Johnson Controls heat pumps cut 2025 heating costs by 32%, emissions by 55%

As organizations face increasing pressure to reduce emissions, lower operating costs and improve energy resilience, heat pumps are proving they can deliver measurable results today – not years down the road. From hospitals and utilities to large commercial and industrial facilities, customers are using advanced heat pump technology to reduce energy consumption, cut heating costs and accelerate decarbonization efforts.

The examples highlighted below demonstrate how Johnson Controls heat pump solutions are driving real-world performance across a variety of applications, earning industry recognition and helping organizations achieve their sustainability and business goals.

Our industry expects results

We’re a results-oriented society, which means we expect the products and services we purchase will deliver. We turn to research, customer reviews, industry expertise and quantifiable metrics to guide us. And if we’re considering a major purchase like a heat pump to boost organizational efficiency, those metrics are even more significant.

Recently, we shared results that showed how our commercial and industrial heat pump portfolio helps customers reduce costs, lower emissions and deliver reliable performance in mission-critical operating environments. In 2025, global customers saved an estimated 32% in annual heating costs while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 55% (1.6 million metric tons) compared to a conventional gas boiler. This is equivalent to taking nearly 400,000 cars off the road for a year.

Real-world results across sectors – up to 80% reduction in electricity costs

Johnson Controls heat pumps are being deployed across industries where reliability, performance and economics are critical. They’re also demonstrating results at commercial, industrial and district scale.

In healthcare and manufacturing, our customers are using large-scale heat pumps to replace or supplement heating fuel needs. This provides significant savings while reducing emissions through waste heat recovery and electrification. At the New Aalborg Hospital in Denmark, a district cooling system uses a nearby body of water for free cooling and combines advanced Sabroe ChillPAC chillers and Sabroe HeatPAC heat pumps for peak demand. The hospital saw results – electricity costs were cut by 80%, and emissions were reduced by 80-90%.

Municipal and district energy projects are also leveraging high-capacity heat pumps. In Vancouver, two ultra-efficient YORK® CYK centrifugal heat pumps recover thermal energy from wastewater and convert it into clean, low-carbon heating for 47 buildings (7 million square feet of residential, academic and public space). The upgrade triples previous capacity and delivers hot water at efficiencies exceeding 300%, meaning the system generates three times more working energy than it consumes. It now provides sustainable heating for 10,000 residents and area businesses.

Rethinking cold weather performance

A common misconception is that heat pumps cannot operate efficiently in cold climates. In many applications, performance depends on outdoor air temperature and the temperature of the heat source feeding the system. That’s not the case with Johnson Controls heat pumps. Our solutions are designed to operate across a wide range of conditions, including cold-weather environments.

Modern heat pumps can operate efficiently, even at temperatures as low as –20°F (–29°C). While air source systems draw heat from outdoor air, many large-scale applications draw heat from stable, higher-temperature processes like data center operations or process steps. This is common in critical industries like pharmaceutical or food and beverage manufacturing. Recapturing heat that would otherwise be wasted can dramatically improve efficiency, even in winter. In one application, the heat source temperature was closer to 80°F compared to outdoor air of 40°F, reducing power demand by up to 50%. This significantly lowered compressor work while improving overall system efficiency.

Johnson Controls recognized by Empire Technology Prize competition

Johnson Controls was recognized in New York’s Empire Technology Prize competition that advances building technologies for low-carbon heating system retrofits in tall commercial and multifamily buildings. The team developed an innovative heat pump solution that delivers cooling and heating with a heat pump that runs on ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, in combination with zero-GWP mechanical vapor recompression technology. The innovative solution saves a significant amount of energy and water compared to a conventional system that includes a standalone chiller and boiler.

“Customers don’t need perfect conditions – they need solutions that work in the real world,” McGinty added. “Heat pumps are delivering real savings, real emissions reductions and real resilience as deployment scales. That’s progress you can count on.”

Johnson Controls continues to expand and invest in its heat pump portfolio to support growing customer demand for high-capacity, electrified heating solutions across commercial, industrial and district energy applications. And we’ll continue to show you the results these heat pumps bring.

Final thoughts

The results are clear: heat pumps are no longer an emerging technology waiting for widespread adoption – they are delivering measurable value today. From hospitals and district energy systems to commercial and industrial facilities, organizations are reducing operating costs, lowering emissions and recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted. Real-world deployments demonstrate that – when applied correctly – heat pumps can simultaneously advance sustainability goals and improve operational performance.

As decarbonization strategies move from ambition to execution, heat pumps are becoming a practical pathway forward. With the ability to operate across a wide range of conditions, integrate with existing infrastructure and deliver both heating and cooling, they are helping organizations make meaningful progress today rather than waiting for future solutions. The question is no longer whether heat pumps work at scale – it is how organizations can best leverage them to accelerate efficiency, resilience and long-term performance.

To learn about our wide array of York Chillers and Heat Pumps and Sabroe Chillers and Heat Pumps, please visit York|Sabroe|Frick

FAQs

How does a heat pump work?

Heat pumps use outside air or local water sources to extract heat and convert that heat to energy for use with your heating or cooling system. Learn more about how this process works.

What are the benefits of Johnson Controls heat pumps?

Benefits include:

• Low energy usage
• Environmentally friendly
• Easy installation
• Efficient heating
• Proven technologies
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Low-cost service and maintenance

Learn more about these benefits and the impact to your business.

How can I have Johnson Controls recommend the right heat pumps or chillers for my organization?

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Where can I get more educational insights from Johnson Controls?

Check out our Building Insights page for the latest advice and innovation to keep your building running strong.