sustainably use water. The World Water Day’s approach regarding the availability and sustainable management of water is an integral part of the GROHE brand’s sustainability goals.

“GROHE’s goal is to design and manufacture products that enable users to safely and responsibly use the resources of water and energy. In addition, we are constantly striving to conserve resources within and beyond our operations,” said Thomas Fuhr, GROHE executive director operations and responsible for sustainability at board level.

Water Systems for a Sustainable Water Experience Without Plastic
The water system GROHE Blue Home offers still, medium or sparkling water that is tasty, filtered and chilled to the optimum drinking temperature and comes directly from the striking kitchen faucet, combining convenience and enjoyment both elegantly and sustainably: Time- consuming water purchases, annoying hauling of water crates or disposable plastic bottles are a thing of the past.

With GROHE Blue, a family of four avoids an average of 600 plastic bottles per year, which also benefits the environment: CO2 consumption is reduced by approximately 61 percent compared to bottled water and there is less plastic and packaging waste.

Filter Faucets for Safe Drinking Water from the Tap Worldwide
While it is a matter of taste in many regions of the world, there are also countries where water directly from the tap cannot be used for every purpose due to its insufficient water quality. Therefore, bottled water often replaces available tap water when it comes to everyday use in the kitchen. GROHE Blue Pure filter faucets feature state-of-the-art filter technology provided in two different versions by the BWT brand, offering maximum taste and safety directly from the faucet.

The Ultrasafe version eliminates chlorine, biocides, pesticides and bacteria, making water that was not drinkable in regions with poor water quality now safe to drink. GROHE Blue Pure allows unrestricted use of tap water provided from official utility suppliers in any kitchen or bathroom for applications without any restrictions.

Intelligent Water Management for Sensible Use of Water
With intelligent water security systems like GROHE Sense and Sense Guard, GROHE has set the foundation for a smart water security and water management system. A future groundbreaking innovation will allow the water consumption of a house or apartment to be exactly trackable and customers with input of their water and energy prices to receive a precise statement of their costs.

This not only ensures full control of the valuable resource of water, but also offers the opportunity to adapt user patterns and to use water more consciously. Hence, the GROHE brand not only cares about cautiously using water but also offers customers the opportunity to make conscious decisions about their daily use of the precious resource by applying digitised product properties.

Paya Lebar Quarter Achieves Highest Rating for New Green Mark Standards

Reading Time: 4 minutes

PLQ Commercial Towers

Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease, a $3.2 billion mixed-use development, is the first in Singapore to achieve a Platinum rating under the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) latest version of its Green Mark scheme for new non-residential buildings, Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings NRB: 2015.

Currently benchmarked as the highest sustainability standard for non-residential buildings in Singapore, the GM NRB: 2015 Platinum has been awarded to Paya Lebar Quarter’s three office towers and retail mall. The development’s residential component, Park Place Residences at PLQ has also been awarded the BCA Green Mark Platinum for Residential Buildings.

GM 2015 addresses sustainability in a balanced and holistic manner which rewards overall performance of buildings that are climate responsive, energy effective, resource efficient, smarter and have healthier indoor environments.1 The assessment criteria also reflects a strong recognition of sustainable design features that boost the health and well-being of building occupants.

Paya Lebar Quarter’s sustainability vision focuses on creating an active, green and engaged environment by putting people at the centre of its design. The development offers more than 100,000 square feet of green public spaces, seamlessly linked with the Park Connector Network. Its public space design which fuses retail, entertainment and leisure experiences allows the community to engage in a diverse range of activities and the vast, open spaces where they can relax and mingle makes Paya Lebar Quarter a vibrant, evolving place.

Mr. Richard Paine, Managing Director of Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease, commented: “Lendlease places people at the heart of our vision to create the best places. We are deeply honoured and encouraged by this award, recognising our holistic approach towards sustainability which is aligned to BCA’s Green Mark evolvement placing greater focus on the health and well-being of building occupants, energy effectiveness, climatically contextual design, smart buildings and resource use. We will continue to create inclusive urban living spaces that redefine the way people work, live and lead truly connected lives.”

PLQ Public Realm

Paya Lebar Quarter recognises that an efficient performing building will also result in operational savings enhancing property valuation on top of conserving the environment. As such, the precinct has incorporated various features to efficiently use resources throughout the building’s life cycle.

With the implementation of high efficiency water fittings along with monitoring and leak detection systems, the development expects to save over 40 percent of water annually during operations. The development will also achieve over 30 percent in energy savings, in comparison to a reference building designed for code compliance. The energy savings stem from a variety of design solutions, from high performance facades to the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and more efficient air-conditioning systems.

