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Editorial Board

Chief Editor:
Anu Rathninde

Co-authors:
Arun Awasthy
Sivakumar Selva Ganapathy
Santhosh Muzumdar
Shankar Iyer
Rajarshi Datta
Michelle Jiang
Ashley Song
Priyanka Oza

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Table Of Contents
• Executive summary

• Background

• Challenges

• Going forward

• Conclusion

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PREFACE
In humanity’s relentless pursuit of a sustainable future, India stands at the vanguard of the mission. Through this
paper, we delve into the challenges that confront India’s valiant efforts in greening its urban spaces, recognizing
the pivotal role these challenges play in the overarching mission.

From limited awareness hindering the adoption of green practices to regulatory complexities, financing
obstacles, and the scarcity of a skilled workforce, the hurdles are substantial. The absence of standardized
norms, inadequate data for decision-making, and weak institutional capacities at the local government level
further compound the challenges.

However, amidst these challenges lies a roadmap to catalyze India’s Mission Net Zero. The paper unfolds
key solutions, from comprehensive awareness campaigns and regulatory support to leveraging technology
solutions and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders. These solutions, when embraced
collectively, form a formidable arsenal in the quest for a sustainable and Net Zero India.

Johnson Controls, as a global leader in technology solutions, assumes an unwavering commitment to supporting
India’s efforts. Our role extends beyond technology innovation; we are dedicated to contributing to India’s
journey to Net Zero emissions. Aligning with environmental objectives, we believe in not only addressing
challenges but also unlocking substantial economic opportunities.

Join us in this transformative mission. Together, let’s navigate the intersection of technology, sustainability, and
urban evolution to shape a greener, more sustainable future for India.

