Johnson Controls Delivers ‘Net Zero’
I love a good green building story and watching how green technology can help businesses achieve reduced carbon footprints. Recently I caught this story about Johnson Controls implementing some very green technology in a remodeling project for Integrated Design Associates (IDeAs) in San Jose, California.
Using solar photovoltaics, heat-pumps and many green building principles, Johnson Controls helped refurbish a former bank branch into a high tech , 21st century structure. The collective efforts have yielded a ‘net-zero’ – zero energy, zero carbon – building that will serve as the IDeAs company headquarters.
Johnson Controls (JCI) is a leader in power solutions both for automotive applications and buildings. They are a big company with over 130,000 employees that serve customers and clients in 125 countries, and they’ve been in business since 1885.
In the car industry, Johnson Controls is a provider of batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles among other systems. Their work in the building industry is highlighted in this recent project.
The first element that Johnson Controls brought to the project is an efficient heat pump HVAC system. The efficient heat-pump system circulates either warm or cool water through the concrete floor slab to create radiant heating or cooling, depending on the season. This type of heating and cooling will allow the facility to operate on a net-zero energy use basis and help reduce the overall carbon footprint.
Rooftop solar panels will generate all of the electricity needs of the systems and equipment in the building. Skylights, energy efficient lighting systems and high-efficiency windows help control and minimize the building energy load by utilizing natural daylight, minimizing waste and preventing solar gain, respectively.
A grand opening ceremony was held earlier this month to celebrate the project, which is one of the first net-zero energy, zero carbon emission commercial office buildings in the nation. In a JC press release, vice president of global energy and sustainability for Johnson Controls Clay Nesler said:
“We are very excited to have contributed to one of the first net-zero energy commercial buildings. This project is a shining example of what is possible when using the solutions and technologies of today to create facilities that truly set the standard for energy efficiency.”
You can see all of the Johnson Controls technology used and the full project at www.z2building.com
Misleading over hype. Net zero has NOT been delivered. At the time this story was published the solar system wasn’t even on line yet. The building has yet to go a full year and actually PROVE any claim.
Johnson Controls zeal to claim some great credit on a nice little project is disappointing and shows the media hype is more important than the results.
This small 7,000 square foot building is smaller than some high end residential buildings that have actually already achieved real results. The building is in a climate that has minimal heating requirements so focusing purely on putting in an oversized solar PV system is a nice effort, but hardly worthy of the self hype and self promotion from Johnson Controls.
A wag of the finger to Johnson Controls and to the author of this article for a very misleading title and content.