V I EWPO I NT Why buildings matter Johnson Controls is striving to transform how buildings operate and make them smarter and more sustainable with the help of data and intelligent digital technologies Johnson Controls (JCI) is a disruptor with an ambitious mission to reinvent how buildings work and are controlled, and to make significant inroads into the almost 40 per cent of global climate change emissions embedded in the sector today. Our mission means that all of you may become JCI partners in future because you too will work for businesses that are under pressure to curb carbon emissions. A major part of the building sector’s transformation is built around being able to micromanage assets by developing the ability to gather and act on accurate information in real time to hone operations. Measures of success are nuanced though. Advanced buildings must be ultra-responsive and efficient, but they must also be mindful to ensure they offer the most productive environments and healthiest homes for people. Hitting all these goals requires both clever physical design and the deployment of advanced technology. However, simply having the technology available does not necessarily guarantee success. The challenge is to find a way to enable the real-world deployment of new hardware and software solutions to ensure a seamless end point-toedge-to-cloud approach using the data generated. This is precisely why I joined JCI recently after spending more than 25 years at Microsoft – I’ve seen first-hand how the company is leading the deployment of new technology across the built environment and delivering fantastic results for customers. One example is the new headquarters for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), which is named Al Shera'a (Arabic for ‘sail’). JCI and Microsoft partnered with DEWA to help create a building that will become the world’s tallest, largest and smartest net-zero energy government office when it opens next year. The technology plan included digital twins and internet of things (IoT) systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI), all backed up with a robust approach to cybersecurity and controlled by a smart building management solution. The building’s energy footprint will be equal to, or RODNE Y C L AR K : J OHNSON CONT ROL S 62
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