Anu Rathninde
President, Asia Pacific
Johnson Controls

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the world grapples with the intensifying challenge of
climate change, the global community is swiftly aligning
to set Net Zero emissions targets while accommodating
its own developmental needs. India, emerging as a
proponent of cleaner energy, has rapidly advanced
to secure its position as the fourth-largest player in
renewable energy capacity. Amidst this transition,
India’s green building sector has made substantial
progress, yet its transformative influence remains
limited, leaving vast untapped potential.
As India urbanises rapidly, its urban transformation is
hinged on infrastructural change – some estimates
claim that 70% of India’s buildings are yet to be built.
The opportunity to make them ‘Green’ is NOW!
Hurdles in adopting green practices stem from
limited awareness of their benefits. The absence of
standardized norms leads to regulatory complexities
and financing obstacles. The lack of mandatory codes
and absence of expertise in life cycle costing and
energy-efficient techniques add to the challenges.
The lack of comprehensive data hampers India’s
adoption of data-driven decision-making and impedes
the development of evidence-based policies.
The challenges are exacerbated because of the missing
talent pool in a human resources-rich country. The
scarcity of experts spans various fields including
architecture, engineering, building management, and
energy audit. The capacity remains limited because of
insufficient knowledge programs to train young people
and current practitioners.
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The institutional capacity of local governments is
often weak leaving them without adequate ability to
implement incentives, penalise violations or prevent
greenwashing.
To surmount these challenges and to aid India’s
efforts in its Net Zero mission, an all-inclusive strategy
becomes paramount. A wide-ranging awareness
campaign to educate citizens and professionals in
the sector about green buildings and their benefits to
building a robust financial incentive framework will form
essential elements of this strategy. Regulatory support
for a comprehensive green building standard will be
important for a sustainable foundation. Moreover,
leveraging platforms like PM Gati Shakti to source
data and benefiting from technology solutions can
significantly enhance decision-making and monitoring
in the pursuit of a greener India.
As we embark on this life-changing mission, Johnson
Controls takes a pioneering role, dedicated to
facilitating seamless collaboration between public
and private stakeholders. At the heart of the vision is
the commitment to support India’s journey towards a
sustainable built environment, in harmony with nature,
and the achievement of the Net Zero emissions target.
The path to a sustainable, greener India is already
underway, with a horizon full of opportunities for a
cleaner and brighter future.
BACKGROUND
Introduction
Climate change is upon us and the world is grappling
with the reality of erratic weather, and the havoc
created by higher frequency of extreme weather
conditions. This has catalysed almost all nations
towards announcing a Net Zero emissions target
date and formulating a path keeping in mind their
developmental needs.
While the culmination of India’s Mission Net Zero is
some time away given India’s development needs, it is
important that we work towards it on priority. India’s
energy ambitions, fuelled by its status as the third-
largest energy consumer worldwide, are propelling
it to the forefront of renewable energy adoption. The
country already stands as the fourth-largest player in
renewable energy installed capacity¹, with bold targets
set for the future. These ambitious goals include the
installation of 500 gigawatts of renewable energy
capacity, the annual production of 5 million tons of
green hydrogen, and an unwavering commitment to
reduce emissions, aiming to cut a billion tons of CO2 by
2030. It is essential to focus on energy efficiency – the
real low hanging fruit as India expands its renewable
energy capacity.
As India urbanises rapidly, its urban transformation is
hinged on infrastructural change – some estimates
claim that some 70% of India’s buildings are yet to be
built².
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It is important that all economic actors contribute
to this combat against climate change. Buildings
- residential and commercial - contribute a sizable
portion of the climate harm caused by urban spaces.
While traditional forms of architecture are in sync with
underlying sustainability norms, but as technology
and digitisation pave new paths, it becomes critical
to develop practices that can replicate and enhance
adherence to such norms, without compromising on
modernity and evolution.
Therefore, as a leader in the space of technology
solutions, it is imperative that technology actively
contributes to India’s journey to Net Zero and helps
achieve a sustainable society in harmony with nature.
A glimpse into India’s green future reveals remarkable
economic potential. According to a 2021 report by the
World Economic Forum³, India is poised for a substantial
economic transformation within the “green economy.”
Projections suggest the creation of 50 million new jobs,
signalling not only an increase in consumer demand
but also the unlocking of a staggering $15 trillion in
economic opportunities by 2070, with a substantial $1
trillion expected to materialise by 20304.
However, much of this might not come to fruition if our
urban spaces are not adequately green-ed.
Landscape
On the face of it, India is making significant
strides towards adopting sustainable practices and
technologies, addressing ecological concerns. The
country secured the second position worldwide for
LEED certification, covering, in 2022, an expansive
10.47 million gross area square metres (GSM) – a
remarkable surge from the previous year. India also
leads with an impressive 73 LEED-Zero certified
projects5, demonstrating its steadfast dedication to
sustainable construction practices.
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These statistics together seem to weave a story of a
thriving green building industry in India, characterised
by substantial revenues, heightened environmental
consciousness, and an unflinching commitment to
sustainability however, as they say, the devil is in the
detail. Even with the promising numbers – absolute
and of change, the impact is only on a minuscule
portion of the potential opportunity. There is much to
do to achieve India’s Mission Net Zero.
CHALLENGES
The challenges to greening our urban spaces range from the fundamental – absence of awareness to the complicated – lack
of suitable AI-enabled technologies, to catalyse this green transition. These challenges can be categorised as follows:
• Adoption and implementation
• Capacity challenge
• Absence of suitable data and technology solutions
1. Adoption and implementation
The adoption of green building practices in India
presents a challenging landscape characterised
by limited uptake and substantial implementation
hurdles. Despite the growing awareness of the need
for sustainable construction, the transition to green
building practices encounters various obstacles within
the Indian context. These challenges span diverse
facets, from regulatory complexities and skill gaps to
financing constraints and a lack of standardised green
building metrics. To address these issues effectively, it
becomes imperative to delve deeper into the under-
lying dynamics of green building adoption and explore
potential strategies for fostering a more sustainable
built environment in the country.
Awareness
Research indicates that adopting green building prac-
tices not only preserves resources but also contrib-
utes to the overall well-being of those who inhabit
these spaces. A significant barrier to the widespread
adoption of environmentally friendly structures is the
limited awareness of the potential financial, societal and
environmental benefits offered by green building tech-
nology, both for private and public purposes.
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Standardisation
In India, there are presently multiple green construction
codes or green building standards but as they evolve
it is critical to adapt to India’s diversity of geography,
climate and income levels. There are basic and general
guidelines for efficient energy usage within the National
Building Code (NBC) and a few other green building
certifications are also available.
Multiple codes make it difficult to make a choice,
especially for smaller projects where there might not be
appropriate wherewithal to carry out due diligence on
their own.
Regulatory obligation
In India, there is a pressing need for a stronger
enforcement mechanism for implementation
of green codes, an example to emulate here is
the wider acceptance of the International Green
Construction Code and the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Standards10. This ‘obligation’ gap has prevented any
significant uptake of these green norms.
Some of the other Green Building Certifications are:

