SGBC Seminar: Digital Twins for Sustainability in the Built Environment

HY is honoured to have been the Education Partner to Singapore Green Building Council for this seminar, and we extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed collaborators, Belimo and PassiveLogic for making this a uniquely enriching experience for everyone involved.

The discussions reinforced the critical role of digital twins in navigating the complexities of modern buildings and achieving our ambitious sustainability goals.

Powerful insights shared:

• Defining the Modern Digital Twin: We explored the necessity of a customized definition for digital twins in the built environment. The HYDRAS framework, for instance, goes beyond basic models by integrating 3D visualizations with physics-based environmental modelling, real-time BMS/IoT data, and energy asset information to provide truly actionable strategies for management.
• A Paradigm Shift: Controls Must “Know” the Building: A key emphasis was the long-standing disconnect between controls and reality. For decades, building management systems were designed with controls that had no inherent knowledge of complex building physics. This results in a BMS that simply doesn’t understand the building it operates. The path forward is clear: controls need to know the building, embedding its physics directly into the operational logic for truly intelligent management.
• Uncovering Hidden Potential: The BELIMO CESIM House case study provided a compelling real-world example. Even in a state-of-the-art, IGBC Platinum-rated factory, the digital twin simulation uncovered a surprising potential for ~22% in further energy optimization. This proves that even the most advanced buildings have opportunities for data-driven improvement.
• The Future is Autonomous: PassiveLogic offered a look into the next generation of building management with the world’s first platform for true building autonomy. Their approach uses “Quantum Digital Twins” as a foundation that enables “Future-Forward Control”—allowing systems to predict and choose optimal strategies rather than just reacting to past events.
• Foundational Pillars are Non-Negotiable: A recurring theme was the critical importance of a solid data infrastructure. Key lessons highlighted the need for a centralized BMS, comprehensive sub-metering, and a well-structured data pipeline as prerequisites for any successful digital twin implementation.

The path to a smarter, greener built environment is paved with collaboration and innovation, and we at HY are excited to continue this journey with our industry partners.

A special shout-out to the organizing team—Rowena Rawte, Matthew Chew, Deepti Shrimali and Pranati Trivedi for the great job in bringing this all together.

Let’s continue the conversation on building a sustainable and resilient future!