Flying high, touching down: Historical breakthroughs and future horizons
Building on a long history of innovation, Johnson Controls has helped shape the evolution of buildings, leading the way to the future.
When it comes to building efficiency, the sky’s the limit for our game-changing solutions. It’s been that way since even before our original balloon hit screens.
Where some see buildings, we see potential. Even back in 1984, when our first hot air balloon took to the skies, we saw the future of buildings in every office block and every stadium.
To most people, buildings are where we live, work and play. To us, they’re a sophisticated symphony of systems, equipment and data, all working in perfect harmony. With over four million customers spanning nearly every city in the world, we’re transforming buildings into smart, strategic assets that are safe, healthy and sustainable. In fact, we’re already in 90% of the world's most iconic buildings.
Our journey has taken us from inventing the first room temperature regulation to the forefront of modern building technology, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Just take a look at some of the key milestones of our past, present and future:
Past: A better climate for business
In 1885, long before anyone talked about carbon footprints or climate change, Warren Johnson launched a company to explore new ways to harness and conserve precious energy resources. In doing so, he also launched a tradition of customer-focused innovation, a tradition that has inspired thousands of employees for 140 years and one that continues to drive the success of Johnson Controls today.
The original Johnson Controls hot air balloon hit screens during the 1984 Olympics and featured the slogan ‘A better climate for business’. Since then, and for a century before then, we’ve transformed our industry, one building at a time.
Present: The power of partnerships
This week, our team will be live at AHR, the biggest HVAC tradeshow event, demonstrating how our valuable partnerships with distributors, suppliers, contractors and business owners – combined with industry-leading technologies and services – deliver optimal outcomes across every stage of a building’s lifecycle.
Our leading portfolio of building products, technologies, software and services will be on display to help customers choose and implement solutions that get more out of their buildings, from efficiency gains to increased long-term savings.
Future: Powering your mission through innovation
The smart buildings of today are on their way to becoming the autonomous buildings of tomorrow.
In 2025, Johnson Controls will celebrate 140 years of powering your mission. Now, as we fly our balloon into the next 140 years, we remain focused on driving innovation and continuing to shape the evolution of buildings as we lead the industry forward and support our customers’ missions.
Learn about our latest innovations, benefits and technologies shaping the future of smart buildings. Read more >