Johnson Controls Makes Fortune 2025 Change the World List
Johnson Controls has been named to Fortune’s 2025 Change the World list for its innovative work in data centre thermal management.
The recognition highlights the company’s YORK YVAM Air-Cooled Magnetic Bearing Chiller, developed specifically for hyperscale and AI-intensive facilities. By cutting energy use, consuming no on-site water and operating at low noise levels, the solution demonstrates how cooling technologies can make data centres more sustainable while supporting growing AI workloads.
“As AI reshapes the world, data centres are increasingly vital to modern life and economic growth,” says Joakim Weidemanis, CEO of Johnson Controls.
“Tackling the energy and carbon associated with data centres is both a challenge and an opportunity. Cutting the energy used for cooling in data centres unlocks more capacity to power advanced AI workloads. That's a strategic edge that drives the AI-enabled transformation of human society.
“We're proud to partner with our customers and proud to be recognised for the impact we're making.”
Cooling challenges in the AI era
Cooling systems are essential for maintaining safe operating temperatures in data centres, particularly as high-performance chips for AI workloads generate significant heat.
Yet cooling can account for more than 30% of a facility’s total energy consumption. Rising demand for power, alongside concerns about water usage and community impact, has placed greater importance on efficient and sustainable thermal management.
Modern data centres are turning to water-saving technologies, energy-efficient designs and noise-reduction strategies to meet these challenges. Johnson Controls has positioned the YORK YVAM chiller as a direct response to these operational pressures.
Features of the YORK YVAM
The YVAM chiller brings together several innovations that aim to improve performance while lowering environmental impact:
- Consumes 40% less power annually than conventional solutions while delivering equivalent cooling capacity
- Uses zero on-site water, supporting conservation efforts and improving water usage effectiveness
- Operates at just 65 decibels at 10 metres, comparable to background music in a restaurant, reducing community disruption
These attributes directly address the pressing needs of hyperscale and AI-intensive data centres, where both energy efficiency and sustainability targets are becoming central to operations.
Investments in innovation
Johnson Controls’ focus on data centre cooling goes beyond a single product. The company has made significant investments in research and development through its Advanced Development Engineering Center (JADEC), which is dedicated to raising the performance of chillers, air handlers and their components.
The creation of a Global Data Center Solutions organisation further underscores its commitment to delivering consistent, scalable thermal management innovations worldwide. These efforts reflect a broader strategy to support socially responsible building solutions and data centre operations through advanced engineering.
“The climate is telling us that until we decarbonise those buildings, we can't effectively decarbonise the climate,” says Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer at Johnson Controls.
“The great news is that we have a trifecta of technologies today that drives those buildings from being a burden on the climate and the balance sheet to being net zero or even net energy positive.”
This trifecta – efficiency, electrification and digitalisation – is reshaping how the company operates and how its customers approach building management.
Recognition on Fortune’s Change the World list
This is the third time Johnson Controls has been recognised on Fortune’s Change the World list.
The company was included in 2023 for its heat pump technology, which reduced operating costs by more than 50% and cut carbon emissions by 60%.
In 2022, the recognition came for its OpenBlue smart building platform, designed to turn buildings into agile, efficient assets.
Being selected in 2025 positions Johnson Controls among 50 companies worldwide recognised for their social impact through business innovation. For data centres, the recognition highlights how advanced cooling solutions like the YORK YVAM can deliver operational efficiencies while reducing environmental impact.
As AI adoption drives higher power density and greater cooling needs, Johnson Controls’ recognition signals the growing importance of sustainable infrastructure in enabling the digital economy.
