Industry leaders get hands-on demos of live net zero building technology at the Johnson Controls OpenBlue Innovation Center launch in Rotterdam - Seite 2

Although efficient individual building systems can save energy, emissions, and money, OpenBlue multiplies that savings by using sensors, edge computing, cloud connectivity and AI analytics to integrate systems and optimize entire buildings. Connecting in real-time to two Johnson Controls facilities in Rotterdam and Gorinchem, center visitors can try out OpenBlue firsthand, and see its impact in action.

Since its launch in 2020, Johnson Controls OpenBlue has earned recognition and awards, most recently at the 2023 IoT Breakthrough Awards, for transforming buildings into "intelligent business partners to reduce energy costs, improve the occupant experience, and advance net zero goals."

Tomas Brannemo, President of Building Solutions, EMEALA, at Johnson Controls, who will give a keynote at the Rotterdam opening, says: "We are on the cusp of historic building transformation that could help the world reach net zero in time to meet the 1.5 C Paris Agreement target, if we act swiftly. We can talk all day about the impact of building technology, but seeing is believing. At the OpenBlue Innovation Center, we can peel back the bricks and mortar, and show how quickly digitalization and hyper-efficient, sustainable equipment can transform buildings from energy drains into net energy-positive assets that help businesses and wider communities decarbonize."

The Rotterdam center is the first to open its doors in Continental Europe and the ninth to join Johnson Controls' growing international network of OpenBlue Innovation Centers. As Johnson Controls continues to invest over 75% of R&D annually in new product innovation to solve for climate and sustainability, the center will be updated with the latest net zero innovations – making it a knowledge hub for industry leaders across Europe.

For Doekle Terpstra, Chairman at Techniek Nederland, the Netherland's leading trade association for technical service providers and installation companies, this new facility opens up new possibilities for the local building industry: "If we wish to decarbonize, it is imperative for buildings to get smarter. Building automation and connected solutions are therefore becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes, in every industry. Johnson Controls' reputation as a leader in innovation in the building technology space is well established in the Netherlands and beyond, and I could not be more excited about the opening of this Center for the members of the Techniek Nederland network. This will provide a new network for knowledge sharing, which will help us advance sustainable building transformation in the Netherlands."