‘Innovation for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ – A Roadmap Towards Net Zero Buildings and Green Environments

Johnson Controls Arabia (JCIA), a regional joint venture for Johnson Controls International and a leading provider of integrated solutions that include HVAC equipment, fire and security systems, building management systems and controls in the MENA region, launched the ‘Innovation for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ conference with the objective of driving a national conversation around the role of innovation in realizing sustainable and carbon-free buildings for a more sustainable future.

Held in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, on the 7th and 8th of November, the conference was attended by the Vise Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, H.E Eng. Osama Al Zamil, Johnson Controls International (JCI) Chairman and CEO, George Oliver, JCIA CEO, Dr. Mohanad Al Shaikh, KAFD CEO, Gautam Sashittal, Vice President of AHRI in MENA Region, Francois Boueri and a group of dignitaries from public and private sectors.

The conference included a panel discussion titled, ‘Alignment between 2030 Vision & JCI Sustainability’ and a series of discussions covering prominent topics like renewable energy, water usage and artificial intelligence, among others. These topics were presented by specialists from KAFD, KAUST, and other industry leaders. On its second day, the conference offered 4 different interactive zones for attendees to experience the latest and most innovative integrated solutions and technologies powered by JCI’s solid sustainability drive.

Dr. Mohanad Al Shaikh added: “Driven by the ambitious national plans to reach net zero carbon footprint by 2060, we are committed to innovating solutions that make buildings more efficient and sustainable.” Speaking at the conference, Dr. Al Shaikh noted: “Saudi Arabia leads the fight against climate change, and at JCIA, we strive to support the Kingdom’s visionary environmental goals by promoting the standards of sustainable living in the region. Recently, we inaugurated the YORK Manufacturing Complex – YORK’s largest facility in the region – and the OpenBlue Innovation Center which showcases the tools and technologies operators can use to enable their buildings to become smarter and more cost-effective to operate.”

As part of the conference, JCIA launched two of its latest and most efficient “Saudi Made” products.  The first is the side discharge Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System, which is a single outdoor unit that can be connected to several and different types of indoor units. The system considers the aesthetic aspect of buildings with the ability to control each room separately as needed, this is in addition to being energy efficient. The second product is the (YVAA) Screw Chiller, which considered one of the largest and most efficient chillers that have been made in the company’s factory recently, is a patented, liquid-cooled, variable-speed drive that produces 15-25% annual energy savings as proven globally in some of the world’s most challenging conditions.

The ‘Innovation for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ conference highlighted the importance of energy sustainability as it relates to buildings and environmental protection. It is a fact that the world has been witnessing a fundamental shift for balancing growing energy demands with that of environment protection. With energy sustainability at the heart of Vision 2030, it is no wonder that the Kingdom has committed itself to reach Net Zero emissions by 2060, placing it at the forefront of the fight against climate change.