The word “energy” comes from the Greek term “energos”, meaning “active, effective, operating”. In other words, operation of all natural and human-made systems is dependent on energy. As the global population increases and consumption habits change, efficient generation and consumption of such a valuable asset, of course, becomes a critical item on the agenda. That is why I believe that the annual Energy Saving Week celebrated on the second week of every January in Turkey and all awareness efforts for energy efficiency are very important for both individuals and corporations.

As Siemens Turkey, we have many significant practices based upon our energy-efficient products and technologies. In addition to an energy generation portfolio also covering renewable resources, we focus on efficiency in consumption as well. Not only with the efficiency practices at our own facilities, mainly in our Gebze factory, but also with the solutions we offer to our customers, we contribute to improving energy generation and consumption processes in Turkey. I am very much proud and happy to announce that these efforts yielded 260 million TL energy savings in approximately 1,100 energy efficiency projectsin the last four years.

I believe that real progress in civilization is needing less energy for a certain process, not generating and consuming more energy. And this can only be achieved by planning all production operations with a focus on energy efficiency even at the R&D phase. Energy is critical for our planet, just as water or air is. Protecting energy means protecting our future.

It is also important to remember that everything starts with the “individual”. Individual efforts are as much needed as the corporate ones for energy awareness. On the occasion of Energy Saving Week, I would like to thank all Siemens Turkey employees for their attention and care, as members of a company that positions sustainability as a fundamental value.

In 1956 three great engineers Bardeen, Brattain and Shockley received the Nobel Prize in Physics based upon their research carried out in relation to the Semiconductor and their discovery of the transistor. Their inventions have formed a fundamental base for development of future technologies for all high tech inventions which have followed since up until this present time. Some of these consist of, but is not limited to Transistor Radios, Television, Computers, Mobile Phones, Internet, Social Media, and the list extends further on.

So, after all these substantial inventions what are the next key trends which will determine the change of the way in how we will live, communicate and build on for the future of this world?

Now that we have access to these inventions and a vast amount of new applications, products and networks have been introduced, the next key focus will be utilizing what can be done to enable usage of these as a whole and in the best productive way. The next 10 years of evolution on a global network will focus on our ability to connect and integrate all technological resources available on usage, products and networks. It is essential that these are all connected in order to make it possible to reach to the next level of transparency, efficiency and productivity.

I would like to give some examples in context of this situation. On average there are approximately 150 separate sensors in each car. If we had the opportunity to connect the sensors of all vehicles on the road, we would be able to achieve the most reliable map of our cities. People who live alone, and those of old age, would be able to live safer lives with the benefit of sensors connected to their homes. For example, these sensors would be able to detect automatically any sudden jolts by sending signals and help in situations of sudden falls or other life threatening emergencies that may occur within the home. The elderly who experience difficulty in mobilizing outdoors, and those who are posed at risk, would have the benefit of connecting with their doctor for a consultation over the internet at any time. With the use of all households being connected to a network of this kind, we would be able to optimize the utilization of energy during periods of maximum usage and would also allow the opportunity to re-feed unused energy back to the grid. Another example: The solutions offered by ‘Smart Networks’ (Smart Grid division) of Siemens, enables electric, water and natural gas networks to be monitored on the same platform. This system is able to detect with ease the measurement of optimized utilization or how these could be more productively used. In the coming terms we will more and more witness such patterns. The more we connect, with what we have in hand, the more we could increase the transparency and opportunities in the generations to come.

It is at this point of course that the unavoidable question comes to all minds once again: Does the full connectivity increase the risk of what we call ‘”Big Brother is watching”? Will this result in us being more closely controlled?

This is unavoidable, as we already live in an environment today where we are watched and observed every day by all service providers. How many of us take the time to read and peruse the terms and details of usage agreements before subscribing to a service provider? Each time we use our credit card, the service provider can determine what shops we prefer, which items we like, and what our payment patterns are. This happens each time we click on Internet links, Facebook, Google and Twitter our areas of interest are monitored.

The key in the future will be to develop a global standard of by whom and how the information of this kind should be used. However, the driver of all new future smart inventions will be built on the networking foundations of what we have today.

Often we are burned out by our daily routines in life and need a break with a real focus on ourselves. How can we do this in our modern times without being connected mentally and technologically to everyday life?

This is what I asked myself when I looked at the top managers at our traditional Monday managers’ breakfast meeting. I realized that we were talking about a successful year, yet we had little time to focus on ourselves. The managers had spent the little time they had after work with their families, but they mentioned here and there that they had almost no time for themselves—time within. I was determined to get my team to an outdoor event, but I did not want one of the classic outdoor management events focusing on our company targets, goals, achievements, and challenges, or even one on how to be a great team. I needed to get them out of the daily routine so they could think about where theyare as individuals, where they are going, and what they want in life. I talked to Yasemin Pirinççioğlu, an experienced event manager in Turkey, and we brainstormed about the concept of “a journey within.” This was a journey to the mountains of Antalya to an 800-year-old Kervan Saray (a simple and plain environment). Here we learned in three days how to not say anything and to listen to ourselves; we practiced listening to our bodies and our environments. We questioned what we eat and should eat, we listened to a Turkish Sufi and Indian Guru (who lives in Turkey), and we all listened to ourselves. This was an experiment that entailed some risks, since such events are not common in Turkey, but we ended up with a great outcome. The survey outcome was that the event was a 100% hit. I watched those who left this event; they were passionate individuals, seeking to fully grasp the clear and simple truths within themselves, pushing trivialities aside with the ability to establish connections between the high points of self-recognition. They took with them the idea that a good and understood self-spirit can fill generations with enthusiasm at home and at work. From time to time we all need a Journey Within!

I am in San Francisco at one of the most successful incubator places called “SOMAcentral”. Business incubators are offices where ideas are nurtured and companies are born. Young people rent office space and work on new ideas and inventions in a creative environment to realize their dreams.

Incubators provide all kinds of services. Besides office spaces, they provide management consulting, legal and accounting services etc., the list can go on and on. But what fascinated me most is the variety of the new ventures. Solutions, products, ideas for all kind of services in our daily life as well as for the enterprise, made in U.S.A. And all are done by using social media and the Internet as a backbone.

When I walk through the aisles at SOMAcentral, I hear English, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, French, German, Russian, etc. This is a global community based in San Francisco, with strong cultural links to the global market. I see diversity, I see out-of-the box ideas and I see bright young people working on their dreams in a great environment.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, to have a dream is a positive attribute.