Johnson Controls, a leader in solutions for energy efficiency in buildings, has launched a new innovation to better manage building performance, energy consumption and comply with new mandates for green buildings.

In the UAE, where approximately 60 per cent of energy is consumed by buildings, the Panoptix solution helps building owners and operators reduce energy consumption through better visibility and analysis of systems, providing information, tools and support to manage building performance more effectively, a statement said.

The Panoptix solution includes four key components:

• An open technology platform that makes it easy to collect and manage data from various building systems and other data sources, such as meter and weather data.

• A suite of cloud-hosted building efficiency applications that work with any building management system, including Metasys by Johnson Controls.

• On-line and by-phone Live Guide support, as well as on-site building and energy services to help customers implement operational improvements and energy-saving measures.

• An online Panoptix connected community of peers and experts committed to sharing best practices, news and resources.

The Panoptix offering addresses many of the requirements in a recently-announced Green Economy Initiative that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiative covers a wide range of legislation, policies and projects, many of which are focused on making public and private sector buildings more sustainable by 2014.

“Leaders in the UAE are committed to creating a more energy efficient, sustainable future and recognize that building management can help reach these goals,” said Laura Farnham, vice president, building technology and services, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls.

“The Panoptix solution provides insight to help owners make timely decisions, empowering them to optimize building performance and energy efficiency without compromising comfort.”

Johnson Controls is offering four initial cloud-based applications with plans for additional Johnson Controls and partner-developed applications to be added over time.

The Panoptix solution also provides an online community so users can connect with industry thought leaders, subject matter experts and colleagues to share experiences, news and best practices.

“Technology trends such as cloud computing and the convergence of building automation and IT networks are providing building owners and operators with easier access  to the information to create buildings that work more efficiently,” added Farnham. – TradeArabia News Service