CHARLOTTE, NC /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Carrier Corp., a world leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR), was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Certification for its Charlotte Chiller Operation plant. This is one of only 11 manufacturing facilities in the world to achieve LEED status for existing buildings (LEED-EB) and one of the first two United Technologies Corp. factories (both Carrier sites) to achieve this status.
United Technologies (UTC) made a commitment in January 2008 that all new facilities for which they had majority ownership and all new build-to-suit leaseback facilities with a lease term of greater than 10 years would be required to include sustainable features that enable a minimum rating of LEED certified, and a target of LEED Gold.
Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman, USGBC, congratulated Carrier saying, "UTC and Carrier have demonstrated continuous leadership in sustainability and the built environment. This recent accomplishment is another example of that leadership. We believe that every manufacturing employee should work in a green facility, and we remain single-mindedly committed to delivering on our vision of green buildings for everyone within a generation."
To achieve LEED Certification, the Charlotte factory's employees developed an alternative transportation plan which included bicycle storage and preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicle users. They also installed fluorescent lighting, improved indoor air quality, and instituted green housekeeping. "We have reduced the impact to the environment in numerous ways and have already seen a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency in the Charlotte facility," reports Charlie Figueroa, vice president and general manager, North America Commercial Applied Equipment.
"Energy efficiency and environmental stewardship is a top priority for Carrier," notes Kelly Romano, president, Carrier Building Systems and Services. "We have set goals to reduce emissions, waste and water consumption over the next several years. This recognition for our Charlotte factory confirms our commitment to minimizing our impact on the planet and providing customers and employees with safe and healthy workplaces."
John Mandyck, vice president, sustainability and environmental strategies added, "Green products start in green factories, which makes our achievement in Charlotte a natural evolution of Carrier's approach to sustainability." Committed to advancing sustainable buildings across the globe, Carrier is the only company in the world to be a founding member of the U.S., China and India Green Building Councils.
About Carrier Corp.
Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, CT, is the world's largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, with operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of products and services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.carrier.com for more information.
About USGBC
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. For more information, go to www.usgbc.org.
Source: Carrier Corp. (www.carrier.com)
For additional information, contact Christine Hiney of Carrier Corp.: (315) 432-7176 or
[email protected].
