Johnson Controls aims to achieve net zero by 2040

Johnson Controls has completed a significant sustainability project at its Norman, Oklahoma manufacturing site, aiming to achieve its 2040 net zero goal. The project is estimated to save $960,000 per year, reduce emissions by 43 percent.

Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, is speeding progress towards its 2040 net zero promise by completing a major sustainability project at its Norman, Oklahoma, manufacturing site. The plant modernization project is estimated to save $960,000 per year, cut emissions by 43 percent on-site, and serve as a model for worldwide organisations looking to adopt facility modernization projects that benefit owners, workers, investors, and communities.

“We are demonstrating at Norman that our cutting-edge technology can deliver competitive advantages including reduced utility bills, uptime assurance and a more productive environment, all while significantly slashing carbon emissions,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “The success at our Norman plant serves as a powerful case study to inspire other organizations to do the same.”

The Norman plant is a 900,000 square-foot flagship facility for research, manufacturing and testing of Johnson Controls HVAC rooftop units. Facing common industry challenges such as deferred maintenance and competing capital priorities, a team comprised of facility leaders, engineers and C-suite leaders designed, digitalized and deployed a complete facility upgrade with minimal disruption to operations.

The company’s OpenBlue digital platform will be essential to these enhancements, as it will support net zero targets through automated emissions reporting and data-driven insights. Johnson Controls also implemented infrastructure improvements such as a more efficient central utility plant, a new compressed air system, plug load controls, water conservation measures that are expected to save 3.5 million gallons of purchased water per year, and the replacement of high- and low-voltage transformers. Furthermore, the firm erected a 1.56-megawatt carport solar-photovoltaic system, as well as vehicle charging stations, to generate on-site renewable energy and meet additional energy demands.

“We’re drawing insights from our own facility upgrades and translating the lessons learned into actionable roadmaps tailored to our customers’ net zero goals,” said Mark Reinbold, vice president, global sustainable infrastructure at Johnson Controls. “The strides made at our Norman plant demonstrate the tangible outcomes made possible when organizations embrace a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy. As we look ahead, this is just one exciting step on our journey to net zero and the same can be true for our customers.”

The Johnson Controls Sustainable Infrastructure team used a new financing model, Infrastructure-as-a-Service, to free up funds for other business-critical projects. To reduce inherent risk and prevent capital inputs, the Norman project will be funded by a flat monthly charge. Since 2000, Johnson Controls has been a leader in providing outcome-based financing solutions to its clients, saving over $8.4 billion in energy and operational costs and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 39 million metric tonnes.