Freedom Heat Pumps, one of the UK’s largest dedicated heat pump distributors, has chosen Baxi to forge a new strategic partnership, combining Freedom’s market expertise with Baxi’s heat pump range and award winning back-up customer service and support network.  Chris Higgs, Managing Director of Freedom Heat Pumps, said “I’m proud to represent a highly regarded British brand like Baxi and we’re excited to support Baxi’s growth in this increasingly important part of the heating industry.” Freedom Heat Pumps was founded in 2010 and has established its reputation for a full range of heat pumps, complementary accessories and cylinders. By selecting Baxi to sit alongside other top brands, the partnership is a statement of confidence in Baxi’s role and opportunity in the heat pump market and sustainable energy solutions, says the company.  Baxi’s Bamber Bridge factory is less than two miles from Freedom’s distribution centre, giving the match an additional closeness to ensure a seamless integration of Baxi’s products into Freedom’s distribution channels. “Being neighbours in Bamber Bridge underscores the efficiency and alignment between our two companies, which we expect will lead to faster delivery times and superior customer service” said Rob Pearse, Baxi’s Distribution Sales Director.   Baxi already makes pre-plumbed cylinders and other internal components required for a heat pump installation at its Lancashire factory, and is developing its business to become a partner of choice in the heat pump market.  An example of this development is the recently launched initiative with Carno, aimed at simplifying heat pump installations for installers and available through Baxi’s training programmes. Carno’s digital survey and design tool with automated MCS documentation can save 8-10 hours per job. Related to that is a significant investment in Baxi’s training capability to grow opportunities for installers to partner with Baxi to gain heat pump skills. In 2022 Freedom became part of Certas Energy, part of the FTSE listed DCC Plc Group, giving its customers access to a broad portfolio of lower carbon options to power and heat their home. For more information, please visit Baxi and Freedom Heat Pumps.

Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, marking significant progress and unwavering focus on decarbonising the built environment. Notably, the company reduced absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43.8% since 2017, putting it ahead of schedule in achieving its 2030 science-based target of a 55% reduction. The company also reported a 27.1% reduction in Scope 3 emissions derived from the use of its products, exceeding its 2030 science-based target of achieving 16% reduction in use of sold products by 2030. “At Johnson Controls, our focus on sustainability is a force multiplier accelerating our strategy, cutting our operating costs, and helping us attract and retain the best and brightest talent in the industry,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO. “Putting our operating technology and OpenBlue digital platform to work achieving our own ambitious decarbonisation goals enables us to be a trusted partner to our customers, accelerating their climate progress and success. I am proud of the progress we have made and am excited by the many initiatives we have underway that make the promise of sustainable buildings a reality.” Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions and buildings represent some of the fastest—if not the fastest—paths to meeting global climate targets. Throughout the report, Johnson Controls highlights key innovations and initiatives that deliver energy efficiency and decarbonisation in buildings. This includes the solutions and services that form the smart building trifecta: energy-efficient equipment, clean electrification and digitalisation. These solutions are making a difference in buildings like Children’s of Alabama medical centre, where OpenBlue and heat pump technologies are delivering $450,000 in annual savings and reducing the use of natural gas by 69%. In Norway, OpenBlue is helping create the largest net energy-positive building in the northern hemisphere. In Dubai Silicon Oasis, Johnson Controls chillers and AI-driven solutions are reducing carbon by 30% and delivering guaranteed energy savings of 4.2 million kWh per year. In 2023, OpenBlue Enterprise Manager and OpenBlue Central Utility Plant helped our customers avoid an estimated 70,000 metric tons CO2e, more than four times the avoided emissions of 2020. “We have very purposefully created a company that is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of customers at every level—creating the products, installing and servicing them, investing in advanced technologies like AI, and creating the financing structure to support net zero journeys end-to-end,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “The numbers show we are having tremendous impact in cutting energy, emissions, and cost in our own operations and for our customers. We are moving the needle on net zero buildings fast and we realise every day that decarbonising buildings is a winner for the climate and for smart, cutting-edge organisations that are determined to be best in class.” Against the backdrop of the hottest year on record, Johnson Controls remains committed to innovation, investing 90% of new product R&D into climate-related technologies. The company is also addressing hard-to-abate steel production and embodied carbon with more than 80% of steel purchases in the United States and 50% globally produced from recycled scrap materials using low-carbon, electric arc furnace steel-making technology.  Johnson Controls is also helping customers overcome financing challenges with innovative structures like “Net Zero Buildings as a Service,” which establishes outcome-based, net zero financing. It redefines risk by guaranteeing energy savings and paying project costs out of the savings. The company also offers performance-contracting projects, with guaranteed energy and operational savings realised over time. Since January 2000, Johnson Controls performance-contracting projects have helped partners and customers avoid over 39 million metric tons of emissions and they are set to save partners over $8.4 billion in energy and operational costs over their project terms. At NRG Park in Harris County, Texas, a 20-year energy savings performance contract is expected to generate more than $54 million in savings that will fund the entire cost of the complex-wide upgrades, while also providing surplus savings that will be reinvested back into the Harris County community. The project spans much of the complex, including upgrades to HVAC equipment, building automation systems, water conservation, life safety systems and lighting, as well as high-efficiency chiller upgrades and the integration of Johnson Controls OpenBlue Central Utility Plant. Johnson Controls attributes its global sustainability leadership to its global workforce. In 2023, Johnson Controls employees volunteered over 61,000 hours, the most volunteer hours recorded in one year since 2017, with more than 82% of the volunteer hours supporting one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The company is also investing in the rising generation of diverse, sustainable leaders through a wide range of scholarship, training, and community engagement programs. Recent Johnson Controls Recognition: To read the full 2024 Sustainability Report, please visit: johnsoncontrols.com/2024Sustainability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals