SCIENCE

IBM has announced that Autodesk has joined the Green Sigma Coalition, a consortium of industry leaders in metering, monitoring, automation, data communications and software. Autodesk’s expertise in 3D design and engineering software for buildings and construction will complement the coalition’s focus on helping organizations deploy smart solutions for energy, water, waste and greenhouse gas management.

The Green Sigma Coalition, formed in 2009, brings together leaders across a range of industries and technologies to create solutions designed to conserve resources and support sustainability across all aspects of the enterprise.  Coalition members work with IBM to integrate their products and services with IBM's Green Sigma solution, which applies Lean Six Sigma principles and practices to energy, water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions throughout a company's operations -- transportation systems, data centers and IT systems, manufacturing and distribution centers, office facilities, retail space, research and development sites, etc.  It combines real-time metering and monitoring with advanced analytics and dashboards that allow clients to make better decisions that improve efficiency, lower costs and reduce environmental impact. 

Autodesk will bring its deep industry experience with the environmental and cost-savings advantages of building information modeling (BIM) to the Green Sigma Coalition. Autodesk architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) customers utilize an integrated BIM process to digitally develop, visualize, analyze and simulate building designs that satisfy goals for energy performance and budget before they are built, and when they are due for maintenance or retrofit. Autodesk software products including Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis and Autodesk Green Building Studio help give organizations the modeling and analysis that they require for solid evidence-based decision to optimize environmental and cost parameters. 

“Those who will win in tomorrow’s markets are those who can squeeze resource waste out of their infrastructure assets,” said Jay Bhatt, senior vice president of Autodesk’s AEC Industry Group. “We’re eager to work together with all of the Green Sigma members, building upon our existing relationships with members including IBM and SAP, to extend the value of BIM into all phases of a building or infrastructure project’s lifecycle.”

Since its inception, members of the coalition have partnered to help clients bring efficiency and sustainability to all aspects of their operations.  Now, the coalition has expanded its charter, using the strength of its collective voice to propel the industry forward by identifying necessary standards and working with existing standards bodies to create and implement these standards. 

Green Sigma Coalition engagements include:

• Ave Maria University: IBM and Johnson Controls converged 23 systems to a single IP network and integrated Johnson Control  Metasys with IBM Maximo.  This project has saved $1M in building costs and $350K/yr in combined operating costs.
• IBM and Schneider Electric are teaming to extend innovation already in use in Bryant University’s campus-wide data center by bringing together disparate data in a common repository for use across facilities, IT and administrative functions. Usage trending and analysis has helped the university reduce its carbon footprint.
• Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) and NC State University are teaming with IBM on the Smarter Building Initiative (SBI). This initiative will create a working demo of a Smarter Building solution at the The Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center in Raleigh, NC.  FREEDM Systems Center is a National Science Foundation Funded Engineering Research Center led by NC State University that focuses on technologies for the last mile of the utility grid, enabling energy generation, storage, and intelligent use of energy.

“Sustainability is a 21st century business imperative that requires a holistic approach across the organization by harnessing data in real time to change operational behavior,” said Rich Lechner, vice president, energy and environment, IBM. “It begins with designing efficiency into building and infrastructure systems, and Autodesk’s expertise in 3D design and engineering software will significantly enhance the Green Sigma Coalition’s ability to deliver client value.”