Johnson Controls adds renewable energy unit

Milwaukee, Wis. - Johnson Controls, responding to increasing global demand for renewable energy sources, has announced the launch of a new business division to develop and service alternative forms of energy.

The company's new renewable technologies unit will focus on geothermal, solar, biomass, wind, and other alternative sources of energy.

Johnson Controls expects increased demand for these alternative forms of energy from businesses and other organizations as fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas increase in price and concern grows about their economic and environmental impacts.

Don Albinger, who has been with Johnson Controls for 25 years, was named vice president of renewable energy solutions. He will supervise a division responsible for the development of renewable products to local, state, and federal government agencies, school districts, hospitals, and private industry.

Johnson Controls already has established renewable energy projects involving onsite geothermal for the Utah Department of Corrections, wind turbines for the Erie (Illinois) Community Unit School District, solar energy for the Denver Federal Center, and biomass boilers for the Indiana Department of Corrections. The Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls is best known for its building efficiency and power solutions, and its efforts to develop a next-generation hybrid car battery. The company reported $32.2 billion in 2006 sales and employs more than 110,000 people worldwide.

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