Metropolitan Solutions 2013: sustainable solutions for urban prosperity

After all, cities are economic factors that do not function in a vacuum, but instead pass on their prosperity and quality of life to their surroundings. Some 80 percent of the global gross national product is generated in cities. As a result, a well-functioning urban infrastructure is the key to a growth-oriented economy.

This also holds true for an economy that must function sustainably. And because cities not only generate prosperity, but are also energy consumers, they need special solutions. At Metropolitan Solutions, Siemens presented its range of services for sustainable and attractive cities and infrastructures under the slogan “Answers for infrastructure and cities.” Exhibits included products and solutions for integrated mobility and logistics, efficient building technology, security, smart grids, water, and financing.

Energy, water, mobility. Buildings, disposal, and security. Regional planning, urban automation, and services – the city of tomorrow is a reflection of daily life today. And they thus require solutions to address challenges that affect almost everyone. Siemens has the answers for this – and demonstrated them at Metropolitan Solutions, which took place within the framework of Hannover Messe 2013.

Energy efficiency – essential for heating, ventilation, air conditioning

Modern building automation can reduce operating costs and helps preserve a building’s value over the long term, for example. But it must also have a user-friendly design. At the ISH 2013 (international trade fair for building, energy, and air-conditioning technology), this happened to be one of the focus areas of Siemens’ exhibited HVAC portfolio, which included new user interfaces for systems.

Siemens’ Building Technologies Division introduced new products in Frankfurt am Main from March 12-16, 2013. Over an area of 250,000 square meters, the world’s leading trade fair for heating and air-conditioning technology offered a perfect platform for products. Some of the solutions Siemens exhibited:

Operate systems more easily
One area of the booth is dedicated solely to new user interfaces. The idea behind their development was that it is possible to operate a system in an intuitive, functional, and integrated manner – regardless of which building technology subsystem is being controlled and in what way. Siemens is exhibiting the two new ergonomic operating units for the Desigo building automation system: the PXM40 and PXM50 touch panels. They offer a high-resolution, high-contrast color display in a wide-screen format (10- and 15-inch) and are designed to be mounted on the front of switchgear doors.

Smartphone-based control apps
In addition, Siemens introduced two smartphone apps. “HomeControl” lets owners of an HVAC control unit access their system from any location, check its operating state and correct set point values. The "Energy Indicator" makes it easy to check the energy-efficient operation of HVAC systems and permits remote adjustments of the operating parameters.

Saving energy at the tough touch of a button
In another area of the booth, known as the Desigo TRA Room, Siemens displayed its interdisciplinary solution for total room automation. The TRA Room clearly demonstrates in real time how unnecessary energy consumption can be identified using the RoomOptiControl efficiency function and then corrected by touching the Green Leaf display on the control unit. 

Communication between all systems
Open communications between various systems networked by means of a comprehensive automation and operating concept are key functions for reliable, energy-saving operation. Version 5.1 of the Desigo building automation system meets the latest guidelines in this regard and supports the integration of third-party systems, modern IT systems, and important communication standards.

Application for Class A energy efficiency
With integrated applications for the smart, seamless linking of electric and HVAC systems, Siemens shows how Class A efficiency in building automation can be achieved. By controlling lighting, shading and HVAC in a room and throughout the entire building based on the time, occupancy and daylight, potential energy savings of up to 70 percent are possible compared to other widely used methods.

Innovations for air and water circulation systems
Siemens presented an entire range of new products in its enhanced Acvatix line of valves and actuators as well as the new G120P frequency converter. They too help HVAC systems operate with greater energy efficiency.

From A to B with E

This will have to include solutions that increase the modal split, which means splitting a route between a number of different modes of transport, in favor of LPT. Here eTicketing provides an answer to the current challenges facing public transportation. The electronic ticket not only replaces the paper ticket, but offers a full range of additional functions and can be used for all means of transport.

For users, this means that they can switch flexibly between different means of transport without wasting unnecessary time buying individual tickets and choosing the right tariff. If they wish, they can pay at the end of the journey with a cashless, transparent and automatic procedure and only pay for the actual distance covered. The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, or more precisely the Road and City Mobility IT Segment pools different modules of eTicketing solutions and areas of expertise. It can therefore offer complete systems along the entire value chain from a single source.

