MILLWAUKEE – Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, used its building technology and consulting expertise to help an 850,000-square-foot office tower in Changsha City, China earn two prestigious green building certifications and cut energy consumption by 28 percent.

The Northstar Delta Office Tower is the first in the region awarded two green building certifications including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization that provides independent, third-party verification to confirm a building is operating at the highest levels of efficiency and sustainability. The second certification was the Green Building Evaluation Label, a program managed by the Chinese government that evaluates projects to make sure they conform to standards set for green building.

“We turned to Johnson Controls because of its expertise and long-term leadership in building solutions and green certification,” said Min Zhang, deputy general manager and chief architect of the Northstar Delta Office Tower.  “The company was able to give us advice on the right building technology and lead us on the path to certification.”

Johnson Controls’ recommendations included an innovative heat recovery system to harness waste heat. Heat recovery has become increasingly important due to a greater demand for more efficient and sustainable buildings at a lower cost. This is especially prevalent in China, where building construction is booming and air quality continues to worsen. 

Other energy-saving features in the Northstar Delta Office Tower included Johnson Controls’ Metasys® building management system and a variable air volume (VAV) system that is the first used in a high-rise building in Hunan Province. Johnson Controls provided one-stop green and energy saving solutions for the project.

“Building management has shown real leadership in its efforts to develop a facility that saves energy while reducing carbon pollution,” said Siew-Hooi Ling, director of service and energy solution for Johnson Controls’ China region.  “This was an excellent project for us because we are committed to supporting efficiency and sustainability in buildings and facilities around the world.”

Johnson Controls has nearly 1,000 LEED-accredited professionals globally and certified 25 million square feet of LEED space in 2013 – equal to greening more than 25 50-story skyscrapers.  The company has been awarded LEED certification for its own facilities throughout the world – including its global headquarters in Wisconsin and its Asian manufacturing and research and development center in Wuxi, China.  Johnson Controls’ new Asian corporate headquarters in Shanghai was designed to receive USGBC LEED Platinum and China's Three Star Green certifications.

Johnson Controls is a member of the USGBC and helped to establish the original criteria for LEED certification. The company was awarded an “Energy Saving Service Institution Record Certificate” by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2011, becoming the first foreign company qualified to provide comprehensive building efficiency service and Energy Management Contracts (EMC) in China.

Johnson Controls provides comprehensive building solutions in China and across the globe and has helped many organizations and businesses achieve green building certifications, such as the New Century Hotel Group and the Hyatt Regency Guiyang.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.