How Can IoT Help Organizations Achieve Their Sustainability & Net Zero Goals?

Considering the current scenario of climate change, the last decade was the hottest since 1850. We have already crossed the 1.1 degrees above pre-industrial levels. In comparison to 280 ppm in the year 1850, CO2 has now reached 421 ppm. 

According to COP26 goals, we need to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Fortunately, national net-zero commitments are growing rapidly. 92 countries responsible for 78% of global emissions now have a sincere net zero commitment, says the World Economic Forum June 2022 Report. 

Even the corporate sector is contributing towards net zero goals. Companies having more than 24 trillion dollars i.e around 30% of the total GDP have pledged science-based targets. 

Global climate action is still insufficient! 

The Refinitive data 2020 says, National emission reduction commitments for 2030 and 2050 still fall far short of the required 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway. Many business leaders still lack the proof of delivery needed. The latest IPCC report has been called a “code red for humanity” due to human-caused global warming. There is a collective need to step up to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive. 

Carbon footprint & carbon emissions 

Carbon footprint is driving climate change. These total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place, or even product.  

Here are some of the sources of carbon emissions: 

1. Direct emissions: Emissions from sources that an organization owns or controls directly. 
2. Indirect emissions (owned): Emissions that a company causes indirectly when the energy it purchases and uses is produced. 
3. Indirect emissions (not owned): Emissions that aren’t produced by the company itself, but by those that it’s indirectly responsible for, up and down its value chain. 

Tackling climate change  

Climate change is a serious matter that needs to be tackled accurately. The less action we take about it now, the more regulations we’ll have in the future. Taking the necessary steps is the need of the hour! 

Here are some of the measures that we must take: 

1. Reduce emissions by 7.6% every year 
2. Considerable reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, and improved energy efficiency 
3. Achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in the early 2050s 
4. Capture the energy efficiency potential, especially in the commercial buildings 

Building equipment degradation resulting in energy wastage 

In global energy consumption, 40% of energy is consumed by buildings. Out of that 40%, the HVAC system consumes around 60-70% of total energy utilization in buildings. Hence, it’s the biggest energy guzzler. 

Most buildings are operating in a place of efficiency degradation. Here are some of the reasons behind it: 

• Aging equipment 
• Malfunction 
• Systems running in manual mode 
• Maintenance management & prioritization 
• Sub-optimal operations 

Opportunity for HVAC energy optimization in buildings 

If the HVAC systems of a building are provisioned to run at a peak capacity, irrespective of the actual requirement, it will create an opportunity for energy efficiency. With IoT-based automation controls, building managers can collect real-time data and process it to achieve 10-20% energy savings and create a smart building. 

What is net zero building? 

Net zero refers to a state where greenhouse gases go into the atmosphere and are balanced by removal from the atmosphere. 

A net zero emissions building is optimally efficient and generates energy onsite, using clean renewable resources, in a quantity equal to or greater than the total amount of energy consumed onsite. 

Some common features of net zero building: 

• Heat pump
• Lighting controls 
• Superior air sealing and insulation 
• Window shades 
• High-efficiency fluorescent or LED lighting
• Photovoltaic panels 

Role of IoT in helping organizations achieve sustainability and net zero goals

The IoT-based building management system can actually transform the way facilities operate. In addition to this, it helps organizations achieve 10-25 credit points in water efficiency, energy efficiency, health & comfort, innovation, and other categories of IGBC certification. 

By leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, buildings can achieve their sustainability and net zero goals proactively. Here’s understand how: 

• GHG (CO2) Emissions Monitoring 
• Asset Management 
• HVAC Optimization 
• Improved Occupant Comfort & Productivity 
• Energy Efficiency 
• Food Wastage Prevention 

ZenConnect – An IoT-based Asset & Energy Management Solution 

ZenConnect is an IoT-based monitoring and automation solution. Our cloud-based AI/ML solution provides energy efficiency, comfort compliance, and helps foresee breakdowns using predictive analysis. It gives facilities: 

• Temperature and humidity compliance 
• Energy management via centralized monitoring and intelligent controls 
• Digital ticketing workflows with real-time push notifications 
• AI/ML- fault detection and diagnosis (Predictive maintenance) 
• Data-driven risk detection
• Seamless integration with third-party ERPs and systems 
• Web-based dashboards 
• Air quality monitoring 

Zenatix Solutions offers ZenConnect, an IoT-based energy & asset management solution for built infrastructures (e.g. retail stores, hotels, warehouses, manufacturing plants). ZenConnect is a state-of-the-art hardware-light and software-intelligent solution that consists of an AI-powered cloud platform and configurable dashboards. The solution is based on wireless mesh technology, making it easier to deploy & maintain and provide quick ROI in 12-16 months. Based on AI/ML algorithms, the solution can predict the breakdown of electrical assets. It addresses challenges, including high energy costs, equipment breakdowns, temperature and humidity compliances, visibility into energy consumption, electrical/equipment safety etc. It includes deploying energy meters and wireless sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity) at various levels and creating a central IoT platform across all properties for a customer.

Get in touch with us to get IoT-based automation and monitoring solutions!