• GRIHA6 (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is a rating system that evaluates how environmentally friendly a
building is. TERI (The Energy Resource Institute) manages it and considers 34 different factors to calculate a building’s score.

• IGBC7 (Indian Green Building Council) standards assess buildings for their green features, with some adjustments to suit India’s
requirements.

• BEE8 (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) has a system called EPI9 (Energy Performance Index), which rates buildings from 1 to 5 stars
based on energy efficiency. More stars mean better efficiency, and it’s measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year
to gauge a building’s energy-saving performance.

Financing Controls is making an effort to contribute towards

In the realm of green financing, a significant hurdle
lies in the misconception that the upfront cost is
higher than that for conventional buildings and that
it doesn’t align with long-term return on investment
(ROI). A study cited in Loyola Marymount University’s
Cities and The Environment (CATE) journal¹¹ identified
the significant barriers to green building adoption,
prioritised in the Indian context. ‘Lack of expertise in
the application of life cycle costing of materials and
energy efficient techniques’ was measured to be the
top barrier.
2. Scarcity of capacity
Numerous projections of the massive potential of India’s
green economy pivot around capacity building. Green
buildings clearly need an evolved level of technical
know-how. There is a need for more institutional
approaches towards capacity building. These could be
privately led and government-enabled.
Talent pool
While India’s talent pool is immense, the supply of
trained professionals suitable for green building is
missing. There is a deficiency in technical know-how
for implementing green building features. This lack
of expertise extends to the evaluation and execution
of smart city projects, resulting in uncertainty about
savings and performance, as noted in a 2019 Johnson
Controls survey.
Professionals involved in green building projects,
including architects, engineers, building managers, and
energy auditors, lack adequate training, hampering
monitoring and evaluation capabilities.
Knowledge programs
Despite a massive university network across the
country, there are not enough programs to train young
people about green building techniques. Johnson
addressing this gap, however the opportunity remains
vast.
Another significant hurdle is the absence of expertise
in applying life cycle costing for materials and energy-
efficient techniques, leading to a focus on upfront
construction costs rather than long-term expenditure.
3. Absence of suitable data and technology
solutions
Data-backed policy formulation is yet to become an
integral part of the decision-making process, especially
at the lower tiers of the government. This leads to
its own set of challenges and some of those revolve
around the following:
Availability of data
India lacks a robust system for capturing data on
buildings, property rights, related infrastructure and
green building data. Many municipal governments are
unable to collect property taxes in the absence of
suitable data.
Institutional capacity to monitor and analyse available
data
There is an inherent paucity of capacity to effectively
analyse and harness available data to inform and enact
evidence-based policies, thereby driving substantial
advancements in India’s green building sector.
Fragmented data collection and reporting hinder
comprehensive green building monitoring in India due
to the absence of a centralised system to synthesise
the sourced information. The absence of mandatory
third-party certification contributes to ‘greenwashing’
and the misallocation of incentives away from genuinely
sustainable buildings.

