Yes, our actions contribute to our carbon footprint and our daily activities take a toll on the Earth. However, this means it is also within our control to make choices that help to protect and preserve our planet.
One way of cleaning up our act is by tapping into green energy sources, like solar power, which significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Home-grown renewable energy firm Sunseap is helping us to take that step.
Sunseap is focused on providing affordable solar energy solutions to businesses and individuals. It was set up in 2011 with an innovative business model of selling solar energy as a service.
Starting out in a nascent industry was not easy for Sunseap co-founders Frank Phuan and Lawrence Wu. For instance, securing funding as an untested company was challenging until they received support from DBS Bank.
Now, Sunseap is Singapore's largest clean energy solutions provider with an integrated suite of services, and clients that range from multinational companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Panasonic, to small and medium-sized enterprises looking to use 100 per cent renewable energy.
Last April, Sunseap extended its services to the retail electricity market. It offers competitive energy plans with an element of locally-generated solar power — effectively making solar energy accessible to all consumers in Singapore.
Advances in technology over the years have increasingly made solar power a viable source of energy for businesses and consumers.
Solar installations on residential homes and Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats have already reduced Singapore's carbon emissions by about 35 kilo tonnes per year, the equivalent of emissions produced by the annual electricity consumption of nearly 20,000 HDB four-room households.
Phuan says:
“We entered the Open Electricity Market (OEM) because we wanted to extend our goal and vision of providing affordable clean energy to everyone.
Many of our customers have switched to our clean energy plans as they are concerned about climate change and want to do their part to protect the environment.”
Sunseap’s electricity plans plans can be found on the DBSElectricity Marketplace portal.
You can compare electricity plans and search for a sustainable option through filters such as “clean energy”.
“Individuals and businesses, big or small, can play a part in the fight against climate change,” adds Wu.
“They can reduce their carbon footprint by opting for 100 per cent renewable energy and retrofitting existing lights with light-emitting diode (LED) lightings to increase their overall energy efficiency.”
Meanwhile, Sunseap continues to look for new ways to deploy solar systems in Singapore.
“An example would be deploying floating systems on water bodies such as reservoirs, an area that we've started looking into with a five megawatt-peak floating solar system we announced late last year,” says Phuan.
3 myths about energy usage, busted!
Get to the bottom of these myths that are not only costing you money, but harming the planet too.
MYTH 1: You don't have to service your air-conditioner unless it’s spoilt
You may think that as long as your air-conditioner circulates cold air, it's working just fine. But periodically cleaning its filters will ensure efficient performance. An air-conditioner with dirty filters can consume up to five per cent more energy than one with clean filters, costing you money too.
MYTH 2: Switching off your appliances eliminates energy usage
Your appliances silently draw electricity when left plugged into a power source, even if they are switched off. To prevent the leak of electricity, consider unplugging appliances that are not in use.
MYTH 3: Halogen bulbs are ultra-efficient
Halogen bulbs are incandescent bulbs, which actually consume 75 per cent more energy and have shorter lifespans than light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.
This content is produced in partnership with ST Life.