Asia Pacific Voices » Kyoto Protocol http://asiapacvoices.com insights & perspectives Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:00:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Every Little Step Counts Towards Addressing Climate Change Challenges http://asiapacvoices.com/uncat/2009/10/every-little-step-count-towards-addressing-climate-change-challenges/ http://asiapacvoices.com/uncat/2009/10/every-little-step-count-towards-addressing-climate-change-challenges/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:55:24 +0000 SIIA http://asiapacvoices.com/?p=215
BY CHONG SIAK CHING - While we need bold initiatives to address the threat of global warming and climate change dimming the prospects of a bright future, little steps and initiatives still count and should be encouraged. Collectively, these little steps add up and like a snowball, can gather momentum along the way to make a big difference.]]> While we need bold initiatives to address the threat of global warming and climate change dimming the prospects of a bright future, little steps and initiatives still count and should be encouraged. Collectively, these little steps add up and like a snowball, can gather momentum along the way to make a big difference.
At home, my 16-year old daughter has for the past few years been doing her bit to “save the environment” and, along the way, converting her parents. She has also decided to pursue a degree in environmental engineering sciences, and commit her future with the environment.
At my workplace, Ascendas, we have intensified investments in greening our buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. Our latest project involves replacing the air-conditioning system of one of our buildings at the Singapore Science Park, from an air-cooled system to a water-cooled system, well ahead of its replacement life. This initiative is expected to save about 5,300 MWh of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,600 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by 200,000 trees in a year. Energy management systems have been installed to control and configure energy consumption to ensure optimal usage.
The project, which started in December 2008 and was completed in August 2009, is submitting its application as a Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism (“CDM”) project, which will make it among the first in Singapore for a building-specific energy-efficient project when approved.
A simple initiative like this brings about energy savings of about 5.4 million KWH per year, translating to about S$1 million savings per year (more than 50% of the annual energy consumption), resulting in a short payback about 3.5 years. In addition, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about 2,634 metric tonnes per year, giving a potential carbon credit of about $700,000 over 10 years.
This is just one of many “little steps” that Ascendas is doing and which other companies could do as well.
Collectively, we can all play our part to secure the future of our planet for future generations.

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

By Chong Siak Ching

greentech-bannerWhile we need bold initiatives to address the threat of global warming and climate change dimming the prospects of a bright future, little steps and initiatives still count and should be encouraged. Collectively, these little steps add up and like a snowball, can gather momentum along the way to make a big difference.

At home, my 16-year old daughter has for the past few years been doing her bit to “save the environment” and, along the way, converting her parents. She has also decided to pursue a degree in environmental engineering sciences, and commit her future with the environment.

At my workplace, Ascendas, we have intensified investments in greening our buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. Our latest project involves replacing the air-conditioning system of one of our buildings at the Singapore Science Park, from an air-cooled system to a water-cooled system, well ahead of its replacement life. This initiative is expected to save about 5,300 MWh of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,600 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by 200,000 trees in a year. Energy management systems have been installed to control and configure energy consumption to ensure optimal usage.

The project, which started in December 2008 and was completed in August 2009, is submitting its application as a Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanism (“CDM”) project, which will make it among the first in Singapore for a building-specific energy-efficient project when approved.

A simple initiative like this brings about energy savings of about 5.4 million KWH per year, translating to about S$1 million savings per year (more than 50% of the annual energy consumption), resulting in a short payback about 3.5 years. In addition, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about 2,634 metric tonnes per year, giving a potential carbon credit of about $700,000 over 10 years.

This is just one of many “little steps” that Ascendas is doing and which other companies could do as well.

Collectively, we can all play our part to secure the future of our planet for future generations.

***

Chong Siak Ching is the chairperson of the organising committee for APEC CEO Summit 2009. She is also the President & CEO of Ascendas Pte Ltd.

]]> http://asiapacvoices.com/uncat/2009/10/every-little-step-count-towards-addressing-climate-change-challenges/feed/ 3