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GOING FORWARD
India’s Mission Net Zero calls for a holistic strategy, encompassing not only policy-level interventions but also concerted
efforts from diverse stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and academia. This ambitious undertaking
necessitates the formulation of effective policies that incentivise sustainability practices while fostering collaboration
among these key players. Some of the next steps are listed below.

1. Adoption and implementation certifications, such loans should be classified as

priority sector lending and be made available through
Awareness commercial banks too.

A campaign is needed to focus on informing citizens
and educating them about the need, the ‘how to’,
and the advantages of green buildings. Engaging in
targeted public service announcements and using
various media platforms can educate the public and
professionals alike on the benefits and importance of
green construction.
Financial feasibility
Building large groups of energy experts and training
existing and future professionals on the life-cycle
costing (LCC) method within disciplines like architecture
and engineering can help spread awareness about the
higher payoffs from green buildings when compared
with conventional architecture.
Suitable incentive structures
• While the government provides low-interest loans
through the Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency (IREDA)¹² for building projects with green
• An additional floor area ratio (FAR) for construction
can be a significant financial incentive.
• Local governments could offer a discounted property
tax rate for green buildings.
• The government should also offer skilling incentives
for workers employed in green building construction.
• Priority permission processing: buildings that are
certified green should be eligible for incentives such
as fast-track approvals, expedited inspections and
reduced building fees.
• The government could support innovative financing
models for green buildings such as Energy Perfor-
mance Contracting¹³ that not only guarantees savings
through energy-efficient retrofits but also eliminates
the need for capital investment.

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 CASE STUDY

Singapore invests in incentive scheme

for existing buildings
In March 2021, The Building and Construction
Authority (BCA) launched the Singapore Green
Building Masterplan (SGBMP) to set out the
environmental sustainability ambitions and targets
to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon
built environment. As part of the SGBMP, BCA
introduced the $63-million Green Mark Incentive
Scheme for Existing Buildings 2.014 (“GMIS-EB 2.0”
or “Scheme”) on 30 June 2022, with the objective
of raising the energy performance of existing
buildings and stepping up the pace to green 80%
of their buildings by 2030.

The scheme provides grant support to building

owners on their goals to attain higher energy
performance by lowering the upfront capital costs
for energy efficiency retrofits and improving the
returns on investment, particularly for buildings
meeting super low energy or zero energy
standards. The scheme has been available from
30 June 2022 till the available funds have been
fully committed or by 31 March 2027 (whichever
is earlier).

Green building standards Certifications

There is a need to consolidate green building standards
in India into one or two certifications that are consistent
nationwide, promoting uniformity in sustainable
construction practices across diverse geographies and
states, backed by a legally binding framework. This
will also enable a quicker spread of knowledge. This
comprehensive approach will ensure a sustainable
transformation in India’s construction industry.
The government should spread awareness and
knowledge of these standardised certifications through
workshops, advertisements, campaigns etc. It
should incentivise the adoption of these standardised
certifications through measures such as materials and
training incentives, accelerating the implementation
of sustainable building practices and fostering a more
energy-efficient construction landscape in India.

CASE STUDY

Japan encourages patient capital

Japan promotes green building adoption through its distinctive certifications, including CASBEE15, which
assesses buildings and the built environment’s environmental performance, striving to enhance residents’
quality of life while minimising environmental impacts. These certifications have gained substantial traction
across Japan, bolstered by backing from national and local governments. Additionally, the surge in green building
adoption may be attributed, in part, to the involvement of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF),
the world’s largest pension fund, which joined GRESB as an investor member16 in March 2020, potentially
influencing this upward trajectory.

