India leads world in importance placed on building efficiency according to results of third annual Johnson Controls survey

For second year, global Energy Efficiency Indicator shows strong interest in energy management among India’s building owners 
 

NEW DELHI -- (10 October, 2011) – The third annual global Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) shows that building owners and operators throughout India continue to say they place higher importance on energy management in comparison to their peers in other major countries. The survey of 450 building owners and operators in India was led by Johnson Controls’ Institute for Building Efficiency.

According to the survey, 88 percent of Indian respondents consider energy management very or extremely important − an increase of three percent over last year. For the second consecutive year, India’s level of concern for energy management was higher than in other parts of the world – 84 percent in China, 66 percent in the U.S. and 61 percent in Europe.

“The survey findings show that Indian business leaders are increasingly aware of the need for energy management and its impact on the environment as well as reducing operating costs,” said Pramoda Karkal, vice president and managing director for Johnson Controls’ Building Efficiency business in India.

More than half of the respondents (53 percent)indicated they plan to pursue green building certification either for new construction or existing buildings over the next year, while the number of respondents with at least one certified green building increased 12 percent from the 2010 survey.

The survey also showed that over the past year 65 percent of Indian respondents made improvements in lighting efficiency and 60 percent made heating, ventilation and air conditioning and/or control improvements. Other efficiency steps included on-site renewable energy (44 percent) and energy supply and demand management (40 percent). Large organizations (44 percent) were twice as likely as smaller companies (21 percent) to have adopted renewable technologies in the past year.
Despite the expressed high interest in increasing efficiency, 26 percent of survey respondents from the institutional sector (government, hospitals and schools) cited lack of funding to pay for improvements as a crucial barrier to pursuing their goals. In the commercial and industrial sectors, the top barrier cited was a lack of awareness about the technologies and services available for increasing energy efficiency.

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Best practices for driving implementation included setting a reduction goal, frequent analysis of energy data, the addition of internal and external resources, and use of external financing.

• About 46 percent of respondents expect the country’s National Action Plan for Climate Change to influence their organization's energy-efficiency investment decisions.

• Three in four (76 percent) respondents expect national-level policy within two years mandating energy efficiency or carbon reductions.

“The global EEI survey results were announced today during Johnson Controls’ second annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the Hotel Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. This year’s forum was themed “Energy Efficiency: The Smart Path to Energy Security and Economic Growth.” For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/InstituteBE.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 154,000 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 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.