Mindteck Collaborating on World-Class Research Model for Building Efficiency

Public-private collaboration focused on building efficiency and sustainability in tropical climates.

Mindteck (India) Limited (BSE: MINDTECK), a global technology company, has announced that it is helping to build a world-class research model for building efficiency through its engagement with SinBerBEST, (Singapore-Berkeley Building Efficiency and Sustainability in the Tropics), a joint research collaboration between the University of California, Berkeley, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and other agencies and groups in Singapore.

According to recent research, buildings consume 70% of the world’s electricity, resulting in enormous waste due to generation distribution, construction, design and operational efficiencies. In Singapore alone, building energy consumption is at 25%. SinBerBEST focuses on the cooperative optimization of the interactions between the grid, the building and its occupants as an ecosystem. Its vision is to create a building that responds to demand from occupants and processes that will ensure controlled energy consumption and a comfortable working environment. The focus on smart tropical buildings is based upon a study showing that 40% of the world’s population lived in the tropics in 2008 and that this will grow to 60% by 2060.

Mindteck will develop the required hardware, firmware and applications to monitor and control various building efficiency systems to ensure safe, reliable, energy efficiency operations. The systems are controlled via a centralized server named Mission Control Room. There are test beds that will help execute various scenarios for the building sub-systems via the central server, such as the Sensing Network, Micro-Grid Network, Lighting Control System, Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation, and Geo-fencing.

Mindteck will help SinBerBEST meet its goal to enable researchers worldwide to conduct experiments remotely, as well as locally, using hardware emulation and simulation at small scale, large scale or any scale in between. The central server will be deployed using cloud to facilitate access across the world. Each of the sub-systems is capable of executing independent operations as well as integrated operations. It brings all of these systems into a single access that allows reaction processing based upon inputs and data exchanged between sub-systems.The system is also capable of spearheading a network of complimentary and remotely accessible test beds.

“This one of its kind public-private research collaboration is absolutely fascinating and thrilling for Mindteck,” commented Yusuf Lanewala, Mindteck Chairman and Managing Director. He added, “We have a strong legacy and solid track record in systems control and monitoring, so I expect that our project contributions will be very helpful towards the development of a complete, world-class demonstration and research model for building efficiency.”

Professor Costas Spanos, the Programme Leader for SinBerBEST, and Director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) at University of California, Berkeley, said, “SinBerBEST has been searching for a reputable technology company to support our cause. We’re very excited to partner with Mindteck to deliver cutting-edge technology that will help us achieve our future vision of smart buildings, particularly in reducing energy usage and carbon footprint while optimizing occupants’ comfort in the tropical regions.”