Siemens Creates Center Of Competence in London to Promote Urban Sustainability

Electronic and electrical engineering giant Siemens (News - Alert), which is currently extending its footprint into the urban sustainability sector with the formation of new Sector Infrastructure & Cities division, announced its plan about bringing its global Center of Competence for cities to East London’s Newham. The global Center of Competence is expected to help accomplish Siemens’ ambitions in the cities and infrastructure field.

In a press release, officials revealed that Siemens is going to create a joint 'think tank' with the city of London. The new center will be the office for internationally acclaimed, high-tech engineers and London's city experts, who will work together in the new facility to promote sustainability and to make the city greener.

Siemens plans to host a major, state-of-the-art, exhibition on sustainable urban development at the centre, which will be open to the public, as well as hosting conferences in its 300-seat auditorium. For the convenience of the visitors, the center will also provide such facilities as shopping, a restaurant and a café.

“Our London-based center for urban sustainability will be the flagship of our new Sector Infrastructure & Cities. We will bring Siemens engineers and a wealth of global city expertise to our landmark building, creating a win-win situation for London,” Siemens President and CEO, Peter Löscher noted in a statement.

In the release, Siemens revealed that the new building will be endowed with credentials to the highest standards available. To keep to its commitments toward environment-friendly technologies, Siemens is going to develop the building as an All Electric Building - meaning no fossil energy for the building will be required.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said, “Siemens' commitment to London is a thumbs up for the skills our city has in green and other sustainable technologies.”

Siemens has raised the building's credentials to the highest standards available, and groundwork has already started at the site. It will make use of solar power, ground source heat pumps, energy-efficient lighting and a closed water cycle. The building will be embedded in a smart grid and will include charging stations for e-vehicles.

The company said that the construction work has already begun for the campus that will house two dramatic, crystal-shaped sections and is due to become operational and open to the public by mid-2012.

Last month Siemens Energy, Inc. announced that it has been commissioned to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support Loudoun County, Virginia's new commuter park and ride lot in Scott Jenkins Memorial Park. The charging stations are scheduled to be installed at the Loudoun County Park by May 2011, the company said in a media release.

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