INTERVIEW
into the mix , and that short versus mid-to-long term dilemma becomes even more pronounced . “ But has it changed the thinking and desire for sustainability ?” Hughes asks . “ Absolutely not . This is a topic that overrides politics . It is about brand image and profitability .” Selling sustainability There is no better way of proving this than through the showcasing of real life examples , something that Schneider Electric ’ s portfolio contains in abundance .
Hughes points to a recent project with Deloitte ’ s headquarters in Amsterdam . Not only did the multinational demand a user-friendly and enlightening space for its employees to work in , it treated the work as a financial investment . As a result , the building now produces more energy than it consumes and makes money by selling surplus power back to the Dutch grid .
“ This is when it becomes real ,” Hughes says . “ You have to get across the fact this is a positive investment , not something that is done purely for environmental and company image reasons . There is a genuine business case for it , and this is a shift that is beginning to happen .”
This is true of Schneider Electric itself , which has forever been the greatest champion of its own technology and solutions .
“ We don ’ t just go out and preach to the market what might be achieved ,” Hughes adds . “ We use our own technologies and reveal every quarter our progress towards carbon reduction – these are things we can also take to our customers and say : ‘ this is what we have done ’.”
Knowledge is power Clearly Schneider is best-placed to implement its own ideas , its vast employee base well-versed in the latest technology and analytical skills to maximise the energysaving potential of its services .
But what about companies lacking the necessary digital expertise ? For Hughes , this is arguably the greatest obstacle to overcome over the next few years .
“ People are little bit overwhelmed with the topic ,” he says . “ Everything is smart , whether it be smart buildings , smart infrastructure , smart cities and so on . All the devices are now being connected and people are getting
10 November 2017