CORK, Ireland, 7 July 2021: Johnson Controls (JCI) today announced OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service. The company said it will provide a one-stop shop for companies looking to achieve net-zero-carbon and renewable energy goals. It added that the offering recognises customers’ need for assistance in making these goals easier to plan, execute, track and achieve.

“The need for making net-zero leadership easier to achieve is immediate and greater than ever,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO of JCI. “Buildings represent about 40% of global emissions, and Johnson Controls is uniquely positioned to help customers around the world pursue their net-zero-carbon goals. Our proprietary research echoes the demand, prioritization and urgency for support that businesses, governments and global leaders are calling for. Our As a Service model looks to provide our customers with guaranteed outcomes and risk management models to achieve emission reduction commitments that ultimately lead to healthier buildings, people, places and the planet.”

JCI said that to ensure alignment with the needs of customers and prospects, in May 2021, it commissioned a survey of 1,046 North American professionals responsible for building operations, facilities management and energy & sustainability management across various industry verticals and building types. Over 90% of respondents have significant goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by 2030+ with over 60% of respondents targeting a 50% or greater reduction, it said. Goals include increasing building performance and value, positively impacting the surrounding community and talent attraction and retention, it added.

According to JCI, the OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings, as a Service portfolio, includes a full spectrum of sustainability offerings tailored to schools, campuses, data centres, healthcare facilities as well as commercial and industry players. Understanding the market trends, unique industry requirements and investment pitfalls is an important element in making large sustainability decisions, it said, adding that it helps customers stay abreast of important trends and technology innovations that feed into a customised roadmap highlighting opportunities and managing risks and uncertainties against a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Additional results from the survey, the company said, revealed that respondents’ top five solution pathways and also their drivers for sustainability and net-zero lean into As-a-Service capabilities, including improving energy efficiency, integrating onsite renewables, electrifying buildings, incorporating offsite renewables and adding grid interactive capabilities. However, it said, almost all respondents are facing challenges across these solution pathways while also feeling pressure to move quickly. Over 90% of respondents, it said, plan to pursue a LEED certification and yet run into challenges with measuring emissions, the largest being how to aggregate data from multiple sources. Digital solutions are needed to solve this and other measurement challenges, it added.

Supporting this need, Johnson Controls said it has created a new offering, called OpenBlue Net Zero Advisor. It will deliver real-time, AI-driven tracking and reporting of sustainability metrics, helping facility managers ensure and prove the net-zero-carbon reduction and renewable energy impact of their buildings, it said. Based on criteria, such as LEED certification, the new technology automatically gathers and analyses data about energy, water, materials and greenhouse gas emissions involved in every phase of a building`s lifecycle and proves CO₂ reductions, renewable energy and efficiency gains, it said, adding that this will generate energy and environmental outcomes from improving building operations.