Mahindra Group and Johnson Controls Launch Net Zero Buildings Initiative to Decarbonize Buildings in India

• Strategic climate advocacy initiative will provide organizations, building owners and facility managers with information and resources to create sustainable spaces.
• Initiative to accelerate deployment of smart and sustainable buildings and support India's Net Zero goals.
• Being launched with a toolkit document and will continue to be rolled out over the course of a year from March 2024 using virtual and in-person workshops.

NEW DELHI, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As India ramps up efforts to decarbonize its rapidly growing infrastructure of buildings, the Mahindra Group, one of India's leading industrial enterprises, and Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced a first of its kind Net Zero Buildings Initiative to decarbonize India's commercial, urban residential and public buildings. The joint initiative will simplify access to key information and resources to help organizations start their net zero buildings journeys.

"At Mahindra, we strongly believe in operating as a 'Planet Positive' organization. The group has undertaken multiple initiatives to decarbonize our operational infrastructure—leading to both financially and environmentally value accretive outcomes. We also understand the critical role of collaboration in accelerating a sustainable future, and hence join hands with Johnson Controls, leaders in net zero building solutions, to share our learnings and best practices with everyone" said Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Group Public Affairs Officer and Group Executive Board Member.

According to the International Energy Agency, three-quarters of India's anticipated 2040 buildings have yet to be built. With the sector accounting for 20% of emissions and more than 30% of energy consumption in the country^[1], the transition to smart and sustainable buildings is becoming an environmental and economic imperative.

"With India on the cusp of a building revolution, now is the time to actualize the benefits of smart and green buildings for India's economy and society," said George Oliver, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls. "The joining together of our two companies to develop this unique initiative is a natural fit—leveraging Johnson Controls' leadership in smart building technology and Mahindra's renowned multi-industry expertise and reach. We believe it will help guide and inspire a movement toward a more sustainable built environment, both in India and beyond."

The Net Zero Buildings Initiative—comprising a cost-free, all-in-one toolkit and training—will help building and facility owners learn about best practices of sustainable buildings, implement tools to assess building parameters, identify and implement conservation measures, and understand building regulations in India, available incentives, technology, financing models, and more.

"This collaboration is a statement of intent from the construction industry to support the Indian government's journey towards the low-carbon pathway of development. I'd like to congratulate the Mahindra group and Johnson Controls International for providing a much needed momentum to this movement. Built infrastructure is responsible for 40% of the global energy related emissions today, and most of the built environment in India's cities, is yet to be constructed. It is absolutely imperative that we integrate sustainability and climate resilience into the life cycle of the built environment.

Sustainability has been an article of faith for this government, and no developing country has ever steered away from the high carbon path of development as profoundly as India has done." said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. 

Investing in energy efficient infrastructure can potentially reduce electricity consumption by 40-60% compared to conventional buildings. According to India Energy Outlook 2021, even a 30% improvement in energy efficiency from buildings can potentially save ~250 TWh of electricity by 2030, which means significant electrical energy could be given back to the grid to further fuel economic growth.

Across Mahindra Group, Mahindra Holidays has increased energy efficiency by more than 50% across resorts, Mahindra Auto & Farm sector has increased energy productivity by more than 90% across factories, and Mahindra Lifespaces launched Mahindra Eden, India's first Net Zero Energy Residential building, that is expected to save over 1.8M kWh electricity annually. Similarly, Mahindra Logistics is investing to build energy efficient warehouses.

As part of the initiative, Mahindra and Johnson Controls will work closely with Indian national and state governments, think-tanks and industry associations, providing greater visibility on building data to aid in climate progress reporting and formulating strategies and frameworks.

Mahindra and Johnson Controls plan to roll out the initiative in March 2024 through virtual and in- person workshop sessions as part of a year-long roadshow. To learn more about the Net Zero Buildings Initiative, visit: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/en_in/openblue/india-net-zero-buildings- initiative.

[1] According to the Rocky Mountain Institute

MAHINDRA MEDIA CONTACT:
Swati Khandelwal
Senior VP & Head, Group Communications Mahindra Group
Email: [email protected]

JOHNSON CONTROLS MEDIA CONTACT:
Trent Perrotto
Vice President, External Communications Johnson Controls
Email: [email protected]

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About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world's largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise/ For updates subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room.

About Johnson Controls:

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.

Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.

Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms.

SOURCE Johnson Controls