The goal of future transportation solutions is to create end-to-end mobility chains in cities by linking different means of transport, and to harmonize mobility solutions. A key component for networking the diverse modes of transport is the smart card developed by Siemens on which electronic tickets can be replicated. It has the same format as a credit card and is equipped with an active and passive RFID chip for registering individual journeys. Depending on the application and operational area, the card can be used intermodally for different means of transport, and is also interoperable with different transportation companies and tariff associations as well as linked-in service providers. In addition to utilizing public transport facilities, the smart card may also be used, for example, for paying parking charges or for hiring cars and bicycles.

Thanks to its dual functionality, the smart card supports various access systems. Contactless monitoring (Be-in/Be-out) allows simple boarding and alighting with different means of transport without having actively scanning their smartcard on a access control system. The card does not even have to be visible, so it can be carried in a pocket, wallet or jacket. The smart card is automatically captured on entering and leaving the vehicle as well as periodically during the journey. For developing this dual-function smartcard Siemens has won the MasterCard Transport Ticketing Award 2013 in the category "Ticketing technology of the year" at the fifth Transport Ticketing Conference & Expo that took place in London in January 2013.

Another variant is represented by eTicket systems based on the “Check-in/Check-out principle” (CiCo). In this case the passenger actively scan their smartcards at the particular access control devices at the beginning and end of every trip. The journeys are recorded in the same way as with the Be-in/Be-out systems and billed monthly, for instance, via invoice or direct debit or payed via a prepaid card. The Portuguese capital Lisbon, for example, has opted for this system. Comboios de Portugal has placed an order with Siemens which includes equipping 21 stations of the city’s two most important metro lines with the CiCo system.

Ticket sales, accounting and billing are handled by a central sales back-office system that brings together all data and ensures the coordinated exchange of data at every stage of the process from the smart card to the card readers to accounting. The PTnova sales and customer management system from Siemens subsidiary HanseCom provides a solution for this which is integrated directly in the SAP system.

Mobile ticketing solutions add alternative access media to the portfolio.The comprehensive use of mobile services will be further simplified in the future in combination with the integrated mobility platform (IMP). Solutions for route planning, door-to-door navigation and individualized booking of mobility services round out the Siemens product range.

Infrastructure & Cities wins Global Award for Company of the Year

Siemens pursues a simple but efficient strategy, the award explanation reads. The new Infrastructure & Cities Sector, founded to join the existing Industry, Energy and Healthcare Sectors in 2011, is acting intelligently to set the company apart from its competitors with a complete portfolio of urban infrastructure solutions.

“This strategy has opened doors for Siemens to a market with a volume of 30 billion euros per year,” said Archana Amarnath of Frost & Sullivan’s Visionary Innovation Research Group. The city of the future, she said, will be far from a mere hub of economic activity; it will call for individualized, unique, innovative urban concepts and infrastructure solutions.

The consultants assume that by 2025, 60 percent of the world’s population will be living in cities, and the world will have 35 mega-cities, 21 mega-regions, and 21 mega-corridors. Competition among companies to provide meaningful solutions for this urban growth will be correspondingly intense.

“By bundling its competencies and creating a targeted approach, the company now has a distinct competitive advantage over its rivals in the urban space,” said Amarnath. To do that, she said, the company has leveraged a combination of success factors: a global network of city account managers, combined with the ability to offer not only packaged solutions but custom-tailored services. For that reason, Siemens is “a worthy winner of the 2012 Global Company of the Year Award,” because it understands how to leverage the principle of “City as a Customer.”

The award recognizes companies’ exceptional achievements and above-average results in such areas as management, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare a variety of market participants and measure their accomplishments on the basis of in-depth interviews, analyses, or extensive secondary research.

“On the right path”

Under the motto “Smarter On The Way,” the Siemens Mobility and Logistics Division will showcase new products and solutions for intelligent traffic solutions. “Our objective is to make mobility in cities significantly more efficient and, most importantly, more environmentally friendly through the monitoring and control of networked traffic flows,” stated Sami Atiya, CEO of the Division. Solutions include:

Additional highlights at the ITS World Congress 2012: Application Service Providing (ASP) enables communities, towns, and counties without their own traffic control centers to use state-of-the-art control center technology; direct travel time measurement, which enables one to compare travel time with public transportation vis-a-vis private transportation; Sitraffic, which merges the previously separate worlds of traffic management, traffic control, and parking management; and GPS tolling and train detection. With its presence at the IST World Congress 2012, Siemens underscores how control technology and telematics solutions can help ensure optimal use of existing traffic networks and how intelligent traffic information and management systems can help to reduce traffic congestion, accidents, and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20 percent. The motto “Smarter on the way” in Vienna is thus a part of the Division’s objective of “Complete mobility”, which focuses on networking the various modes of transportation in order to transport people and goods efficiently and with less impact on the environment.

