Schneider Electric’s Net Zero Building solutions implemented at IntenCity recognized by Fast Company

Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been awarded Honorable Mention in Fast Company’s prestigious 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards, in Architecture Category. Schneider Electric was recognized for IntenCity, its new net-zero carbon in building operation Building of the Future, located in Grenoble, France.

With buildings responsible for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions and more than 30% of building energy wasted, the industry needs a massive digital injection to help deliver better, more efficient outcomes while predicting and minimizing waste. Schneider’s Net Zero Building Strategy resolves this issue with accuracy and efficiency, helping our buildings reduce waste, decarbonize, and aim for Net Zero targets through advanced EcoStruxure™ solutions.

IntenCity is a leading part of Schneider Electric’s efforts to rethink the world’s buildings to become more sustainable, resilient, hyper-efficient, people-centric and achieve net zero goals. As a standing proof point for Schneider Electric’s 4-step Net-Zero Decarbonization Strategy for buildings, IntenCity as a net-zero carbon building takes active measures to reduce its CO2 emissions in its operations by reducing energy and replacing fossil-fueled energy with renewables. IntenCity also possesses the ability to monitor and report back on energy and carbon KPIs digitally, utilizing connected devices, edge control, and advanced analytics. Intencity is smart enough to be driven by usage: its Building Management System and associated analytics are based on 60,000 data points allowing to combine efficiency, resiliency and comfort.

Featuring EcoStruxure™ solutions and an end-to-end digital open architecture, IntenCity represents the consolidation of multiple sites into one 26,000 sqm site to reduce Schneider Electric’s energy footprint while creating a smart building that supports world-class innovation and well-being of over 5,000+ employees. Intencity uses 10 times less energy than average European buildings. Nothing is burned in this building; all energy is provided by renewable sources. With 4,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels, two wind turbines and 300kW onsite Battery storage, IntenCity generates 970 megawatts hours of energy per year which is enough to power 200 homes. Intencity consumes only the energy needed and has the capability to stock energy and deliver it outside the building, thus making it Net Zero Energy in building operation.

“We are honored to have IntenCity recognized in the World Changing Ideas Awards,” said Andre Marino, Senior Vice President, Schneider Electric Digital Buildings Line of Business. “IntenCity was designed through the lens of Schneider Electric’s advanced energy performance model and is already a part of the energy landscape of tomorrow. With innovation at its core, IntenCity represents our vision for the new era of an all-digital, all-electric world.”

Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards honor clean technology, innovative corporate initiatives, brave new designs for cities and buildings, and other creative works that are supporting the growth of positive social innovation, tackling social inequality, climate change, and public health crises.

Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 39 winners, 350 finalists, and more than 600 honorable mentions—with climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia.

“We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges,” says David Lidsky, interim editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution.”

About the World Changing Ideas Awards

World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.