APC 2010 Annual Report Download - page 60

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ANDFOR ETHICS, MOTORS OF ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
In March2010, Schneider Electric helped create the EV Plug Alliance,
along with Legrand and Scame. The aim of the alliance is the rapid
adoption of a European standard for the connection of electric
vehicles to guarantee interoperability on the European continent.
Schneider Electric and Parkeon have also signed a collaboration
agreement to develop a electric vehicle charging system that is fully
integrated into the sustainable urban mobility management policy.
Towards integrated energy management
Context
Schneider Electric customers are facing increasing complexities in
the effi cient management of their energy. They require integrated and
intelligent solutions, rather than isolated products.
Offers
To help its customers optimise their energy management, Schneider
Electric offers products, systems, and services making energy safe,
reliable, effi cient, productive, and green.
In large buildings and industrial sites, this approach requires the
integrated management of security, heating, and electricity systems,
control of equipment and manufacturing processes, and the
monitoring of data centers and even solar panels. This combined,
intelligent, and integrated management of energy fl ows, can save up
to 30% on the energy bill.
EcoStruxure: software solutions for intelligent energy
management to optimise consumption and energy effi ciency
In 2010, Schneider Electric launched its range of integrated solutions
for intelligent energy management. This offering, named EcoStruxure,
enables the Group to offer its customers turnkey solutions to make
their energy visible and optimise their energy consumption.
EcoStruxure interconnects the Group’s control and energy
management software to ensure its customers better operational
effi ciency with savings on their energy bill of up to 30%.
With EcoStruxure, the Group relies on acquisitions made during the
last few years merging its different skills to enrich its offering.
Significant events in 2010
Schneider Electric has just launched the software platform
StruxureWare for Building, a cutting edge building control and
technical management system. This new platform provides one
single screen to view the essential functions of technical management
(air-conditioning, ventilation, heating, lighting, and access control) and
provides essential information for monitoring energy consumption. All
of Schneider Electric’s energy metering products are now inherently
integrated into the software platform, simplifying storage and access
to energy data for the building.
StruxureWare for Building also offers great connectivity, allowing the
integration of third party and existing systems.
For eco-responsible treatment of products’
end-of-life
Compliance with legislation: WEEE and Similar
A number of political commitments and regulations address the issue
of waste from electrical products. One example is the European
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE), which
has been transposed in each member State. Similar regulations have
been adopted or initiated in Japan, China, India, and the United
States.
The WEEE directive’s main objective is to increase the recovery
rate for the largest types of electrical waste, such as televisions,
refrigerators and lighting systems, as well as for short-lived IT and
telecommunication equipment. Industrial electrical and electronic
devices and electrical distribution equipment is only very marginally
concerned. Under the directive, the equipment manufacturer is
responsible for setting up and fi nancing dedicated solutions to collect
and process discarded equipment. The directive sets minimum rates
for recovery and recycling.
Schneider Electric is actively involved in a responsible approach even
though virtually none of its products are covered by the directive.
As a responsible company, Schneider Electric must be able to prove
the existence of established end-of-life solutions. These must be
fi nanced and certifi ed for collecting, processing, and recycling end-
of-life products in a way that respects both human health and the
environment.
Carried out in close cooperation with all Group partners, the
approach is deployed at the national level in each host country.
This involves identifying, certifying, and in some cases organising
solutions for processing waste from electrical equipment, with the
application of the appropriate indicators.
Specific solutions
In the framework of its Planet & Society Barometer, Schneider
Electric looks to create SF6 gas treatment subsidiaries, for end-of-
life products in 10 countries, in Europe and in China. SF6 is a gas
used as an insulator in medium voltage devices. It has an elevated
heat capacity and therefore requires special treatment to prevent it
leaking into the atmosphere.
The fi rst SF6 containing devices sold by Schneider Electric came to
the end of their life as of the early 2000s. The objective is to develop
commercial offers that allow clients to dispose of their end-of-life,
SF6 containing devices, in order to completely extract the gas and
recycle the products.
Manufacturers of batteries and other consumables are responsible
for managing the related waste. Schneider Electric agrees with
sharing responsibility and understands that it needs to inform
customers for waste management to be effective. This is the purpose
of the Product Environmental Profi les, which describe each product’s
components and environmental impact.
Highlights of 2010
At the end of 2010, 344 product environmental profiles were
published.
2010 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC58