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. 16 HVACR Leaders • May 2017