What is the Highest Carbon Intensive Activity in Singapore?

What is Carbon Footprint? 

Carbon footprint is the measure of all the greenhouse gases (GHG) released by a business, organisation, product, city, or country. It can also be calculated for an individual. Carbon footprint is measured using carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Note that the calculation also includes other greenhouse gases apart from carbon dioxide. For example, methane is about 25% more potent compared to carbon dioxide. 

When calculating the carbon footprint, you have to factor in both direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gases. To make this easier, greenhouse gases are categorised into three scopes: 

• Scope 1 Emissions: These are greenhouse gases that are released directly by an organisation’s activities or through facilities they have full control of. For example, emissions from machines, transport vehicles, and boilers in your company fall into this category. 
• Scope 2 Emissions:  These are greenhouse gases emitted because of energy use by an organisation. It implies that your company is responsible for the emissions released to produce the electricity it uses. 
• Scope 3 Emissions:  These are emissions that your company causes to be released indirectly. For example, the greenhouse gases emitted by suppliers are still associated with your company. Therefore, you should consider working with them to adopt strategies for cutting down their own carbon footprints. 

The Most Carbon Intensive Activity in Singapore

The most carbon-intensive activity in Singapore is industrial or manufacturing operations, which accounts for 47% of the total emissions. The petrochemical and refinery industries, in which Singapore is a respected leader, have the highest levels of air pollution. 

The electricity and heat sectors closely follow in terms of greenhouse emissions. These sectors account for 41% of the emissions from the country. As a result, Singapore is one of the top countries in terms of per capita emissions. In 2015, Singapore committed to cutting down its carbon emissions by 36% by 2030. 

In Singapore, the average annual temperatures have been rising over the last 30 years. The rise has been one of the causes of workplace injuries. It has also raised the risk of flooding, making Singapore's National Water Agency start setting up detention tanks. The minimum construction level for land reclamation has also been raised to four metres to reduce the impact of flooding. 

The Best Ways to Cut Down Carbon Footprint 

The problem of global warming is threatening to tear the planet apart and the UN has warned that we are on the "highway to climate hell" unless we change the way of doing things. This is why the Paris Agreement has called on governments to do everything possible to try and reduce their emissions and target carbon neutrality by 2050. So, what can companies and organisations in sectors that release a lot of emissions do to cut down their carbon footprints? 

Check out the following four expert suggestions: 

• Shift to Renewable forms of Energy for Your Organization 

For most companies, the notion of cutting down their carbon footprint comes with some additional costs. For example, changing machinery to improve efficiency can result in a significant rise in operating costs. So, are there actions that you can take to cut down your carbon footprint and still keep the cost low? 

One of the best actions that you should consider is shifting to renewable energy, such as wind or solar. For example, installing solar panels for the supply of energy will not only help to cut down Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions but also reduce the related utility bills. Remember that even if it means using solar energy to power only one part of the company, such as lighting only, the impact will still be significant. 

• Reduce Waste from Your Company 

As we indicated earlier on in this post, methane is very destructive when released into the atmosphere. So, your company should focus on cutting down wastes, which are crucial in the release of methane when dumped in landfills. Indeed, cutting down waste comes with loads of other sustainability benefits because it will not pollute the waterways or damage the aesthetic appeal of the environment. Here are some of the best suggestions for cutting down waste and carbon footprints: 

1. Change your product design to cut down on waste. 
2. Treat the wastes on site before disposal. 
3. Recycle the waste. 
4. Partner with waste recycling companies in Singapore. 

• Train Your Staff about Sustainability 

We must say that every company’s efforts to cut down its carbon footprint and improve its ESG rating cannot be successful unless all your stakeholders are involved. For example, if you adopt a policy to switch off all equipment, machinery, and computers when they are not being used, the effort can only bear results with the involvement of staff. This is why your sustainability efforts should always include training or coaching. 

Sustainability training, especially when done by experts like Climate Fresk, will yield more because they help staff to understand the benefits to draw from their commitment. Your staff will be assisted in identifying the benefits that come from sustainability not just to their companies but to the entire planet. With their involvement, you are sure to get more engagement, reduced staff attrition, and professional suggestions on improving the company's sustainability score. 

Climate Fresk uses the latest research findings and internationally accepted practices to help your company craft a good plan for sustainability improvement. They do not just train your staff but will walk together with you to ensure you achieve the targeted ESG goals. 

• Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Organization

As we have demonstrated, Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions are some of the main contributors to high carbon footprints by companies. Therefore, you can cut down your footprint by a significant margin by improving the energy efficiency of your organisation. This means that you use less energy or electricity without compromising output. Here are some useful suggestions for improving energy efficiency: 

1. Install Smart Energy Management System in Your Company 

Many are times when employees forget to switch off the lamps or HVAC system at night or on weekends, resulting in high energy bills and carbon footprint. The problem is caused by the fact that employees are usually tired in the evening, but you can eliminate the risk by installing an energy management system. 

Smart energy management systems use sensors and advanced programs that help them note when there is no one in the office. Then, they automatically switch off the lamps or HVAC system. The smart management systems can also be programmed to switch off the lamps or HVAC systems at specific times, perhaps at 7:30 pm, when no one will be in the office. 

2. Use CONTINEWM in Your HVAC System 

HVAC systems used in industries take up the biggest chunk of energy bills. This is why managers and leaders make them the first area of target for cutting down carbon footprints. One of the best methods of improving the efficiency of HVAC systems is installing CONTINEWM. This is an innovative device installed on the front part of the heat exchanger. 

The CONTINEWM device works by producing negative charges to counter positive electrostatic charges generated by the rotating parts. The effect is a smooth flow of air through the HVAC system, which helps to improve its energy efficiency by a huge margin. When you install CONTINEWM, it can help to cut down related energy bills by up to 50%. Remember to capture the rates accurately when presenting the information in sustainability reports for easy verification. 

Other notable benefits of using CONTINEWM in your HVAC system are: 

1. It is very easy to install on the front part of the heat exchanger.
2. CONTINEWM helps to improve indoor air quality by helping to clear off odours.
3. There are minimal to no maintenance costs after installing CONTINEWM in your HVAC system. 
4. Once installed, it helps to extend the lifespan of the HVAC system. 

The highest carbon intensive activity in Singapore is manufacturing, making it a crucial area of target for cutting down carbon footprint. To cut down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is prudent to ensure that every stakeholder in the manufacturing and related sectors is also involved. Using the strategies we have highlighted in this post, you are sure of cutting down greenhouse gas emissions and helping the planet to become a better home for all, both the current and future generations. 

Remember to review your strategies for reducing carbon footprint and make adjustments for improvements. Again, the efforts should be incremental, helping you to build on the previous achievements and steer your organisation towards net zero carbon emissions. 

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