It’s not about the technology being missing: it’s about actually getting the job done.
Schneider Electric Launches “The Great Switch” Podcast Focusing on Green Transition
Schneider Electric has launched “The Great Switch,” a Nordic podcast series exploring how innovation, digitalization, and leadership can accelerate the green transition. Each episode features host Oliver Öberg in conversation with decision-makers and experts, discussing their experiences, challenges, and visions.
The premiere episode features Harald Vaagaasar Nikolaisen, CEO of Statsbygg – Norway’s state property management agency, responsible for many of Norway’s largest and most important construction projects. The discussion centers on how the public sector can lead the climate transition through investments in digitalization, increased energy efficiency, and collaboration across the value chain. Harald also discusses Statsbygg’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2030, emphasizing the importance of clear monitoring and operational management.
“Our experience is that it’s much more about processes than about technology. The technology already exists. The biggest challenge is to put good processes in place that ensure that you actually get it done, and that you can measure change and improvement continuously over time. It is also crucial to know your business, have functioning processes, and work with continuous improvement – to know what works and what doesn’t. It’s not about empty words and fancy presentations, but about hard work with what actually delivers in the value chain,” says Harald Vaagaasar Nikolaisen, CEO of Statsbygg.
Since 2020, Statsbygg has reduced its emissions by 30 percent while nearly doubling its investment rate. In the episode, Harald shares his three key insights for succeeding with the green transition in property management:
- Utilize Existing Buildings Better: On average, no more than 50 percent of a building’s capacity is utilized. By optimizing the use of existing spaces, we can reduce energy consumption and save resources without building new ones.
- Show Leadership and Long-Term Determination: Achieving climate goals requires more than ambition. It requires leadership that dares to set clear goals, monitors results, and drives change throughout the organization.
- Collaborate Throughout the Value Chain: The real impact is only achieved when all actors, from suppliers to property managers, share knowledge and work towards the same goals. Competence and responsibility must permeate the entire chain for change to be possible in practice.
“With The Great Switch, we want to highlight the initiatives, people, and solutions that are actually making a difference in the energy transition. By gathering insights from different parts of society, we want to inspire more people to take the next step towards a more sustainable world. We are very pleased to share Statsbygg’s journey in the first episode – a strong example of how concrete strategies and a solid focus on implementation can make a real difference,” says Alexandre Vermot, CEO of Schneider Electric Norway.
Schneider Electric aims to empower everyone to make the most of their energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. This is what Schneider calls Life Is On.
Their mission is to be the trusted partner in sustainability and efficiency.
Schneider Electric is a global leader in industrial technology, bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation, and digitalization to smart industries, robust infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Grounded in deep industry knowledge, they provide integrated, end-to-end solutions with AI-enabled industrial IoT with connected products, automation, software, and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for their customers.
Schneider Electric has an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and over a million partners operating in over 100 countries, embracing diversity and inclusion in everything they do, guided by their purpose of a sustainable future for all.
Enjoyed this post by Thibault Helle? Subscribe for more insights and updates straight from the source.