Integrated solutions for the future of mobility

“We have the answers to the mobility needs of cities – for urban and interurban traffic as well as for freight traffic,” states Hans-Jörg Grundmann, CEO of the Rail Systems Division. “Our portfolio includes some of the most attractive railway vehicles available on the market today: locomotives, trams, and metros, commuter and regional trains. Our Intercity and high-speed trains are innovative, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and comfortable.” In early 2011, for example, the Polish capital city of Warsaw ordered 35 six-car subway trains – the first order of complete trains in the new generation of Inspiro. Three of the railcars produced in the Siemens plant in Vienna will be on display in the outdoor exhibit area at InnoTrans.

Efficient trains are one thing, but passengers take a larger view of mobility: Getting from point A to point B safely, quickly, and comfortably is what every passenger expects from modern mobility. Siemens offers a wide range of IT-supported solutions that make it possible to utilize rail infrastructures more efficiently while ensuring maximum safety and punctuality. To do this, a bunch of data and information is also intelligently linked – optimizing complete operational processes in rail traffic, maximizing route utilization, and providing real-time information for passengers via loudspeakers, information terminals, and mobile devices. Another crucial factor is that travelers should be able to easily use and intuitively combine the different mobility options. To make that possible, Siemens has developed an intermodal and interoperable eTicketing platform to support the cashless use of different forms of transportation, and allow integrated mobility chains.

Intelligence is also being integrated beyond the boundaries of rail traffic, which is why one of the topics Siemens will be focusing on at InnoTrans 2012 is “Intelligence in rail electrification grids.” The backdrop is the intelligent connection of public energy grids and the electrical grids of railroads. Power from renewable energy sources that is fed into the public grid is integrated into the railway grid via converter stations and substations. But rail vehicles themselves can also be turned into energy suppliers: Inverters and stationary and mobile energy storage units make it possible to recover electrical energy. In “energy-saving mode,” the energy generated by braking is absorbed, stored, and then released again to power acceleration – a tiny “smart grid on rails.”?

Urban sustainability „all electric“

That’s because the Crystal is one of the most sustainable buildings ever constructed. As a stellar example of energy-efficient building design, it will be certified in accordance with the highest level of stringent international standards LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM Outstanding (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). One of the keys to this sustainability, though not the only one, lies in the architecture itself. The facades are angled in such a way as to allow as much daylight as possible into the building. Even when artificial lighting is needed, it is optimally adjusted to suit the prevailing light conditions, which are monitored on a continuous basis.

Much of the electricity needed for the Crystal is generated by photovoltaic systems on the roof of the building. An intelligent energy management system coordinates heat recovery, solar thermal systems and geothermal plants heat the water used in cafés, kitchens and lavatories, and service water is recycled for flushing toilets and watering plants. Rainwater is also collected.

A thermal heat pump installed beneath the building and outdoor space heats the Crystal in the winter and removes heat in the summer. Furthermore, sensors installed in the building detect the number of people in every part of the building and adjust the heating or ventilation system accordingly. The Crystal was conceived as an “all-electric” project, meaning that no fossil fuels are used to operate the building (there are no oil-fired or gas boilers, for example). This design is convincing proof that urban sustainability can be achieved with technologies that are already available today.

International urban experts, planners, architects, and infrastructure customers, as well as interested citizens, college students, and school classes will meet in this knowledge hub to discuss global trends, learn about the latest technological developments, and share their experiences. An interactive exhibit covering nearly 2,000 square meters guides visitors through the urban infrastructure of the future, and presents possibilities for sustainable mobility, building systems, energy and water supply, and healthcare facilities. There are meetings rooms and also an auditorium with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment that can seat 270 visitors.

Please visit www.thecrystal.org for more information about the Crystal, a sustainable cities initiative by Siemens.

Invitation to an Energy Health Check!

