Integrated solution for energy use in buildings, data centers pitched

WITH Cebu being one of the cities having high growth in the country, a global energy management company is focusing on Cebu in offering solutions for energy efficiency in buildings and data centers.

Phillipe Reveilhac, Schneider Electric Philippines president, told reporters yesterday that part of the company’s strategy is to get more businesses in this area to invest in energy management.

He introduced EcoStruxure, an architecture system that manages power, machine processes, information technology and security in a single integrated solution.

“Energy is one of the most critical issues facing the world today,” he said, noting that energy consumption is expected to double by 2050, faster than the development of new technology.

Such issues challenge cities like Cebu to reduce their carbon emissions while managing the growing energy demand, he said.

He pointed out that out of 100 units of fossil fuels used, only 22 are efficiently used, the rest getting lost during transmission, distribution and inefficient use.

For businesses, this means making sure personnel practice practical energy- saving tips like turning off and unplugging lights and appliances that are not being used.

EcoStruxure can monitor an entire building’s energy usage, from computer systems, air conditioning and other power requirements. Having a single system to manage a building’s energy demands brings 30 percent savings on capital and operational expenditures as it allows for easy maintenance, cost reduction, enhances a building’s asset value and optimizes on space usage, Reveilhac said.

To illustrate how EcoStruxure promotes energy efficiency, Reveilhac said their Cavite plant has implemented the system and has succeeded in saving P43 million and nearly four gigawatts of power. The same system is being implemented at Schneider’s corporate headquarters.

The system can monitor daily energy consumption and give a breakdown on which areas energy is being used and which floor has the most usage and at what hours. It can also automate functions by detecting human motions and switching off lights or air conditioning units when nobody is around.

An exhibition was also held for Cebu businesses to introduce StruxureWare for data centers, a software platform to give managers access to energy and other resources used across their organization.

The software, as explained by country sales manager Ian dela Rosa, integrates into one network different components like intelligent monitoring, control, security cameras, power, lighting, electrical distribution and fire safety.

Dela Rosa said quick changes in IT trends such as regulatory requirements, cloud computing and virtualization causes strain to most data centers.

Most companies require data center infrastructure management (DCIM) to help them cope with their data needs and optimize performance. Citing studies from foreign institutions, dela Rosa noted that from just one percent in 2010, penetration of DCIM is expected to reach 60 percent in 2014.

Quoting a study from Gartner, dela Rosa said DCIM tools and processes are expected to become mainstream for data centers.