Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia, Southeast Asia’s premier trade show for green building solutions, has commenced at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The event is anticipated to draw visitors from over 50 nations, all eager to witness the latest advancements in Asian green building, HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration), water, energy, and heating technologies.
BEX Asia, which runs until September 14, 2017, is held in conjunction with Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia, a regional trade show specializing in energy-efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, and residential structures. Both events are central to Singapore Green Building Week (SGBW) and contribute to a global movement towards a more sustainable future. SGBW features a series of events designed to inspire action on sustainability, drawing participation from international green building experts, policymakers, academics, built environment professionals, end-users, the general public, and students.
Smart devices designed to power the next generation of homes, offices, and buildings were a dominant theme at the exhibition.
AGC Asia Pacific’s Kinestral Halio, a smart-tinting glass that can darken or lighten automatically or on-demand for sun-blocking, anti-glare, and privacy purposes in under three minutes, was a highlight. The glass, controllable through voice commands or a dimmer-like switch, can significantly reduce the reliance on HVAC systems and artificial light, potentially saving up to 22% in energy costs.
Other companies unveiled their newest offerings, including:
AL-SUS Technologies’ Step Lift, an innovative lift system designed to retrofit existing staircases. The Step Lift, intended to work in tandem with staircases, offers a platform that smoothly and automatically travels up a single flight of stairs, accommodating loads of up to 150kg. This solution eliminates the need for costly escalator or lift shaft constructions.
Belimo’s Energy Valve, a smart HVAC control valve designed for air conditioning systems. Featuring built-in smart sensors, the Energy Valve automatically calibrates the amount of chilled water required to maintain ideal temperatures within buildings, resulting in cost savings and reduced energy waste.
KANSAI Paint Singapore showcased their air-purifying paint, which enhances health and well-being by neutralizing indoor air pollutants and deactivating bacteria and viruses. They also displayed textured paint that can be applied over pre-existing painted surfaces.
Lumani showcased Lumazones, an autonomous lighting and HVAC system designed to minimize the global carbon footprint of buildings and reduce energy expenses. Utilizing sensors, Lumazones automatically adapts to occupants’ needs, ensuring optimal energy efficiency without compromising user comfort.
Another key attraction was the Future Home, curated by Surbana Jurong Consultants under the theme Life in the Time of Climate Change. This centerpiece exhibit presented a house that embodied the integration of building and sustainable innovation, underscoring the importance of sustainable practices starting at home. Visitors to this exhibit explored products designed for energy and water conservation, thermal comfort, digital connectivity, and environmental well-being. Companies featured in this showcase included AGC Asia Pacific, Cityneon, Ecosoftt, Greenologix, Hubble, Hydrabath, Mobike, SoundEye, Waldmann Lighting, and Whiteblack – Greenblue.
Other noteworthy solutions included:
Crestron Singapore’s Crestron Fusion, an intelligent energy management system equipped with data analytics and centralized environmental controls.
En-trak Hong Kong’s En-trak Energy, a platform enabling businesses to capitalize on real-time data to achieve cost savings and improve energy efficiency.
The exhibition also highlighted green building materials with the potential to minimize the depletion of natural resources. Among the products on display were eco-friendly tile adhesives from PAREX Group and Innovative Precast Builders’ patented interlocking precast block system that minimizes waste.
Several companies chose BEX Asia as the platform to launch products and solutions new to the Asian market, with highlights including:
AET Flexible Space from the UK, introduced underfloor air conditioning systems lauded for their optimal energy performance, leading to cost reductions of up to 48%. This solution aligns seamlessly with green building certifications such as LEED.
Netherlands-based G3 Industry unveiled Finch Buildings, a portable and stackable modular building system constructed using sustainably sourced timber. Finch modules are lauded for their sustainability due to their longevity, energy efficiency, and closed-loop system.
Slovakian company TapHome launched a smart home energy management system capable of controlling various modules, including thermostats, lighting, and doors. The system’s intelligent heating algorithms adapt to the preferred energy requirements of individual rooms and can be easily managed via a mobile application.
Both BEX Asia and MCE Asia hosted seminar series, Green View and Mostra Xchange respectively. The seminars commenced with the Interior Design Confederation of Singapore (IDCS) Forum, where experts engaged in discussions on strategies for designing living spaces that are not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable.
Over the course of the event, Green View seminars featured insights from experts such as Vincent Chow, CEO of En-trak Hong Kong, on minimizing lighting energy waste, and Alex Lau, CEO of Anacle System, who shared a forward-looking perspective on energy management in the age of IoT. MCE Asia’s Mostra Xchange offered valuable knowledge from industry leaders, including Jayant Kaushal, Director of Product & Project Management Office at Camfil Singapore, who spoke on air filtration, and Stewart Tai, Manager of Sustainability & Innovation at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, who addressed air quality and water sustainability in healthcare settings.
Further enriching the knowledge exchange were the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Seminar on designing and managing energy-efficient buildings and a session led by Dr. Benny Chow, Director of Sustainability at Aedas, who shared cutting-edge research on utilizing computational tools to design people-centric, sustainable urban neighborhoods.
Professionals attending these seminars could earn up to 11 professional development units (PDUs) over the two-day period.