Future retail and office tenants will also benefit from Lendlease’s Green Lease program, which encourages tenants to adopt sustainable fittings, equipment and mindsets for operational savings and providing a healthier environment for their employees in their tenancies.

The project’s focus on health and wellbeing on top of energy efficiency is also evident from other progressive initiatives throughout Paya Lebar Quarter. The lush landscaping resulted in a precinct-wide Green Plot Ratio of 6.93 and the precinct wide tree-positive strategy means there will be three times more trees as compared to the original site. Paya Lebar Quarter will also introduce some of the best active mobility provisions in Singapore, including end-of-trip facilities for office and retail tenants, ample bicycle parking spaces, and almost one kilometre of dedicated mobility routes seamlessly connected to the wider Park Connector Network.

PLQ Promenade

Paya Lebar Quarter’s Green Mark achievements are the latest in a series of sustainability milestones, testament to Lendlease’s commitment to creating liveable cities that positively contribute to the social, economic and environmental fabrics across urban landscapes. In addition to Green Mark, Paya Lebar Quarter is also the first private mixed-use development to be designed and certified under the Public Utilities Board (PUB)’s Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme through the incorporation of water sensitive urban design principles.

Lendlease’s mixed-use development in Jurong, Jem®, one of the first mixed-use developments to achieve Green Mark Platinum Version 4.0 in 2012; its 313@somerset mall along Orchard Road is the first shopping mall in Singapore to be recertified under the Green Mark Platinum Award (Existing Building Version 3.0) in 2014; Parkway Parade is one of the first mixed use developments in Singapore to have achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum Existing Building (Non-Residential) criteria in 2010. Lendlease has also won 50 Sustainability awards to date for other projects in Singapore.

Xylem technology to deliver clean water for industrial and drinking water use in Singapore

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SINGAPORE – Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, has been awarded a contract worth more than $500,000 to supply ultraviolet (UV) disinfection solutions to a major municipal water reclamation facility in Singapore. As a result of the extensive treatment including Xylem’s Wedeco UV disinfection solution, the city’s industrial sector and communities living in the east of the city, will benefit from an additional 228,000 tons (50 million gallons) of reclaimed water per day.

 

The second Changi Water Reclamation Plant will include microfiltration, reverse osmosis and Xylem’s Wedeco Spektron 2000e UV disinfection system and is an initiative of the Singapore Water Reclamation Study, also known as the NEWater Study. NEWater is high-grade reclaimed water produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, making it ultra-clean and safe to drink. Currently up to 30 percent of Singapore’s water needs are met by reused water. NEWater is working to meet 55 percent of Singapore’s water demand with reclaimed water by 2060.

 

Johnson Tang, Managing Director, UESH Holdings Pte Ltd, the company responsible for constructing the new facility, said, “This second Changi water reclamation plant is another important step toward Singapore securing the majority of its water needs from reused water. Xylem’s Wedeco Spektron 2000e UV system delivered on the project requirements for a sustainable and efficient wastewater disinfection option with a low life cycle cost.

 

Robin Wong, General Manager, Xylem Singapore and Regional Marketing Director, Greater Asia for Xylem said, “Singapore is at the cutting edge of water reuse. As a company focused on developing innovative, efficient solutions to the global water challenges, we are proud to support this latest step in the nation’s journey towards increased water reuse.

 

Xylem’s Wedeco Spektron 2000e UV disinfection systems feature low-pressure, high-power 600 watt Ecoray UV lamp technology, reducing lamp count by 60 percent, minimizing maintenance and lowering energy costs. The systems are designed for maximum effectiveness against waterborne pathogens and have been extensively tested, meeting the requirements of recognized regulations for safe and sustainable water disinfection, including the German DVGW directives, the US EPA’s UVDGM and the NWRI Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse (2012).

 

The second Changi Water Reclamation Plant will be operational in 2016.

Xylem Affirmed Singapore as their Greater Asia Headquarters

Reading Time: 3 minutes

SINGAPORE – Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, today announced at Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2014 that Singapore has been chosen as the company’s Greater Asia headquarters. The regional headquarters will drive continued geographic and market expansion in the region, reflecting Singapore’s leading position in the water industry. SIWW, which takes place from June 1 to 5, also marks Patrick Decker’s first official visit to the region as Xylem’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Our Let’s Solve Water” tagline is an inspirational call to action for our employees. It’s also an invitation to like-minded partners around the world to join us in developing solutions to one of the world’s most urgent issues – the need for clean, safe water and sanitation,” said Decker. “Xylem is focused on developing and growing water markets, and we are continuing to expand our presence where demand for water is escalating due to fast-expanding populations. Much of this growth is occurring right here in Asia, which is why we are proud to announce that Singapore will join China as one of Xylem’s regional headquarters.”

