At the recent Schneider Electric's Innovation Day Kuala Lumpur 2024 event were (from Left) are Kenny, Ng, Verma, Aylwin and Chin.

KUALA LUMPUR: Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has urged the modernisation of ageing buildings in Malaysia as a crucial measure to reduce carbon emissions. With half of today's buildings expected to still be in use by 2050, the company emphasises the need for retrofitting outdated systems, which are inefficient and contribute significantly to carbon emissions.

“We must prioritise retrofitting existing buildings to lower carbon emissions. Technology-focused retrofits, relying on modern digital and power management solutions, can reduce life-cycle carbon emissions by up to 83% and energy usage by 50%,” said Schneider Electric Malaysia country president Eugene Quah.

Buildings are the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 37% of total CO2 emissions. Of these, 70% come from operational carbon, which includes energy used for lighting, cooling and other day-to-day activities.

Retrofitting ageing buildings with advanced technologies not only reduces emissions but also attracts better tenants, boosts property values and extends building lifespans. Quah's remarks were made during the recent Schneider Electric's Innovation Day Kuala Lumpur 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Also at the event were Schneider Electric power product and digital energy business vice-president Kenny Tan and real estate global account executive and regional segment director Kusum Verma, Rehda Institute chairman Datuk Jeffrey Ng and JLL APAC technology advisory senior director Alan Chin.

One critical aspect of building modernisation is upgrading outdated Building Management Systems (BMS). Older systems compromise a building’s efficiency and safety, which can disrupt business continuity.

Today’s advanced BMS can future-proof buildings, meeting the evolving demands for efficiency, sustainability, health and comfort. They incorporate technologies like IoT, cloud computing, AI and analytics, enabling precise control down to the room level, as opposed to the older systems, which offered limited control over entire floors.

Building owners can leverage analytics monitoring software to optimise BMS performance, allowing for remote, proactive maintenance. Schneider Electric’s AI-powered EcoStruxure Building Advisor provides comprehensive asset monitoring and predictive maintenance. It analyses energy consumption, HVAC performance and offers continuous fault detection and diagnostics, helping optimise energy savings.

Quah delivering his keynote address.

A pathway to building decarbonisation

Electrification plays a key role in decarbonising buildings by eliminating sources of direct CO2 emissions and supporting a cleaner energy supply. Building owners can accelerate this transition by adopting microgrids, which provide energy storage, demand response, and load management. Installing EV charging stations and managing the charging loads for tenants and occupants can also help advance sustainability goals.

“The integration of digitalisation and electrification is essential, allowing the ecosystem to utilise IoT, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide real-time insights and identify opportunities for building decarbonisation,” Quah added.

The event also included a panel discussion titled Intelligent Building Designs for a Smarter Malaysia, featuring experts from JLL, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Institute (Rehda Institute), Sime Darby Property and CapitaLand Investment Ltd. They explored how advanced technologies and innovation can foster sustainable growth while reducing carbon emissions.

“Smart and intelligent buildings are key to achieving CapitaLand’s sustainability, productivity and customer experience goals. We work with partners like Schneider Electric to create platforms that our tenants can use as a reference point for sustainability efforts,” said CapitaLand Investment chief customer solutions officer Aylwin Tan.

Urgent action required 

As Malaysia continues to face the impacts of climate change, urgent action is needed to meet decarbonisation targets. The current pace of progress is not enough to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. A PwC report shows that Malaysia’s decarbonisation rate is only 2.5% annually—well below the 7.2% required to meet the Paris Agreement’s targets.

“At Schneider Electric, we are committed to supporting businesses in transitioning to intelligent infrastructure that aligns with Malaysia’s sustainable development goals. We have identified three key steps—strategise, digitise and decarbonise—with ten associated priorities to help building owners bridge the gap between their net-zero ambitions and efforts in decarbonising their properties,” Quah stated.

During Innovation Day Kuala Lumpur 2024, Schneider Electric showcased several solutions aimed at helping businesses and industries accelerate their decarbonisation efforts:

• Grid of the future: Enables electric utility companies to implement agile grid digitalisation and enhance collaboration across the electricity value chain.
• Building of the future: Modern BMS and analytic monitoring services, powered by data, drive efficiency and decarbonisation for aging buildings, critical for those targeting net-zero emissions.
• Water treatment plant of the future: Digital Twin technology and software-defined solutions optimise operations, help manage water shutdowns and enable data-driven decision-making for more sustainable water management.
• Energy and chemical of the future: Combined with AVEVA’s integrated data platform, Schneider Electric’s energy management and automation solutions empower companies to leverage AI and data insights to enhance sustainability and performance.

Schneider Electric’s Innovation Day 2024 brought together experts from the energy, sustainability, IT, oil and gas and real estate sectors to discuss strategies for energy transitions, increasing energy efficiencies in the building sector and the critical role digitalisation plays in accelerating Malaysia’s decarbonisation journey.

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