DUE to the pressing challenges of climate change, the need to modernise ageing buildings has never been more critical.
Schneider Electric, an energy management and automation company, urges property owners to prioritise retrofitting their older buildings.
The company said with projections indicating that half of today's structures would still be in use by 2050, it is timely and necessary to look into reducing the carbon emissions and enhance the energy efficiency of old buildings.
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
"We must prioritise retrofitting existing buildings to lower carbon emissions.
"Technology-focused retrofits that rely on modern digital and power management solutions can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by as much as 83 per cent and reduce energy usage in buildings by 50 per cent," Schneider Electric Malaysia president Eugene Quah said at the Schneider Electric Innovation Day in Kuala Lumpur recently.
He said the building sector was the largest emitter of global greenhouse gases, accounting for 37 per cent of overall CO2 emissions.
Alarmingly, about 70 per cent of these emissions come from the operational carbon produced when a building is used, driven by essential functions such as lighting, cooling and energy consumption.
"Beyond environmental benefits, modernising older buildings with advanced technologies can attract better tenants, boost property values and extend the lifespan of these structures," Quah said.
UPGRADING FOR ENHANCED EFFICIENCY
A key component of building modernisation is upgrading outdated Building Management Systems (BMS).
During his presentation, Quah highlighted the risks associated with older BMS, which can undermine building efficiency and safety, jeopardising business continuity.
"Today's advanced BMS can future-proof a facility, addressing the evolving demands for efficiency, sustainability, health and comfort, while incorporating IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, AI (artificial intelligence) and analytics."
These advancements provide deeper insights and allow for precise control at the room level, rather than merely an overview of entire floors.
Building owners can enhance their BMS' operational performance through analytics monitoring software, enabling proactive maintenance.
PATH TO DECARBONISATION
Electrification plays a pivotal role in building decarbonisation by eliminating sources of direct CO2 emissions and fostering a cleaner energy supply.
Quah encourages building owners to adopt microgrids for energy storage, demand response and load management, alongside the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
"The combination of digitalisation and electrification will be integral, allowing the ecosystem to leverage IoT, big data and AI for real-time insights and opportunities for decarbonising buildings."
The event also featured a panel discussion titled "Intelligent Building Designs for a Smarter Malaysia", with contributions from industry experts representing JLL, the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Institute (Rehda Institute), Sime Darby Property and CapitaLand Investment Ltd.
They explored how innovative technologies can propel sustainable business growth while mitigating carbon emissions.
CapitaLand Investment chief customer solutions officer Aylwin Tan said: "Smart and intelligent buildings play a crucial role in achieving our sustainability, productivity, and customer experience objectives.
"At CapitaLand, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We collaborate with partners like Schneider Electric to create platforms that support our tenants in their sustainability efforts."
URGENT NEED FOR ACTION
As Malaysia confronts the consequences of climate change, urgent action is imperative. Current decarbonisation efforts are lagging behind the targets needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
A report from PwC indicates that Malaysia's decarbonisation rate is merely 2.5 per cent annually — far below the 7.2 per cent required to meet the Paris Agreement's nationally determined contributions.
Quah outlined three critical steps — strategise, digitise and decarbonise — and 10 priorities to help building owners bridge the gap between their net-zero ambitions and practical efforts to decarbonise and future-proof their properties.
"As the call for modernisation resonates, the time for action is now. By embracing advanced technologies and sustainable practices, Malaysia can pave the way for a greener, more resilient future."