With voluntary climate reporting shifting to mandatory climate action, the impetus for companies to implement sustainable building solutions has increased. But taking the first steps toward building performance optimisation can be hard: Where do you start? How should you invest to maximize impact and economics? In other words: what are the first steps to net zero?

1. Kick-start energy and emissions tracking to save energy and costs

Proven energy-efficiency solutions and innovative digital tools will save substantial amounts of money. Know where your building stands and take the right action

Digital solutions, such as Openblue Enterprise Manager, present help to take realistic steps to track, reduce and control energy use; accelerate progress to carbon reduction goals; and better understand impact. Now, featuring integrated generative AI tools that proactively provide recommendations on the most impactful energy savings projects, reducing the effort required to analyse large amounts of building data.

2. Optimise equipment performance

Combine the power of evolving technology, advisory and condition-based maintenance to create energy savings through cost avoidance and asset performance optimisation.

A building’s chiller is one of the most critical pieces of equipment in a facility and accounts for up to 40% of a building's electricity use. Optimise performance in the building with flexible digital services that scale to the building, operating style and budget.

3. Modernise without financial risk

Neither lack of capital nor lack of expertise should stop an organisation from launching ambitious decarbonisation programmes. Modernising a facility and paying for equipment updates through energy savings and proven performance contracting with flexible payment options could be a way forward.

For example, Johnson Controls Net Zero Buildings as a Service offerings are tailored to business needs and goals. This can include an energy savings programme, onsite solar, renewable energy supply, in addition to expert advisory and digital solutions.

4. Efficient heating and cooling

Building heating, cooling and ventilation operation is responsible for over 50% of energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings, thus representing a significant share of the nearly 40% of global GHG emissions attributable to the built environment.

Getting started could be to modernise with heat pumps for example. Heat pumps are three to five times more energy efficient than conventional heating systems. Johnson Controls offers a complete range of products, many of which, according to the company, exceed regulatory and market requirements by 30% or more, and they can be customised to suit goals and requirements.

5. Qualify for incentives and meet regulations

Navigating sustainability incentives and regulations isn’t easy, but it’s critical in the long-term strategy of a building.

Johnson Controls experts suggest tapping into impactful and cost-effective sustainability programmes to comply with Building Performance Standards and other standards globally. The company offers to build a business case to meet the needs of the client, and to help balance the traditional conflict between cost reductions and sustainability.

Partnering towards Net Zero

Since January 2000, Johnson Controls has partnered with businesses to implement performance contracts. And, according to the company, these projects have directly delivered nearly 39 million metric tons in avoided CO2e and are set to save more than $8.4 billion for its customers through energy and operational savings over project terms.