Energy efficiency upgrades carried out by Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and RMIT University won honours at the National Australian Energy Efficiency Council 2017 Awards, bringing recognition to Siemens Building Technologies. Both projects featured Siemens’ benchmark building technology solutions, which were earlier utilised at iconic sites such as Carnegie Hall, London Crystal and even the Siemens headquarters in Munich, winning these projects awards for energy efficiency and sustainability.

Held in November last, the National Australian Energy Efficiency Council 2017 Awards recognised Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) for the Best Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Project (above 2,000 m²), with the RMIT Sustainable Urban Precincts Program winning the Best ‘Smart Energy’ Project.

To date, Siemens building technology solutions have helped customers save over 2,000,000 tonnes CO2 per year.

Stefan Schwab, the head of Siemens Building Technologies for Australia and New Zealand, said that the recognition was testament to the strength of their technology and the amazing work by their customers as well as their teams.

Best Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Project 2017

MCC partnered with Siemens to deliver an innovative Energy Performance Contract (EPC) to improve the energy efficiency of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The EPC drove the upgrade of existing practices as well as the installation of innovative efficiency systems at the stadium. Specific objectives included cutting water use at the ground by 5 per cent, reducing CO2 equivalent carbon emissions by 19 per cent annually, and enabling a utility cost saving of 20 per cent each year, helping save enough electricity annually to power the stadium's light towers for nearly six years.

Key action items included installation of an innovative Siemens building management system that allows the MCC to automate room bookings and functions; replacement of half the existing MCG lights with LED technologies; and implementation of a 'smart' air-conditioning system that adjusts output based on the number of people in a room.

Project outcomes at the MCG include 10 million kWh in energy savings, equivalent to powering 1872 houses for a year; energy consumption reduced by 23.9%; and CO2 equivalent carbon emissions cut by 20,982 tonnes.

Best 'Smart' Energy Project 2017

The Sustainable Urban Precincts Program (SUPP) at the RMIT University is the largest project of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The SUPP represents a $128M commitment by RMIT to reduce emissions associated with University operations (25% by 2020), whilst also delivering a step-change in asset management practices and end user experience. The SUPP was delivered across RMIT's three Melbourne campuses, with Siemens responsible for the City Campus, which takes up two entire blocks in Melbourne's CBD.

As part of the project, a Distributed Energy System (DES) is being implemented encompassing new HV infrastructure as well as two cogeneration systems. Also included is Siemens building management system (Desigo) and Siemens software to monitor and analyse energy consumption and savings.