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Creation of evaluation matrices Integrating it with curriculum
To facilitate rigorous evaluation, the development of By integrating sustainability modules into educational
evaluation matrices, calculators, and specialised tools curricula and offering online courses or workshops, we
is imperative. These resources provide structured can equip future professionals with the knowledge and
methodologies for assessing key performance skills needed for sustainable construction.
indicators, making it easier to gauge the impact of
green building measures accurately. Alongside the Public projects
evaluation of current buildings, creating readily available
In addition to priority in public procurement projects, the
tools to aid the process of retrofitting buildings could
government should implement a policy that requires all
bolster the industry. With the introduction of the
government buildings to be certified green and meet
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s BRSR
green building standards. The government should ensure
Core17, the top 1000 publicly listed companies have
that all future construction commissioned by it – central,
to mandatorily disclose a specific set of ESG metrics
provincial and local, is aligned with green building
in their annual reports, along with those up and
norms.
downstream in their value chain. Measures like this
will aid in more accurate reporting of Scope 1, 2 & 3
Emissions.

Green building incentive matrix

Global Efficacy
The Phase of GB Forms of Reward & (as per multiple Implementation in India
Construction Compensation studies)

Planning phase Technical assistance: to define Less effective Certified green buildings are
sustainability requirements & eligible for fast-tracked approvals,
identify the permission process expedited permissions & reduced
building fees.

Design phase Specialised loans: to lessen Highly effective Indian government provides
the financial burden on low-interest loans via the India
developers renewable energy development
act (ireda) for building projects
with green certifications.

Expedited permissions: to
enable timely commencement
of project delivery

Procurement phase Rebates: rebates on Moderately effective Tax benefits to developers of

procurement of energy- green buildings through the
efficient tech & small grants income tax act.
for buying renewable energy
tech.

Construction phase Density bonus: allowing Highly effective Additional far allotments differ
builders to increase far from state to state
(floor area ratio) and/or build
an extra storey for their
construction.

