Solar Roofing Helps Limit Global Warming in the Workplace

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

SITA installs solar panels on the roof of its Singapore office to make sustained emission reduction that diminishes their climate impact. 

Among the many benefits of going solar, one of the most well-known is reduced greenhouse gas emissions. When you use the sun to provide energy to your home, you are far less dependent on electric companies. That is why the leading IT provider for the air transport industry, SITA, has installed solar panels on its Singapore office.  

According to Aviation Pros, this solution will deliver a 16% reduction of the office’s electricity-related carbon footprint compared to 2021 usage. 

Research has shown that transitioning to renewable energy is the most significant way between now and 2050 to keep global warming to the temperature limits set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is without a doubt, the top priority when it comes to making the workplace greener.  

Thus, SITA has switched from brown energy (fossil fuel such as coal) to adopting more renewable and green energy via solar panels, selling and purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)*, and switching to green energy providers. 

According to SITA, the ultimate aim for the office is to run on 100% renewable energy just as their ten other offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Letterkenny, London Gate, Montreal, Prague, Rome, Vancouver and Ypenburg already run on entirely renewable energy. 

SITA has long been at the forefront of addressing environmental impact. Web In Travel reports that the company achieved CarbonNeutral® status after significantly reducing emissions associated with its business operations, reducing approximately 17% of electricity emissions. 

“We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations, as well as that of our customers. Solar panels are just one of the ways we are making SITA workplaces more sustainable, contributing to our company’s overall carbon reduction efforts,” president of Asia Pacific, SITA, Sumesh Patel tells Aviation Pros. “I am delighted that our Singapore office is the first SITA office to have installed solar panels and our 11th office to adopt renewable energy.” 

According to another press release from SITA, the company plans on further accelerating the scale and pace of its emission reduction efforts by committing to set science-based targets with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in line with net-zero and 1.5^oC global warming temperature target by 2050.  

Science-based targets are emissions reduction targets aligned with what the latest climate science says is needed to meet the goals of the climate change treaty, known as the Paris Agreement. These goals show companies how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to be consistent with keeping warming below the most dangerous levels. 

“It’s important that we lead by example and not add to our customer’s emissions,” states CEO, SITA AT AIRPORTS & BORDERS, David Lavorel in a press release. “By taking this step to commit to science-based targets, we aim to make sustained emission reductions aligned to climate science, so we reduce our climate impact and reach net-zero.” 

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Photo credit: SITA