Changing the Game

4 Posts tagged with the emissions tag

Last month, I participated in a panel discussion at Cleantech North on partnering for the establishment and growth of Cleantech applications and investments. Truth to be told: I’m no expert in Cleantech – but am certainly aware of its importance for addressing environmental sustainability while providing positive financial returns for investors and customers.

 

Cleantech refers to new technology and related business models that provide superior performance at lower cost; reduces or eliminates negative environmental impact; and improves the productive and responsible use of natural resources. Cleantech is mostly equated with renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, hydropower, biofuels) but includes many other appliances that are now more energy efficient.

 

Being part of one of the largest technology companies in the world, I see the unequivocal relevance of IT in Cleantech and the significance of partnerships in the pursuit of economically sustainable innovation that addresses the many environmental challenges we face on Earth.

 

(1)   IT is Cleantech. Although technology is often accused of being a great contributor to energy consumption and inefficiency, it certainly can have much greater impact on the betterment of our environment (if you pick the right solutions from the right company). With the deployment of virtualization, we centralize the compute power and subsequent energy load—while delivering distributed and improved services and applications. This consolidation of IT functions has a tremendous impact on the overall environmental footprint, while providing greater flexibility and resiliency.

 

Furthermore, the use of business video (TelePresence) has a tremendous impact on businesses carbon footprint if make it avoid financial and environmental costly business and commuter travel. Ultra-high Definition and easy to use video communications will bring people together virtually without the hardship on the environment. At Cisco alone we have been able to reduce our carbon emissions by 40% thanks to the use of TelePresence and the elimination of business travel. Oh, and by the way, it also saved the company more than $1B in productivity gains and travel expense reduction.

 

Lastly, IT devices become more intelligent and energy efficient themselves while delivering more powerful capabilities; the IP Network has now the ability to improve energy performance of its connected IT edge devices (with EnergyWise).

 

(2)   Everything IT touches can be Green. The positive impact IT can have on the environment goes beyond its own components and devices. As we live in a world where everything becomes connected, we now can use the IP Network (the underlying nervous system of all IT) to monitor, measure, control, and optimize the energy consumption of everything we do, everything we use, and everything we touch. Consider the intelligent optimization of the Smart Grid (with renewable energy end-points) as we understand what and how much to deliver when and where, while harmonizing everything that connects to the grid.

 

Within buildings we see the converge of HVAC, lighting, and other building systems (that aren’t necessarily IT systems—yet) over the single IP Network which now provides the ability to improve the overall energy footprint. Our mobile devices can consume real-time data of our environmental impact and provide us with strategies to contribute to its reduction.

 

This latter argument requires partnering….and lots of it. It’s the governments, venture capital world and companies like ours that need to embrace the many innovators out there that are seeking to play a role in the improvement of our environment. If we can spend Billions on bail-outs and Trillions on wars, we certainly should be able to find the capital (financial and intellectual) to spearhead new technologies and business models that can make our world a better (and greener) place. In turn, we would all welcome financial returns and an eco-system that will help us grow greater business opportunities and create new industries and jobs. Cleantech is good for everyone: IT is good for Cleantech and Cleantech can’t do without IT.

1,701 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: innovation, green, energy, cities, demand, communities, connected, smart_load, cisco_energywise, engagement, huijbregts, emissions, cleantech

Last month Cisco launched its UPoE (Universal Power over Ethernet), delivering up to 60W to networked end-devices. Now, I am not very technical myself to understand how this all works, but I certainly can see the business implications (for every IT professional and business, but also the developers of buildings and communities) as the journey of PoE continues to develop.

 

Power over Ethernet (PoE)  is a technique that delivers electrical power over Local Area Network cabling to networked devices. PoE itself isn’t new (but not old either). In 2000 we were able to deliver 7W over the network, called “Inline Power”. The term PoE was coined in 2003 when the IEEE approved a standard (IEEE 802.3af) for PoE up to 15.4W. Only 4 years ago PoE was able to deliver 30W to networked devices, enough to power IP Phones, wireless access points, but also video surveillance cameras and access controllers. Last year, Delta Controls was the first building automation company to launch its PoE IP HVAC controller to the market which was premiered at Carleton University in Ottawa. This year, Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE) leapfrogged the industry to provide 60W per switch port to enable new deployment options in next-generation infrastructure.