Operation phase Eco-labelling & awards: Less effective

increasing pro-sustainability
reputation of clients & users

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2. Paucity of capacity
Creating a talent pool
Partnering with industry associations such as the
Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, and the
Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association
and collaborating with skilling bodies is a strategic
approach to promoting green building practices across
India’s construction sector. Co-developing specialised
training programs and certifications can empower
construction professionals with the necessary skills
and knowledge to seamlessly integrate sustainable
building methods into their projects, hence catalysing
the broader acceptance of green construction practices
and evaluation mechanisms.
In continuation of efforts in creating a talent pool
and contributing towards building capacity, Johnson
Controls supports development of young women by
way of providing opportunities to interact and learn
from leading organisations and individuals every year
through its engagements with organisations such as the
Lila Poonawalla Foundation and The Energy Resources
Institute (TERI).
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Leveraging edtech platforms or partnering with private
and public educational institutions can also provide
an effective solution to raise awareness about green
building practices.
Partnership with regional institutions:
Collaborating with regional educational institutions
can be instrumental in nurturing a pool of talent well-
versed in green building technologies. Partnerships can
facilitate curriculum development and practical training
that addresses the deficiency in technical expertise.
Inclusion in NSDC programmes:
Integrating green building training into National
Skill Development Corporation programs can make
specialised expertise more accessible. By including
green building components, these programs can help
build a skilled workforce proficient in energy-efficient
techniques and the execution of sustainable projects.
Development of talent for comprehensive auditing
capabilities:
Building a skilled talent pool capable of conducting
comprehensive audits is fundamental to green building
monitoring and evaluation.
Extending existing initiatives:
Johnson Controls’ Community College Partnership
Programme18 is already expanding across geographies
from the United States to India. Johnson Controls has
begun aligning college courses with career paths for
those part of the programmes and have the ideal plat-
form to start initiating green building interventions.
Further, as part of a Johnson Controls’ CSR initiative,
children from Child Right and You (CRY) were invited
to the Johnson Controls engineering workplace and
labs, where they interacted with the leaders, displayed
their talents through performing arts, and shared their
wishes through a “Wall of Wishes”. Additionally, young
women students sponsored by the Lila Poonawalla
Foundation were introduced to sustainable buildings
through their visit to the Johnson Controls Pune centre.
Strengthening knowledge networks
Through centres of excellence in partnerships with
renowned institutions, such as School of Planning and
Architecture and CEPT University, the industry should
bolster knowledge repositories across a spectrum of
disciplines related to green building and sustainable
construction practices. By fostering innovation within
an emerging economic powerhouse like India, via
substantial investments in in-depth research into
indigenous traditional methods, this initiative can pave
the way for Mission Net Zero.
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Online courses and gamified learning can foster
innovation, and real-world projects should expose
students to industry challenges, Net Zero energy
building community impacts, and promoting
multidisciplinary collaboration. Faculty members also
require training to spark innovative thinking.
To promote greater adoption and workforce readiness
in the green building sector, it’s imperative to enhance
the existing skill development curricula, such as those
under the CSDC19 and SCGJ20 frameworks. Currently,
these programs lack specific courses and certifications
tailored to green building skills, missing a significant
opportunity to equip individuals with the expertise
required for the industry’s specialised roles and
qualifications.
Setting training guideline standards
Collaborating closely with experts and think-tanks,
it is imperative to establish regulations pertaining to
SOPs and curriculum development. This is crucial to
ensure uniformity in measuring technical proficiency
and defining benchmarks for green building compliance,
especially in scenarios where diverse governing bodies
may have varying standards.
Utilisation of digital learning
platforms
To cultivate and enhance green
building capacity within the Indian
economy, a crucial step is the
effective utilisation of platforms like
the National Urban Learning Platform
(NULP²¹). This digital repository serves
as a central hub for essential skills
and knowledge pertinent to India’s
urban ecosystem. NULP plays a pivotal
role in strengthening the capabilities
of urban government officials,
fostering their expertise in sustainable
construction and green building
practices. However, the scope extends
beyond bureaucratic roles; NULP also
extends its reach to administrators,
elected representatives, civil society
members, and industry actors,
empowering them with the tools
and insights needed to contribute to
the development of smart, inclusive,
sustainable, and resilient cities.
Equipping these diverse stakeholders
with the necessary skills and
knowledge can pave the way for a
more robust and sustainable future
for India’s urban landscape, unlocking
its immense growth potential in the
process.

Global best practices and indigenous knowledge
To cultivate and enhance green numerous global
organisations operate in India and they run thriving
businesses. These organisations should be encouraged
to bring the best practices from across the globe to
develop solutions suitable for India’s needs.
Additionally, India is a civilisation state with a very
long tradition of construction and craftsmanship. It
is important to leverage this local knowledge from
across the country to find suitable solutions and where
required, adapt them to address modern problems.
3. Absence of suitable data and technology
solutions
Leveraging technology, such as smart controls and
IoT, along with innovative materials and behavioural
changes in residents, can reshape electrical load and
create smart, energy-efficient, and resilient buildings.
India’s building sector must transform to greener,
affordable, durable, and people-centric structures to
mitigate climate change contributions and reduce
building energy demands by 50% by 2050.
Accessibility to such data in the public domain exists
for some buildings such as the existing LEED-GBIG
Data Centre for Green Building Certifications²² but a
comprehensive database containing buildings certified
by different organisations is still missing.

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Gati Shakti platform
India has launched the PM Gati Shakti²³
Platform which will incorporate the
infrastructure schemes of various ministries
and state governments like Bharatmala,
Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land
ports, UDAN etc. Economic zones like textile
clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence
corridors, electronic parks, industrial
corridors, fishing clusters, and agri-zones
will be covered to improve connectivity &
make Indian businesses more competitive.
It will also leverage technology extensively
including spatial planning tools with ISRO
(Indian Space Research Organisation)
imagery.
Using the Gati Shakti platform to share green
building-related information nationally, after
approval from a committee similar to that
of existing Gati Shakti protocols. With this,
the foundation for a consolidated network
of green buildings and an information
dashboard can be created to better leverage
green building technology.

