Intelligent, futuristic energy solutions

Johnson Controls is a global multi-industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries worldwide. The company and its 120,000 employees are focused on developing intelligent, efficient and sustainable energy solutions to improve the quality of life for generations to come. Philip Yorke reports on a remarkable company that continues to lead the way in innovative and sustainable technological solutions.

Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its establishment in 1885 when it invented the world’s first electric room thermostat. Today Johnson is committed to creating sustainable, efficient and cost-effective products that help customers to benefit from its innovative and ground-breaking high-tech solutions. Johnson Controls’ products are clearly focused on value creation and the development of sustainable products and processes. In 2016 it recorded sales of more than $30 billion and employed over 120,000 people worldwide.

Hybrid efficiency

Johnson Controls announced in January this year that it had developed an ‘Industry-leading solution’ that reduces cooling tower water consumption by up to 80 per cent, when compared to traditional all-evaporative heat-rejection systems. This is just the latest of many technological breakthroughs announced recently by the company.

This unique cooling tower solution, called the BlueStream® Hybrid Cooling System, is designed to help customers worldwide address water and energy challenges in cooling tower facilities, through a significant reduction in water consumption. It also maintains peak process output and energy efficiency even on the hottest summer days. This innovative development will be showcased at the forthcoming 2017 Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (AHR) Expo in Las Vegas, Booth C3124.

Used in conjunction with traditional cooling towers, the BlueStream® system offers ‘Dry Cooling’ through a thermosiphon process in which the refrigerant circulates naturally, without the need for a pump or compressor. Intelligent web controls coordinate the operation of both wet and dry system components and adjust all weather and thermal load conditions for optimum efficiency, utilising ‘wet’ cooling when it’s hot and ‘dry’ cooling when it’s temperate or cold.

BlueStream® is an ideal technology for process cooling, data centres, power generation and year-round, base-loaded HVAC applications with water-cooled chillers. Initial analysis indicates a payback period as low as 2.5 years, depending upon the facility’s geographic location, utility costs and operating conditions.

Enhancing the vision

With a vison to create a safer, more comfortable and sustainable world, the newly formed Johnson Controls NYSE:JCI began operations in September 2016 following the successful completion of its merger with Tyco, marking a historic turning point for both companies.

By uniting Johnson Controls, the number one provider of building efficiency solutions, and Tyco, the number one provider of fire and security solutions, a new company has been created that can be positioned as a leader in products, technologies and integrated solutions for the buildings and energy sectors. This powerful combina-

tion brings together best-in-class products, technology and service capabilities across controls, fire, security, HVAC and energy storage. This means it is now able to serve the full spectrum of end markets including large institutions, government, commercial buildings, retail and industrial, as well as small businesses and residential markets.

Tyco and Johnson Controls’ buildings platforms create immediate opportunities for growth through cross-selling, complementary branch and distribution channel networks, and expanded global reach for established businesses. Longer term, the company is uniquely positioned to drive new innovations in technology business models to support the smart buildings, campuses and cities of the future, as well as building upon strategic, high-value-added services driven by data analytics and connectivity, in particular for retail solutions and Connected Services businesses. The company will also have one of the largest energy storage platforms with capabilities spanning the entire technology spectrum to serve an expanding global energy storage market.

New China HQ

China’s growing demand for hospitals, airports and higher education facilities are expected to drive strong growth for Johnson Controls International PLC’s two main business segments in 2017 – and beyond, according to the company’s vice-president and president for the Asia Pacific region, Trent Nevill.

Mr Nevill said Johnson is also excited about unveiling of its new headquarters building campus in Shanghai, scheduled for 22 June

22 2017. “This will be the first time in our history that everything from leadership to sales will be located in one building,” he said at the company’s investor day conference in New York on 5 December. “Historically we have operated in pieces spread over Shanghai. We like the synergies the new building and campus will produce in conjunction with our growth strategies.”

Nevill went on to say that the new building will house around 1200 employees and will be the greenest in China. “This is a statement of what we stand for and how we will support China’s 13th Five-Year Plan,” he added.

The company expects solid growth in vertical construction markets such as healthcare and education. There will be more than 3000 private hospitals built in China over the next five years as well as significant investments in airport construction and data centres. The Johnson product portfolio caters well to a technology intensive environment, in which data centres, for example, will require sophisticated cooling and fire safety solutions. n

For further details of Johnson Controls innovative high-tech solutions and services visit: www.johnsoncontrols.com