• The EU estimates 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe come from buildings.
• To meet the EU’s 55% emissions reduction goal by 2030, decarbonization of buildings is a top priority. This is reflected in the March draft of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, mandating that new buildings be zero-emission from 2028^[i]
• In the Netherlands, Johnson Controls and AECOM will address this urgency with a joint, comprehensive sustainability offering aimed at accelerating building decarbonization

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (March 29, 2023) – With a 36% share of global greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, buildings are a primary target in the pursuit of a net zero world. As the EU steps up its building regulation to support its goal of achieving a 55% cut in emissions by 2030, the building sector in every European country will be looking for ways to decarbonize. Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has joined forces with AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, in a new joint market approach. The two companies plan to bring comprehensive net zero building solutions to buildings in different sectors, addressing the unique challenges of each industry, and providing accelerated decarbonization roadmaps. This collaboration will initially be undertaken exclusively in the Netherlands, with the potential to explore further opportunities in other geographies in the future.

With one of the most sustainable building sectors in the EU, the Netherlands is on a trajectory to achieve a 39% to 50% emissions reduction by 2030. As advanced as it is, it still leaves a 5% to 16% gap to bridge, in order to meet the EU’s 2030 target of 55%. Efforts to bridge that gap will focus largely on reducing emissions in real estate.^[ii]

The reason is clear – with buildings contributing an estimated 36% share of emissions in the EU, and the technology already available to make old and new buildings alike fit for net zero, decarbonizing buildings is one of the quickest, easiest, and fastest emissions wins.

The joint offering from Johnson Controls and AECOM will draw on the strengths of each firm, to create a flexible and comprehensive sustainable building offering. AECOM will provide deep master planning experience, including carbon footprint evaluation, sustainable architecture, energy modeling, and extensive experience in offering advisory services to decarbonize built environment assets. Johnson will provide energy-efficient heating, cooling, energy management technology, building automation systems, fire protection and security solutions, and OpenBlue, a comprehensive suite of connected, AI-driven solutions that manage building systems to holistically multiply energy, emissions, and cost savings. By integrating both their digital decarbonization solutions and advisory offerings, they offer a holistic solution to real estate portfolio holders

The firms will be available for joint consultation at conferences and trade shows in the Netherlands, and will create a knowledge sharing program for employees at both companies, cultivating advanced skillsets to address customers’ most complex sustainability needs.

Daniela Pandrea, General Manager, Benelux & Nordics, Building Technologies & Solutions at Johnson Controls, says, “We are immensely proud of this groundbreaking partnership with AECOM. We believe it will help us to drive building decarbonization at a faster pace, beginning in the Netherlands. As this partnership helps us to more quickly bridge the gap between projected and target emissions cuts here, we will establish a new way of working that can help business leaders in other countries follow suit.”

Duarte Catarino, Managing Director for AECOM Benelux, France & Switzerland, said: “Through this innovative collaboration, AECOM and Johnson Controls will pool their collective expertise to provide an unparalleled solution in the drive to decarbonize our building stock. The built environment sector can enable businesses to significantly cut emissions and we’re excited to see the impact this partnership can make.”