What is Gati Shakti?

PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity is a digital platform to bring
16 ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure
connectivity projects. The multi-modal connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for
movement of people, goods and services from one mode of transport to another. The plan will provide
the entire data at one place with GIS based spatial planning and analytical tools having 200+ layers,
enabling better visibility to the executing agency.

Index benchmarking challenge. Alongside this, state capacity and local

To comprehensively assess the sustainability standing
of a city, locality, or developer in comparison to
counterparts in different regions, an encompassing
index can be established. This index relies on diverse
factors, such as average LEED/GRIHA/IGBC scores,
green building density, energy consumption, water
efficiency, waste management, air quality, and more.
Such a comprehensive approach offers a panoramic
view of sustainability across various geographies,
facilitating informed choices and avenues for
advancement. However, while creating these indices,
benchmarks should be adjusted to development
realities within India. Seismic differences in climatic and
topographic conditions within India present their unique
governance differ from state to state implying a need to
create flexible solutions that are easy to understand and
implement.
Enterprise solutions
Adopt technology solutions that allow for gathering and
understanding the information available which is then
analysed, to predict and recommend solutions. These
solutions can be automated and hence optimised.
These enterprise solutions will closely track energy
and emissions. They will measure, monitor and report
carbon emissions, energy use and utility spending to
enable the use of technology to solve the green-ing
issues of our buildings.

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CASE STUDY 1

Solution for a Chennai based campus of a major IT

Solutions Company
Performance optimisation for 11 chillers in the Chennai Campus. These 11 chillers
accounted for 30% of the total energy consumed.

Challenge
The main ask was to enable performance optimization of the 11 chillers installed at the facility, in order to
enhance indoor comfort and enable the occupants to maximise their productivity. They were 11 Trane chillers and
a secondary pumping system which were installed in 2007. The chillers provided 3750 tons of refrigeration (TR)
for the SDB #1, #2, #3, and the canteen building, accounting for 30% of the total energy consumed. Moreover,
the existing chiller plants were not only functioning at a suboptimal level, but were also manually operated,
compounding the overall inefficiency.

Solution
In order to achieve guaranteed savings on energy, our solution was built on three pillars: high performance
equipment design; optimising the cooling tower, pump & chiller control logic; and integrating our proprietary
OpenBlue Enterprise Management (OBEM) central utility plant (CUP) to enable remote monitoring and diagnostics.
The project planning was executed in two phases.

Outcome
The solution was designed with a commitment of high performance and a guaranteed energy savings and a
reduction in the overall GHG emissions. This would be demonstrable through the energy savings monthly report -
baseline vs actual. As a result, there was a staggering savings of 30% energy recorded through the plant retrofits,
and an additional 9% energy savings by the OBEM CUP optimisation. Above all, the enterprise made a savings of
approximately 493K USD per year in costs.

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CASE STUDY 2

Solution for a big Pharmaceutical company

based in Hyderabad
The project involved optimising chiller performance in the 3 Plant Rooms

Challenge
The challenge entailed high energy intensity within the plant room housing a mix of Carrier & Trane chillers along
with a primary & secondary pumping system. The room was compounded by inefficiencies and leaks due to
outdated system designs, operational issues, and maintenance concerns. The chiller plant’s operations were also
functioning suboptimally, due to heavy reliance on manual operation methods.

Solution
The solution comprised implementing high-performance equipment design utilizing Johnson Controls air-cooled
chillers and water-cooled across various manufacturing units. Additionally, it included optimizing cooling tower,
pump, and chiller control logic, deploying remote monitoring and diagnostics systems and conducting regular
periodic Measurement & Verification (M&V) reporting.
Furthermore, the project involved establishing a partnership with ESCO (Enspar) to introduce an OPEX model for
the end client, ensuring guaranteed energy savings.

