Johnson Controls advances thermal and energy management

At AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas (February 2–4), Johnson Controls is presenting new and existing technologies aimed at reducing energy use, emissions and resource constraints in data centers, healthcare, bioproduction and large building portfolios.

Energy efficiency as a measurable business driver
Johnson Controls’ exhibition focuses on how connected HVAC, controls and digital platforms are being used to link energy efficiency directly to operational and financial outcomes. According to data cited from Accenture, close to 90% of organizations now connect decarbonization and efficiency initiatives to measurable business results, such as cost reduction, uptime and resilience.

At booth C2925, Johnson Controls is demonstrating integrated HVAC and building technologies designed to improve energy performance while supporting complex, multi-site operations.

Building management and digital integration
A central element of the showcase is the Metasys open building management system, which provides unified control across HVAC, chillers, fire, lighting and security systems. Version 15.0 increases scalability by supporting up to 1,000 IP devices per server and 50,000 objects, enabling large campuses and distributed facilities to expand without additional server hardware.

Metasys also includes an Energy Management suite that supports real-time emissions tracking, benchmarking and budgeting, providing a data foundation for structured decarbonization programs. Built on this layer, the OpenBlue digital platform applies analytics and automation across enterprises, using predictive insights to optimize energy consumption and asset performance. Johnson Controls reports that such deployments have delivered outcomes including six-figure annual energy savings in higher-education campuses and substantial reductions in operating room energy use in healthcare settings.

Thermal management for data centers
Data centers are a key focus area at AHR 2026, reflecting rapid growth in computing density and corresponding cooling demand. Johnson Controls is positioning its portfolio as a flexible response to air, liquid and hybrid cooling requirements under varying site conditions.

The company states that its data center thermal management solutions can reduce non-IT energy consumption by more than 50% compared with conventional approaches. Exhibits include the YORK YVAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller, designed to deliver equivalent cooling capacity with approximately 40% lower annual power consumption, zero on-site water use and reduced noise levels. New thermal management products addressing water, energy and space constraints are scheduled to be introduced during an AHR press briefing.

Precision environments beyond data centers
Johnson Controls is also highlighting applications in healthcare, life sciences and food retail, where environmental control is tightly linked to safety and regulatory compliance. Examples on display include YORK air handling units with noise-reduction technology and redundancy features for critical spaces, and the PENN System 550, which integrates temperature, humidity and pressure control with adaptive defrost and refrigerant leak detection to improve efficiency and reliability.

Context for mission-critical buildings
Across sectors, Johnson Controls is emphasizing the role of integrated HVAC, controls and digital platforms in supporting mission-critical operations under growing energy, water and carbon constraints. The technologies presented at AHR Expo 2026 are positioned as components of a broader building systems strategy focused on scalability, operational resilience and measurable decarbonization outcomes.