 

So, how is all this relevant for those outside of IT (especially for those that build buildings and communities)? UPoE will cut capital and operational cost; simplify facilities maintenance and management; reduce environmental footprint; and provide for future-ready physical environments.

 

(1) As “the Internet of Things” becomes part of the DNA of an infrastructure project (as the 4th Utility), we’ll see more and more devices connect natively to the Network (from IP Phones to LED lighting, HVAC controllers, TelePresence, LCD displays, etc.). Once connected to the Network, many of these devices can, should, and will be able to be powered through this same network. The elimination (or reduction) of electrical cabling and the labor related to it will have a significant positive impact on the capital cost of a networked building. How many power plugs do you need at a desk if your phone, TelePresence unit, and your laptop are going to be powered through the same network that operates them? Consider $300 per door (or more) savings for eliminating the electrical provisioning for each access controller above your ceiling panels.

 

(2) Operational maintenance and management (including Moves, Adds, and Changes or MACs) of networked devices that are powered over Ethernet become much more efficient and cost effective. Especially if you extend the PoE infrastructure with available kinetic technologies (i.e. a kinetic light switch does not need ANY wiring as its kinetic energy communicates over a PoE wireless network) the possibilities of quick customization and change of our physical environments becomes more effortless and instant. One would not need an electrician (as we know them) anymore to add or rewire electrical infrastructure to accommodate new locations for networked devices. A video surveillance camera, LCD display, or LED light fixture can be placed (and powered) in places where no electrical wiring is provided.

 

(3) It is a well established fact that much of our energy loss is due to the many up and down conversions that are needed to move electrons from the power plant to the low-voltage end devices in your building (consider how hot the power plug for your laptop can get). If you add the possibility of adding solar energy or other alternative energy sources, you now can leverage the network to generate in DC and deliver in DC, thus eliminating energy loss due to conversions. Also, the Network is optimized to monitor, manage and control the power delivery and consumption to all its networked devices (see: EnergyWise). UPoE makes energy optimization and reduction part of the buildings DNA.

 

(4) Lastly (yet, there are many more benefits that I’ll discuss in future blogs), UPoE adds to the future-readiness of a networked building. We don’t know what systems and devices will be required for the performance and operation of our physical environments. What we do know is that the Network is the new lifeline of such environments; and end devices will consume less and less energy (maybe 60W or less—wouldn’t that be interesting)?

 

This means that the networks we are building today are able to power, enhance, and enable the features and functionalities of tomorrow.

Maybe it’s time to re-write MasterFormat Division 26? (and consequently also 23, 25, 27, 28, 33).

 

www.rickhuijbregts.com

2,208 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: innovation, technology, s+cc, ict, smart_grid, networks, smart_building, transformation, green, energy, sustainability, buildings, systems, change, s+cre, connected, smart_cities, cisco_energywise, smart_connected_communities, productivity, rick, emissions

Last week I attended two industry event: BOMA International in Washington and the ULI National Policy and Practice forum in Chicago (on “The New Transparency in Real Estate: Sustainability Metrics, Asset Performance, and Public Disclosure”). Both excellent events with topics that we probably wouldn’t be discussing at either event only five years ago. “Information” or [performance data] has become a mainstream topic in the real estate sector that now intrigues the most skeptical and least technology savvy individuals in the industry. Shareholders are demanding more detailed performance data as they assess risk and make investment decisions; tenants are demanding more detailed performance data as they need to comply with corporate policies and regulations; and in some instances also governments are demanding more detailed performance data as it has code or tax implications. Consequently, landlords require more detailed performance data, merely to meet the rapidly changing requirements of their property stakeholders.