Outcome
The project helped achieve a confirmed 45% energy savings through plant retrofits. It ensured approximately
1266K USD/year in cost savings, coupled with an annual reduction in GHG emissions. Additionally, it showcased a
monthly energy savings report comparing baseline versus actual performance, aligning with the guaranteed energy
savings commitment.

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CASE STUDY 3

BEEAH Headquarters, UAE - Region’s First AI-Integrated

Net Zero Energy Building
Embracing intelligent edge systems and cutting-edge software for optimal energy
efficiency, this project has also earned a prestigious LEED Platinum certification.

Challenge
Building an attractive workspace to cater to new generations of talent that allows them to have better experience
and improve productivity, using current and new technologies was the task at hand. New capabilities enabled by
IoT, Big Data, Cloud, AI,and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) were to be incorporated.

Solution
An integrated and unified solution based on AI and digital representation was created, on which Johnson Controls
OpenBlue solutions were connected to Microsoft’s technology stack. The solution allowed for optimisation of space
utilization, along with enhanced security measures, while delivering personalised employee experience.

Outcome
Upon completion, the project helped improved quality of life by 20% along with employee health and productivity.
The organisation also experienced net zero carbon emissions within two years of operation with 5% reduction in
energy consumption and 20% reduction in water consumption. This helped drive better engagement by creating
the first intelligent building that is AI-enabled and integrates with the current tech stack. Additionally, technologies
like facial recognition, helped provide frictionless access.

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CASE STUDY 4

INTALEQ, Doha, Qatar - Shaping Future Stadium Experiences

with OpenBlue
The project involved optimising stadium experiences for fans during the World Cup in 2022,
through safety and comfort, and achieving groundbreaking LEED Platinum certification.

Challenge
The ask involved elevating stadium experiences for the World Cup Qatar 2022, to ensure real-time visibility into
space utilization, air temperature, and energy consumption. There was also a need to address safety concerns.
Unauthorized access, overcrowding, and resource optimisation were some of the critical issues at hand.

Solution
The solution involved an Integration of OpenBlue technology across all eight stadiums. This enabled optimised
space utilization, air temperature, and energy use throughout the match venues, while eliminating safety risks,
ensuring fan comfort, and optimising power and water consumption. The project also incorporated aspects of AI-
infused service solutions, such as remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and advanced risk assessments.

Outcome
The project guaranteed enhanced safety measures and fan comfort through real-time visibility, as a result
of optimised resource consumption for sustainable stadium management. It also showcased the potential of
innovative technologies in shaping the future of stadium management.

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CONCLUSION
The path to a sustainable, greener India is already underway, with a horizon full of opportunities for a cleaner and
brighter future. As India takes the lead on this transformative mission, the world watches.

Johnson Controls will take a pioneering role, dedicated to facilitating seamless collaboration between public and
private stakeholders. At the heart of its vision is the commitment to support India’s journey towards a sustainable
built environment, in harmony with nature, and the achievement of the Net Zero emissions target.

Johnson Controls is confident that, with so much of its built environment yet to be created, India will seize this
opportunity to lead the global fight against climate change.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
This whitepaper is for information purposes only and may be Johnson Controls neither accepts or assumes any responsibility or
subject to change without prior notice. The primary purpose of this liability, whether consequential or indirectly, of any kind arising from
whitepaper is to provide general information on Tech for Green the use, reference, or reliance on the contents of this whitepaper.
India – Mission Net Zero of India’s energy sector and its policies. In
the event of any need for specific technical details must be pursued
No information in this whitepaper should be considered to be
separately with appropriate experts in organizations. The information
business, legal, regulatory, financial or tax advice regarding India’s
in this document has been obtained or derived from sources believed
energy sector and its applicable policies. Please consult your own
by Johnson Controls India Private Limited to be reliable but JCIPL does
legal, financial, tax or other professional adviser regarding the same.
not represent that this information is accurate or complete.

Johnson Controls acknowledges its partnership with The Mavericks

Communications, India, for their support on the research, content and
21 design for this whitepaper.
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