Johnson Controls (JCI) HVACR Trends - GineersNow Engineering Magazine Key Trends Making Our Cities Greener & Smarter | Page 18

To prepare for the future, we must create
“SMARTER” cities with buildings and
communities that incorporate highly
efficient designs with advanced envelopes,
lighting, heating and cooling equipment,
the use of renewable or distributed energy
resources, the addition of battery electric/
thermal storage and the ability to safely
“island” operations from the power grid.
These cities will accelerate the industry
trend towards net zero energy when their
buildings and communities produce more
energy than they consume from the grid
over the course of a year. These cities
will also be able to provide their residents
with critical services during emergencies
including food, water, shelter, the
refrigeration of medical supplies and the
charging of medical instruments.
While there has been significant technology
innovation driving smart cities, there has
also been considerable innovation in
financial models to support the required
technology, efficiency and resiliency
investments. These new business models
allow energy savings, utility incentives,
demand response and grid regulation
payments to be considered in energy
performance contracts (retrofits) or public-
private partnerships (new construction)
making infrastructure improvements more
affordable for governments, businesses
and residents. Industry trends, including
innovative financial models and leading
edge technology including networked
sensors, the Internet of Things, real-time
analytics and transactive energy systems,
are key enablers driving the global
transformation to safer, smarter and more
sustainable cities.
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HVACR Leaders • May 2017