Singapore Businesses Need to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint – Here is the Practical and Affordable Approach

The movement in carbon control, sustainability, and going green in Singapore has consistently increased over the years. With the Singapore Government’s Green Plan 2030 well underway, more businesses are expected to not only take note of their carbon footprint but also work towards reducing it.

In 2018, the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) reported that Singapore’s total emissions are 51.6 MtCO2e, with the industrial sector contributing 45.1% in primary emissions and 15.3% in secondary emissions. Primary emissions refer to pollutants that are emitted from a direct source. Secondary emissions are not emitted directly from the source but are formed in the atmosphere by chemical reactions.

What are Carbon Emissions? 

A type of greenhouse gas, carbon emissions, refers to the release of carbon dioxide that filters into our atmosphere both naturally and from daily human activities such as electricity consumption, industrial manufacturing, and deforestation. Trapping of heat in the atmosphere then leads to climate changes, such as global warming, deterioration of the ozone layer, and destruction of ecosystems. How Carbon Emissions Affect Singapore 

Sunny Singapore could be affected in three unsurprising ways: 1) rising temperatures, 2) rising sea levels, and 3) extreme weather patterns, which we are currently experiencing. According to My Carbon Footprint, it is estimated that daily temperatures could reach an average high of 35 to 37 Celsius in Singapore by 2100. Likewise, sea levels are also estimated to rise by half to one meter by 2100. Singapore may even start experiencing more extreme weather patterns throughout the year with frequent dry months or possible flash floods due to intense and frequent rainfall during wet months. It is never too late for your business to start reducing carbon emissions to lessen the effect of climate change. Here are 5 practical and affordable ways your business can reduce its carbon footprint:

1. Keep track of your business’s energy usage 

Green-conscious businesses know that it’s key to keep track of and understand how much energy is being used. This is made easier by using an effective, sustainable energy strategy to collect data over time. This will reduce environmental impacts while increasing your company’s profitability simultaneously. We have a list of steps on how your business can create a sustainable energy strategy in our previous article here.

2. Power your business with greener energy sources 

Many industries rely heavily on powering their businesses with fossil fuels such as diesel. Unless you are using some form of carbon offset, diesel emits a considerable amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Switching to a greener fuel such as GasHub’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) not only helps your business save on energy costs, but it emits 30% lesser CO2 than diesel and leaves no ground or water residue even if spilled.

3. Install low-cost solar panels 

Taking it up a notch, another way your business can make a positive impact on the environment is to consider self-generated energy with low-cost solar panels. It’s an affordable way for your business to save money in the long run and can also store energy for when peak demands increase electricity bills. With an estimated life span of 20 – 25 years, these solar panels require minimal maintenance, further reducing costs for your business.

4. Digitise your documents

During the pandemic, we saw many businesses adapt to remote work arrangements. Companies found themselves embracing digital transformations to ensure business continuity. As such, documents which would have been printed, now have to be digitised for ease of sharing between co-workers online, drastically reducing carbon emissions with lower energy usage.

5. Improve energy efficiency 

According to Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA), the industrial sector makes up the majority in terms of energy consumption. Companies that focus their efforts on improving energy efficiency have been shown to minimize energy wastage, cut energy costs, and help to increase profits. Something as simple as switching to LED sensor lights in infrequently used areas has proven to reduce energy use significantly. Besides such a simple solution, Gashub’s Combined Heat & Power (Cogen) or Combined Cooling Heat & Power (Trigen) solutions further enhance energy efficiency and cost savings in industrial manufacturing plants.  NEA’s Energy Efficiency Fund (E2F) scheme is designed specifically for businesses looking to improve their energy efficiency.

Just as nobody is perfect, there is no gold-standard organization in Singapore. However, we can always strive to improve our ethics and practices to reduce carbon emissions without compromising our business’s objectives. By understanding where your business can improve, it can create a better future for generations to come.

At GasHub, we aim to bring cleaner energy solutions to businesses with our LNG-centric gas distribution solution. From consultation and installation to maintenance and after-sales support, your business is in good hands with Singapore’s leading Green Energy Enablers. To learn more about how GasHub can help your business, talk to us today!