US power firm APC opens $2m green technology centre in Singapore

Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 4 Apr 08;

COMPANIES in Singapore seeking to 'green' their information technology systems now have a dedicated venue that lets them test new technologies.

United States-based power and cooling company APC (American Power Conversion) opened the $2 million centre - the first of its kind in Asia - yesterday.

The 25,000 sq ft facility in Ang Mo Kio showcases a range of cutting-edge products and solutions that tackle what has become a growing environmental and economic problem: energy consumption by IT systems.

The problem has worsened in recent years, with businesses becoming increasingly dependent on technology systems in their daily operations.

The centre lets companies simulate and test different technologies and configurations before they sink investments in their IT systems, said APC's Asean vice-president, Mr George Kong.

APC's energy-efficient systems can help a company save physical space and up to 30 per cent in power bills, Mr Kong said. This may come at a premium initially, but payback is easily achieved in two to three years, he added.

APC president and chief executive Laurent Vernerey said soaring energy costs and the growing concern over climate change issues meant adopting green IT was becoming a top priority.

In the next 20 years, as much as US$12 trillion (S$16.6 trillion) will be invested in electricity - 80 per cent of which will go to emerging countries, he said.

Singapore was an obvious choice for APC's centre, he added. Apart from its central location in Asia, the country has carved a niche for itself as a regional data centre hub with disaster recovery facilities.

'The growth opportunities in Asia are huge. We also plan to open a similar centre in China in the next year,' said Mr Vernerey.

The chief executive of the National Environment Agency, Mr Lee Yuen Hee, commended APC's new initiative and 'contribution to strengthen our national drive to improve energy efficiency'.

APC, which has had a presence in Singapore for more than 10 years, was bought out by France's Schneider Electric last year.