The fact that a checkup of this kind can save more than €4.4 million in energy costs, and reduce the CO₂ emissions of the “production plant body” by 16,000 tons at the same time, are beyond what any physician can do. Instead, this is the result of a total of 20 energy efficiency projects conducted jointly by Siemens Real Estate (SRE) and Building Technologies.

Energy Health Checks have been carried out in many of Siemens’ industrial plants. The first step involved management interviews, during which all energy-related operating processes and the organizational structure were systematically examined. This was followed by detailed analyses through plant tours in which the technical building structures were evaluated and savings potential demonstrated. “From the approximately 100 projects in which we performed a check, 20 production facilities were selected for an initial implementation phase of the energy efficiency program. Energy consumption, the facility’s size, and the number of employees played a role in this decision,” says Peter Marburger, project manager with Siemens’ Building Technologies Division. One of the projects is the rolling stock production facility for Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) in Krefeld, Germany.

Every regional and high speed train that Siemens builds in Germany passes through Krefeld sooner or later. This railway technology plant is one of the most important Siemens centers of competence within the railway industry. 2,200 employees develop and produce rail vehicles and their electrical components in this facility. The site’s Energy Health Check led to a package of seven measures, from building a gas-driven CHP plant and optimizing the ventilation system to installing an energy monitoring system. The annual savings: nearly €700,000 in addition to 2,300 tons less CO₂.

Another Siemens example is in Wythenshawe, in central England. This facility of the Low Voltage unit is a leading supplier of low-voltage energy distribution technology for industrial applications, infrastructure, and buildings. By completely overhauling the building automation system and installing energy-efficient lighting systems, the plant was able to achieve energy savings amounting to €50,000 and reduce CO₂ emissions by 183 tons per year.

Implementing the measures does not mean that the projects are finished. As part of a sustainable energy management system, ongoing monitoring safeguards the efficiency goals that have been set. In addition, ways to identify and apply additional savings potential are continuously analyzed.

“The energy efficiency program is a Siemens success story. We managed to combine different challenges, such as disparate sites, number of buildings, or the integration of project managers, into a single program. The results show that we can substantially lower energy consumption and conserve resources while also increasing comfort,” says Marburger.

Munich – The big city with a heart of green

When it comes to quality of life, Munich has been in the international Top Ten for many years. And in light of current developments in the city relating to sustainability, the Bavarian capital is sure to climb higher in the rankings. Primarily responsible for this are projects like the new building of the publishing house Süddeutscher Verlag and a field trial with 40 electric cars.

One prestigious new sustainability project in the city is the corporate headquarters of Süddeutscher Verlag. In 2010, it was the first German office building to receive the LEED Gold certificate. The corporate headquarters building is an example of how cost-effectiveness, sustainability, building energy efficiency, flexibility of use and a productive working environment with an individually selectable room climate can all be brought into harmony. Siemens systems, which communicate with each other virtually loss-free, play an important role in implementing the complex building functions. In line with the holistic view, the modular, space-saving Sivacon 8PS busbar trunking system from Siemens was selected for power distribution.

In another example, in Munich’s prison Siemens shows that energy savings can also be combined with security. The GAMMA building control, for example, facilitates that cell lighting is automatically switched off when there is sufficient daylight and only turned back on at dusk. To ensure it is never completely dark in the corridors and stairwells, 50 percent of the lamps in these areas are on around the clock. The resulting basic level of brightness contributes to the personal security of the prison staff while ensuring the required image quality of the surveillance cameras.

Siemens is also active when it comes to private home construction – for example in equipping eleven ecologically designed wooden row houses in the north of Munich. In supplying the hardware for these houses, Siemens ensures a high level of safety with child-proof socket outlets and enables a cozy atmosphere with premium materials. Siemens installation technology is also used for the distribution boards, lightning protection, line protection, bell transformers and meters.

In another project, Siemens conducted an electromobility field trial in 2010 with its partners BMW AG and the Munich municipal utility to test electric cars MINI E and the charging infrastructure for their suitability for daily use. The Drive eCharged project had 40 test drivers using the cars in Munich for about 10 months. Siemens was responsible for the technology used in the new charging stations, while the Munich municipal utility supplied the renewably generated green electricity. Thanks to Siemens’ 5TT3 charging units, 32 public charging stations were complemented by 36 home charging stations. The drivers of electric cars now have even more flexibility when recharging – for example overnight in an underground parking garage.

