SIEMENS

Buildings are real energy hogs. They account for roughly 40 % of all energy consumption worldwide, and their electricity and heat consumption are responsible for about 21 % of all greenhouse gas emissions.
But modern technology can change that gloomy picture, reducing building energy consumption by around 30 % — without sacrificing comfort. Siemens is among the world's leading companies specializing in this field. To date, Siemens has used its energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly solutions to optimize more than 6,500 buildings worldwide, realizing total energy savings of more than €2 billion and annual CO₂ emission reductions of 1.2 mill. t.
The majority of these buildings are in the U.S. At one location — St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio — efficient ventilation and lighting systems have been providing an atmosphere conducive to well-being since 2002. And the hospital also covers most of its energy needs by means of a special waste-incineration plant. In the first four years alone, the hospital's operators saved more than $5 million on energy costs and were honored together with Siemens in 2006, receiving the Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy, an honor presented by the State of Ohio.
And in Las Vegas, Nevada, Siemens is currently equipping a gigantic construction project with environmentally-friendly technology. Here, the MGM Mirage hotel chain is building its CityCenter facility, a complex with about 5,500 rooms, a theater, conference center, shopping mall, and even its own power plant. When this "city within a city" opens, a multitude of Siemens lighting systems, combined heat and power facilities, water treatment systems, automation systems and motors — for example compressors for the air conditioning systems — will ensure a comfortable stay for guests. Siemens solutions for the project will also satisfy the demanding efficiency requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council, an organization dedicated to sustainability. Using efficient solutions like these pays off. For example, most of the motors provided by Siemens are so efficient that they will be amortized within one to two years.
Siemens is playing a key role in an equally exciting project in Houston, Texas, where the city government intends to modernize its public buildings. The planning for this multi-phase project calls for Siemens to initially analyze the optimization potential of the 271 structures in question and then determine which solutions can be used to upgrade them. The project also could deliver enormous savings. Experts are expecting not only environmental benefits, but also annual cost reductions totaling several million dollars.