Revolutionising Building Decarbonisation with Siemens
Buildings are at the forefront of the global carbon emissions crisis, accountable for nearly 40% of energy-related CO₂ emissions worldwide.
Reducing the carbon footprint of buildings isn't just about meeting sustainability targets; it's also a surefire way to slash energy bills through efficiency gains.
Siemens Financial Services (SFS) introduces a game-changer in this arena: the Decarbonisation Business Optimiser (DBO), a complimentary, cloud-based instrument designed to propose initial carbon assessments alongside efficient routes to achieve net zero emissions.
The DBO boasts reliable data sets and resources from notable agencies including the US Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It also operates on Amazon Web Services (AWS), embracing serverless architecture to ensure its carbon footprint is as minimal as possible.
“Companies, especially those within the supply chain, facing increasing pressure to disclose their carbon emissions find a powerful ally in the DBO,” states Anthony Casciano, the President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services.
“The DBO tackles these challenges head-on, equipping businesses of all sizes with the tools to forge long-term, sustainable value and hasten their journey towards net-zero emissions.”
A closer look at Siemens Financial Services
Understanding SFS is key to grasping the potential impact of the DBO.
As a sector of renowned German tech conglomerate Siemens, SFS prides itself on fuelling customer innovation and sustainable growth. With a strong commitment to greenfield renewable projects, it plays a pivotal role in global decarbonisation efforts.
In 2023, the division reported an impressive workforce of 2,700 individuals and total assets worth €32.9bn (US$36.6bn).
Veronika Bienert, CEO at SFS GmbH, says: “By working closely with Siemens businesses and our external partners across our key industries, our passionate team is able to accelerate innovation and competitiveness for our customers, providing tailored financing solutions that unlock sustainable growth.”
The DBO's USPs
What sets the DBO apart? Its ability to craft tailored decarbonisation plans for buildings based on their size, type and location. It generates these plans using geographically relevant data, incorporating specific information like annual energy usage for more accurate outcomes.
“A lack of data sometimes can deter companies from initiating a sustainability strategy,” says Lee Evangelakos, Partner and ESG Pillar Leader at American Industrial Partners.
“As an initial tester, we found that the DBO tool is a great way to get started in estimating facility footprints.
“The tool enables industrial businesses to think through the building blocks of their emissions profiles and how they could begin to take action towards decarbonisation.”
Roderick Jackson, Laboratory Program Manager for Building Technologies at NREL, says: "Trusted data sets coupled with credible modelling and analysis tools are vital in the complex decision-making process to achieve a clean energy future.
"NREL-developed tools are built to be leveraged in this way — including ComStock, REopt, and our Annual Technology Baseline framework. It’s great to see that in practice."
Behind the scenes: Creating DBO
The DBO blossomed from a partnership between SFS and Siemens Technology, spearheading R&D.
By leveraging AWS's serverless architecture, the DBO ensures operational efficiency, activating only when necessary to minimise its carbon output.
Amazon attests that AWS infrastructure boasts up to four times the efficiency of traditional on-premises setups, with a potential 99% reduction in carbon footprint when optimally used.
In addition, the tool integrates public data from the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative to refine estimates of buildings' thermal properties.
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