Mumbai – On its way to a sustainable metropolis

With support from the World Bank, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project has invested around US$2 billion in the city’s transportation infrastructure since 2001. The funding has been used for new rail lines, new urban expressways and for converting some of the public buses to ecofriendly gas power. New trains equipped with Siemens technology are far more economical to operate, friendlier to the environment, and make daily travel for the masses of commuters more comfortable.

Due to the enormous popularity of the trains, the operator, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), was faced with a number of tough challenges. Traveling in overcrowded trains – with up to 16 people per square meter space – is both uncomfortable and dangerous. And when boarding and exiting takes such a long time, train service is seldom on schedule. Furthermore, the old trains consumed too much electricity and were subject to extreme wear and tear. This resulted in a large number of breakdowns. As part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Projects, the MRVC committed to correcting these problems with financial support from the World Bank.

Mumbai’s new suburban trains are equipped with Siemens technology that makes them safer, more comfortable, faster and more ecofriendly. Over the past few years, MRVC has put 112 new trains with more than 1,200 coaches into service. One important innovation is the change in the power supply, from 1.5-kilovolt direct current to 25-kilovolt alternating current. Taking into account the energy regenerated from the braking system, the new trains consume up to 40 percent less electricity and considerably improve their CO₂ footprint. The Siemens propulsion systems are not only more powerful, but also brake and accelerate fully loaded trains faster and achieve higher top speeds. Longer trains with twelve coaches rather than nine can be used and this increases the operating frequency.

Once all of the new trains have been delivered, Mumbai’s suburban rail service will have increased its passenger capacity by round 60 percent. The massive overcrowding at rush hour will then be a thing of the past. Passengers also benefit from additional innovations: Rather than obsolete steel springs, a pneumatic suspension system provides greater comfort. In addition, the new trains feature active ventilation systems and are considerably quieter than their predecessors.

Guangzhou – Modern metro network and clean electricity

Over half a billion people now live in China’s cities and conurbations – a figure which is due to double by 2030. To ensure that the cities can meet the demands of an economic giant of the 21st century, the government is investing heavily in effective infrastructure solutions while at the same time seeking new sustainable approaches. Siemens – which with over 10,000 employees maintains its largest branch office outside Europe in Shanghai – has been playing a key role in this for several years.

A large-scale project in Guangzhou which aims to reduce tailbacks and smog is the expansion of the metro network. Completed on time for the Asian Games 2010, Guangzhou increased its number of metro lines from five to nine – and they are due to become 16 by 2020. The Siemens equipment on the 79 new metro trains includes intelligent control technologies and drive systems which can feed the trains’ braking energy back into the supply network. With these systems, the trains can aid the city in reducing pollution and saving energy to a good extend.

A city of this size naturally has enormous energy requirements which – in particular on account of the growing middle class – are constantly rising. In large part, these requirements are met by the hydroelectric power plants in Yunnan Province, 1,400 kilometers away. The first 800kV high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) line in the world built by Siemens and China Southern Power Grid made it possible to transport the clean electricity to Guangzhou and other megacities on the south-eastern coast with a record voltage of 800,000 volts and an output of 5,000 megawatts. It provides up to five million homes with power and in comparison with coal saves 30 million tons of CO₂ every year.

In addition to innovations in infrastructure and both energy and water supplies, the Chinese government is increasingly interested in the use of renewable and carbon-free energies. Wind power will play the greatest role here: the Chinese coast has many kilometers of flat land and therefore presents perfect locations for large offshore wind farms – from example near Guangzhou.

London – An excellent example for sustainable city development

A lot is expected of buses in today’s cities: They need to be low-cost, absolutely reliable, quiet, environmentally friendly thanks to low emissions, and as comfortable as possible for passengers. That’s why Transport for London, the British capital’s public-transport operator, has been testing an innovative drive concept from Siemens since 2008. Some of its popular red double-deckers have been fitted with hybrid engines that make intelligent use of the braking energy produced in large quantities in the typical stop-and-go service.

