THE DATA CENTRE INTERVIEW WATCH NOW
How Johnson Controls is changing the tide in the data centre industry
Waste heat reuse as local value Asked which benefits change community sentiment beyond construction jobs and tax revenue, Katie points to those which residents can observe directly:“ The forms of local value that matter most are those that people can see, experience and measure.“ Recovered waste heat is a compelling example. Data centres operate around the clock, producing a continuous and reliable source of thermal energy. With heat pumps, that energy can serve nearby hospitals, universities, schools and district energy systems.” She cites a major North American project where Johnson Controls heat pumps are already in operation.“ We are already seeing what that looks like in practice,” Katie says.“ In Vancouver’ s False Creek neighbourhood, Johnson Controls heat pumps help deliver approximately 70 % of the community’ s low-carbon thermal energy.“ The system delivers sustainable heating to 10,000 residents and 47 buildings, demonstrating how energy that would otherwise be wasted can become a valuable local resource.
This is a tangible example of how thermal energy can create value beyond a facility’ s boundaries and deliver measurable benefits for the surrounding community.”
Skills programmes and local supply chains Katie links the economic case for data centres to the trades and suppliers that build and maintain them, and to Johnson Controls’ s own training investment.“ Just as importantly, the benefits extend beyond energy,” she goes on.“ Data centres create demand for skilled tradespeople, technicians, manufacturers and local suppliers, helping communities participate directly in the growth of the digital economy.“ Through the Johnson
30 October 2026