 

Interesting studies were presented by both JCI (Institute for Building Efficiency) and Nils Kok (fellow country-man and visiting professor at Berkeley University—interesting blog to follow). Nils cited a study in where he concluded that LEED buildings have on average 7% higher effective rents and 13% increased property value. Although at both events it was clear that “green” [or environmental sustainability] was main topic of discussion; in my humble opinion we missed an opportunity to involve the other critical aspects of true performance. A vacant building that is incredibly energy efficient is wasteful. A building with lowest carbon footprint that reduces workforce productivity is shameful. A LEED building with low operating cost without any internet connectivity to the rest of world is useless. True performance data would constantly (yes; ideally in real-time) present the balance between environmental, economic, corporate, and social sustainability. It may well be the case that you may have to sacrifice a little on one aspect in order to optimize another.

 

Buildings that demonstrate the perfect harmony of all pillars of sustainability will outperform its less optimized peers (hmm. It’s like nature: see my blog on biomimicry). It is important that we recognize the different meanings of “property value” (a sales price for the owner; workforce productivity for the tenant; easy/cost of operations for the landlord, etc) and use all available data (green, utilization, economic, etc) to define the true drivers for high performance buildings. Maybe I do this during my summer vacation

1,653 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: innovation, transformation, energy, sustainability, buildings, change, data, s+cre, communities, smart, behaviour, huijbregts, productivity, rick, nils, kok, emissions, jci, performance

Carbon Disaster

Posted by Rick Huijbregts Jun 20, 2011

According to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency [IEA], greenhouse gas emissions have increased by a record amount last year to the highest carbon output in history. Last year, a record 30.6 Giga-tones of carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuel, a rise of 1.6 Gt on 2009 [IEA estimates]. Emissions from energy fell slightly between 2008 and 2009, from 29.3 Gt to 29Gt due to the worst global economic recession in 80 years. The IEA has calculated that if the world is to escape from most damaging effects, annual energy-related emissions should be no more than 32 Gt by 2020. If this year’s emissions rise by as much as 2010’s, that limit will be exceeded nine years ahead of schedule [the Guardian, June 9].

 

Take into the consideration the status of the supply (generation) side of energy: 80% of power stations like to be in use in 2020 are either already built or under construction. These account for 11.2 Gt emissions (out of 13.7 Gt in the electricity sector) that are “locked in”; and thus savings will have to be found elsewhere. Also, the world is changing its mind on nuclear power after the Tsunami damage at the Fukushima power plant in Japan. As a result, Germany already halted its reactor program, and other countries are reconsidering nuclear power. Nuclear is one of the major technologies for generating electricity without carbon dioxide.

 

These are glooming facts; especially if you take into consideration the mass urbanization of the rapidly growing world population. More than 70% of all energy today is consumed in cities; and it is expected that in the years to come more than 500 M will migrate to cities to seek economic and social prosperity. The American Institute of Architects [AIA] has predicted that of all the functional real estate that we require in 2030 to accommodate such dramatic shifts , more than 70% does not exist today. The anticipated build-out that we require to support the growing and urbanized global population will even further jeopardize chances to salvage our environmental predicament.

 

Now, I happen to work for a company that has a strong vision and available capabilities to address or impact many of the problems in front of us: from generation to distribution with smart grids, to consumption and supply with smart buildings. And we’re certainly not alone: our partners show no less impressive innovation and capability to contribute towards the solution. What’s truly missing is the coming together of industry, institutions, and government, and the alignment of investment and focus to get stuff done—leadership, ownership, policy, direction. It’s time for the “Urban Electronic Nervous System” as Martijn Moerbeek calls it, to assist in monitoring, managing, controlling, optimizing, and minimizing the flow of everything: people, electrons, water, traffic, etc. The will and innovation is there. Technology is the foundation. Let’s put it to work.

829 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: innovation, technology, smart_grid, energy, sustainability, demand, change, carbon, communities, smart, smart_city, smart_cities, smart_connected_communities, huijbregts, rick, emissions

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