Arthur Lam, Co-CEO of Negawatt Utility, explains the trend: “Take the office air-conditioning system as an example,” he says. “The AIoT system makes a comfortable room temperature possible without sacrificing energy efficiency. What’s more, you don’t have to spend millions of dollars on additional hardware. Give us one or two days and the installation will be done.” Negawatt’s AI-powered Building Operating System (BOS) connects to energy sensors in the building to track energy consumption and monitor environmental parameters, both indoor and outdoor. The data collected is stored in a cloud database for machine learning and big data analytics that create energy-efficient solutions. At present, there are more than 100 buildings supported by Negawatt’s BOS.
“For Chinachem Group’s Nina Tower, energy consumption dropped by 10% in less than two months after the system was up and running,” notes Lam, whose company has been working with Chinachem Group since 2019. The collaboration between the two is built on the shared belief of a people-oriented approach. “AI will not replace humans, but will assist the team in managing their buildings more effectively,” Lam believes. “We hold meetings with the front-line management team every month to understand their pain points. In turn we optimise the system in the hope of bringing them a tool that they truly find helpful.”
In future, Negawatt will further enhance its technology, alongside digital solutions for COVID-19 control. The risk of indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19, referencing reports from internationally-acclaimed research institutions, will be digitised to facilitate assessment and assist the front-line team in taking preventive measures. It will be a system that serves a dual purpose – energy-saving and pandemic prevention – thereby creating a sustainable, comfortable and safe public space for all in the new normal.
