Birmingham, AL – Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, honored Children’s of Alabama as an OpenBlue Pioneer on Monday. This prestigious award recognizes businesses advancing a more sustainable, safe, and healthy world through Johnson Controls technology and expertise. The award was presented to Children’s CEO and President Tom Shufflebarger on the same day the hospital celebrated its 113th anniversary.
Tom Shufflebarger expressed his delight in receiving the award, highlighting Children’s of Alabama’s long-standing commitment to innovation. The hospital has consistently been at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technologies and practices to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability on its campus.
Children’s of Alabama has been in partnership with Johnson Controls since 2008, when it signed a 25-year contract to build, design, operate, and maintain its new central utility plant. This plant, equipped with advanced computer-controlled monitors and controls, provides real-time responses to changes in weather, humidity, and hospital needs. Additionally, it recycles water and steam to boost overall system efficiency. These measures have led to significant energy savings, cost reductions, enhanced fault detection, and uninterrupted utilities for the hospital, resulting in nearly $250,000 in annual savings and a 69% reduction in natural gas usage.
Maureen Blasé, vice president and general manager of North America Sustainable Infrastructure at Johnson Controls, emphasized the importance of this project in not only ensuring wise resource use and environmental protection but also in providing quality care. The collaboration between Johnson Controls and Children’s of Alabama exemplifies their shared goals of achieving sustainability and excellence in healthcare.
The Blueprint of the Future Award, launched by Johnson Controls in 2022, recognizes outstanding achievements in sustainability and innovation. Nominations are submitted through Johnson Controls’ global field operations, with winners selected by Chairman and CEO George Oliver and the executive team. Previous awardees include Colorado State University, Museum of the Future in Dubai, and Microsoft Beijing West Campus in China. Children’s of Alabama was also recognized in December 2023 as a pioneer in sustainability at COP28 in Dubai.
About Children’s of Alabama
Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient, outpatient, and primary care throughout Central Alabama. Ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. As a private, not-for-profit medical center, it serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research, and residency programs. The medical staff consists of UAB faculty and Children’s full-time physicians, as well as private practicing community physicians.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) transforms the environments where people live, work, learn, and play. As a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, their mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places, and the planet. With nearly 140 years of innovation, Johnson Controls delivers cutting-edge building technology and software through OpenBlue, a comprehensive digital offering. The company boasts a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, offering the world’s largest portfolio of building technology, software, and service solutions from trusted industry names.
