SINGAPORE - An online energy-consumption monitoring system has been launched to help business owners better keep track of their expenses and cut down on their electricity usage.

The automated meter reading (AMR) portal initiative was jointly developed by City Developments (CDL) and Tuas Power Generation and launched on Wednesday.

The online system provides real-time, half-hourly updates of a CDL commercial tenant's energy consumption and can be accessed via mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.

Tenants can also get an analysis of their electricity usage to find ways to lower their energy consumption.

CDL is rolling out the AMR portal at eight of its commercial buildings, namely: City Square Mall, Central Mall, Fuji Xerox Towers, King's Centre, Manulife Centre, Republic Plaza, Tampinese Concourse and Tampines Grande.

The move is part of CDL's efforts to get its tenants to be greener by embracing environmentally friendly designs, materials, fittings, equipment and lighting fixtures.

The property firm has gotten more than 300 or over 60 per cent of its commercial tennants to sign a pledge to monitor, manage and reduce their energy consumption.

CDL said its green efforts over the years, including upgrading chiller plants and using energy-efficient lighting, have enabled it to achieve, on average, annual energy savings of 14 million kilowatt hours or about $3.6 million.

CDL group general manager Chia Ngiang Hong said: "With our commercial tenants on board, we can attain a greater reduction in energy consumption for the entire building.

"This will result in utility savings for the tenant and landlord, as tariff rate continues to rise."