YORK® HVAC: Building Decarbonization Solutions in Action

Sustainable Building and Energy Savings Made Real

HVAC Decarbonization for  More Sustainable Buildings

From investors and stakeholders to governments and regulators, green building initiatives are increasingly being funded, incentivized and mandated. Since the built environment accounts for 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions, decarbonizing buildings and meeting net zero carbon emissions goals are becoming a priority. Whether new construction or property renovation, we have the expertise to help you make actionable, impact-aware system decisions, along with a full portfolio of proven, YORK® HVAC decarbonization solutions to meet these real-world sustainable building challenges.

What Is Decarbonization?

In simple terms, decarbonization is nothing more than reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses (GHG) released into the atmosphere that result from the burning of fossil fuels. And it’s important enough that over 150 governments around the world have committed to reducing carbon emissions by 2030. But which decarbonization strategies make the most sense for green building? The most effective strategies to create more sustainable buildings address both operational and embodied carbon through improved energy efficiency, electrification and low-GWP refrigerants.

How HVAC Can Accelerate  Building Decarbonization

In the built space, replacing fossil fuel-burning sources of space and water heat with electrically powered alternatives namely, high-efficiency heat pumps is one of the most important decarbonization strategies. Using sustainable HVAC systems like heat pumps to keep buildings warm, instead of traditional methods like boilers and furnaces, could cut global CO₂ emissions by 3 gigatons per year if implemented worldwide. And recent advances, such as multiple- or variable-speed compressors, let heat pump chillers deliver higher heating water temperatures with colder source temperatures¹ than before, further removing barriers on the road to HVAC decarbonization.

Sustainable Building Solutions

Building performance standards (BPS) often require minimum energy efficiency levels or emissions requirements for built spaces, but successful decarbonization requires a holistic approach that considers a variety of factors. Low-GWP refrigerants, for example, are an important component. But total system efficiency is critical to any sustainable building strategy. Consider how moving to electric HVAC, integrating advanced controls and selecting solutions with the latest low-GWP refrigerants all contribute to the advancement of more sustainable buildings.

Electrification

Discover how electrification with high-efficiency heat pumps is a key solution to reducing building carbon emissions.

Refrigerants

How HVAC contributes to a building’s carbon footprint is just one of many factors in making the right refrigerant choice.

Digitalization

OpenBlue connected solutions from Johnson Controls can amplify the benefits of building-wide electrification.

Financing Your Building Decarbonization Initiatives

Reaching the green building goal of “net zero” doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it always require significant upfront investments. In fact, many facility owners can now start their sustainable buildings journey with no money upfront. We call it from OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings Johnson Controls, and it allows businesses to fund building decarbonization through energy savings. With guaranteed outcomes and risk management models to achieve emission-reduction commitments and energy-saving goals, many businesses are even able to recoup funds above and beyond the upfront project costs.

Resources

Building Decarbonization Boosts Sustainability and Lowers Energy Consumption

Learn how heat pumps and digital solutions reduce costs, create better building environments and accelerate the journey to net zero.

Strategies for Creating Net-Zero Buildings

View this webinar to learn actionable strategies for tracking, planning and implementing effective building sustainability practices and systems.

Retrofitting HVAC Systems to Achieve Decarbonization

Discover how to overcome common HVAC-related challenges on the path to decarbonize facilities in this webinar from experts at Johnson Controls.