In hybrid-drive buses, the diesel engine does not drive the rear wheels, as is usually the case, but a generator that produces electricity for the traction motors. In addition, the bus can also run for certain distances in full electric mode with the electricity generated from braking, and then operates absolutely emission-free. Compared with a conventional diesel bus, the red hybrid double-decker produces up to 40 percent fewer emissions and consumes around 30 percent less fuel. Depending on the route driven, that equates to around 10,000 liters of diesel fuel at an annual mileage of 60,000 kilometers. Transport for London has had very positive experience with the hybrid drive. By the opening of the Olympic Games in London in 2012, 300 line buses with the hybrid system are scheduled to be operating on London’s streets.

Since 2003, anyone driving their car into the center of London has had to pay a congestion charge. The toll-charging technology used is provided by Siemens. Every day, 850 cameras monitor and identify around one million vehicle license numbers. With this system, the Siemens technology is helping save 150,000 tons of CO₂ emissions every year. Since the congestion charge was introduced, the volume of traffic in the city center has been reduced by 15 percent (or 60,000 vehicles) per year. A large share of the drivers has switched to public transport. The positive consequence: Both air pollution and noise emissions are now substantially lower.

South Africa – Megacities and sustainable infrastructures

Prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, neither of the two cities, which will soon be a giant agglomeration, had a high-speed rail link. Today there is the “Gautrain”, a modern train connection between Johannesburg and Pretoria which also connects Johannesburg Airport with the business district.

3,000 kilometers of glass fiber cables, which are also responsible for controlling the signal installations, were laid for the “Gautrain”. The associated data network from Siemens is designed as an open transport network: This means that the glass fiber cables are laid as bundles along the route, thereby ensuring data flow in both directions.

The rail transportation system in Johannesburg is another sustainable urban development project in which Siemens is involved. Here, the information technology at key stations was completely overhauled. Siemens was responsible for the design, execution and integration of the systems. With modern signaling systems and both loudspeaker and information systems, the efficiency of the system has increased enormously. In addition, the trains have become more reliable and the stations safer, so that the old – and formerly unpopular – trains are now far more appealing to the population.

Energy supplies are equally important for the sustainable development of South Africa. In the Drakensberg mountains, in the east of the country, a pump-fed power plant with a capacity of 1,330 megawatts is currently being built. Experts believe that, as an energy store, it could become an element of a smart grid for South Africa in the future. Siemens is the local partner to plant manufacturer Voith on this project. The new, modern gas-fired power plants in Cape Town and Mossel Bay are today already generating electricity with Siemens turbines.

In addition to projects in public transportation and power supplies, Siemens also supported South Africa during the Soccer World Cup. For example, passports were scanned and automatically compared with visa files at the border controls. At the Sandton Convention Center building automation from Siemens ensured a reliable communication infrastructure; Siemens modernized two television studios for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and provided the lighting for all the world cup stadiums.

Houston – The oil metropolis on the way to becoming a green city

As a partner city of the C40/Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) – an international association of sustainable cities – Houston has set for itself the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions, conserving energy, and encouraging renewable energy development. In addition to the use of hybrid vehicles by the municipal government and the supply of power through Texas wind farms (33 percent), the city is relying on energy conservation in its public buildings – first and foremost in order to set a good example for private households.

In regard to large investments, the city government is also taking advantage of Siemens energy performance contracting: With these agreements, Siemens guarantees the municipality refinancing through savings within certain periods of time. For example, the energy performance contract for the energy system modernization of a fire station and the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center has a volume of 26 million dollars and a term of 13 years. These two buildings alone allow the city to conserve 550 megawatt hours of power and 119 megawatt hours of natural gas annually.

A second major initiative for drastically reducing the energy consumption of the city was the modernization of its traffic lights: Within a year, Siemens technicians installed 40,000 LEDs to replace the old incandescent lamps. The changeover to LED technology will allow Houston to save 14 million dollars in energy costs and an additional 5.5 million dollars in operating costs within 10 years.

With an investment of 750 million dollars, the event venue of Reliant Park in Houston is one of the largest construction projects of the region. Large events like football games of the Houston Texans or Rodeos draw thousands of people to the site every year. Special attention is thus paid to the safety and protection of visitors. Siemens installed state-of-the-art systems for building automation and control, as well as fire protection, access control, and video monitoring solutions.

Another urban modernization project in which Siemens was involved was the construction of the “Red Line”, the Metrorail system that connects Reliant Park with the business district. As the market leader for light rail in North America, Siemens supplied the 18 light rail vehicles along with the complete infrastructure, including the signal and communication technology, power supply, and overhead lines.