Johnson Controls wins IDEA2026 Innovation Award for pioneering campus decarbonization project

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) has recognized Johnson Controls with the 2026 Joseph M. Brillhart IDEA Innovation Award for its work with the University of Windsor on a groundbreaking hybrid steam-electric chiller project that is helping advance campus decarbonization while reducing energy costs and grid demand.

Presented at IDEA2026 in June, the award honors innovative district energy projects that deliver measurable environmental and operational benefits and demonstrate solutions that can be replicated across industries and communities.

The award-winning project, Pioneering Campus Decarbonization: Advancing Hybrid Steam-Electric Innovation at the University of Windsor, helped the university become the first higher education institution in Canada to implement a dual-drive hybrid steam-electric turbine chiller. The solution transforms waste heat into self-generated power, enabling the university to reduce reliance on the electrical grid during peak demand periods while supporting long-term sustainability goals.

As part of the project, Johnson Controls modernized the university's Energy Conversion Centre by replacing an aging gas-fired boiler with a 1,200-ton YORK® YST Steam Turbine Centrifugal Chiller and a Heat Recovery Steam Generator. The system captures and repurposes exhaust steam, creating a more efficient energy model that helps lower emissions and improve operational flexibility.

The project is expected to deliver approximately 82% of the University of Windsor's 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target while reducing grid electricity demand by roughly 60% during Ontario's peak demand periods. By leveraging recovered steam rather than grid electricity, the university can also realize significant long-term energy cost savings.

“This project was made possible through a true partnership with the University of Windsor and what we accomplished together goes well beyond optimizing campus efficiency,” said James Rosner, Principal Advisor – Higher Education), Johnson Controls. “We fundamentally changed the way the university uses energy, turning a legacy system into one that advances both its decarbonization goals and its long-term financial resilience. We're grateful to IDEA and proud of what this team built."