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries integrate as a single economic community in 2015 and embark on key infrastructure projects, Xylem is well positioned as a technology and equipment provider focused on helping the region meet its
present and future water needs. Xylem’s presence in Mainland China continues to grow, with two factories, research and development capabilities and a business headquarters located in Shanghai. Through these two designated headquarter locations in Asia, Xylem will
be well positioned to steer and drive growth in Greater Asia and Mainland China.
“Our headquarters in Singapore will oversee, manage and function as our local ‘center of excellence’ as we continue to drive growth in the region,” said Allan Hendry, regional director for Greater Asia. “Locally, we are proud to be partnering with PUB, Singapore’s national water agency on research and development programs, as well as with other local companies in the areas of smart water networks and offshore and marine applications.”
“We are delighted that Xylem has affirmed Singapore as their Greater Asia headquarters. Over the years, Singapore has been growing its water industry with research and innovation as the key drivers,” said Chua Soon Guan, PUB’s deputy chief executive of policy and
development. “Through a slew of funding opportunities, commercialisation programmes and test-bedding opportunities, we offer a conducive platform that drives cutting-edge water solutions. This expansion of activities by a major global water company like Xylem reinforces Singapore’s position as a global hydrohub, especially in Asia. Xylem will join more than 130 water companies and 28 research institutes spanning the entire spectrum of the water value chain who have presence in Singapore,” According to the Singapore Economic Development Board, Singapore will see the water sector’s contribution to its GDP rise to $1.7 billion in 2015 – from $0.5 billion in 2003. Local jobs for the sector are expected to double to about 11,000, and will largely comprise professional and skilled positions.
Xylem is a founding partner of Singapore International Water Week and has participated in the meeting since 2008. The five-day event will take place at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Hotel, in conjunction with the World Cities Summit (WCS) and CleanEnviro Summit
Singapore (CESS). Xylem’s exhibition space, located within the Sands Expo & Convention Center, will feature Xylem’s “Virtual Resilient City,” as well as selected technology from the company’s portfolio of products and brands. Throughout the week, there will also be product demonstrations and videos showcasing the company’s innovative capabilities.
As part of the company’s participation in SIWW 2014, Xylem’s President and CEO Patrick Decker will be a panellist at the TechXchange forum along with other industry leaders. He will also speak at the Water Leaders Summit. For more information on SIWW 2014 and
individual events open to the press, visit http://www.siww.com.sg.

About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the last two years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide.
For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

Energy Efficient Centrifugal Pump – Xylem e-HM Series

Reading Time: 2 minutes

xylem e-hm

 

Xylem’s new e-HM series is a range of stainless steel, horizontal, multi-stage Lowara pumps specifically designed for residential applications.

 

The new e-HM pump is based on a unique hydraulic design and boasts superior performance and efficiency characteristics which significantly lower lifecycle costs and increase energy savings. When combined with Xylem Hydrovar, the e-HM pump can offer up to a further 30% energy saving compared to previous models.

 

The e-HM series has pump flow of up to 29 m3/h and can perform to a maximum pressure of 16 bars. The many configurations available mean the pump can meet specific needs of a range of residential applications such as water supply and pressure boosting through to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.

 

The e-HM pump comes with superior levels of Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) and a minimised impeller axial thrust which results in a longer bearing life. Due to the high grade stainless steel used, Xylem’s new pump has WRAS/ ACS/ AS4020/ NSF61 approvals and can be used to pump potable water while providing superior corrosion resistance.

 

This e-HM pump is available as a single unit for installers, or as part of a “ready to pump” package, with either a tank and fixed speed controls or variable speed controls, for ‘turnkey’ solutions. The fixed speed option offers a basic solution with a larger tank. The variable speed option allows the speed of the pump to be adjusted in relation to requirement, noticeably reducing energy consumption. The variable speed option also prevents the development of water hammer when the pump system is stopped.

 

For more information please visit www.lowara.com .

 

About Xylem.

Xylem (NYSE: XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater problems. Xylem is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with 2012 annual revenues of $3.8 billion and 12,700 employees worldwide. In 2012, Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions worldwide.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all — that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit Xylem.