Largest LEED-Certified Interior Project in China; Eaton’s First LEED Gold Facility       

SHANGHAI … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced today that it has received a Gold–level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its Asia Pacific Headquarters office building in Shanghai.  The sustainable Eaton facility is the largest LEED certified commercial interior project to date in China and Eaton’s first fully certified LEED Gold facility.

“This distinguished award continues to signify Eaton’s commitment of fostering sustainable business in China, and we are honored to obtain the LEED Gold Certification,” said Curt Hutchins, president of the Asia Pacific region for Eaton.  “Protecting and improving the environment are among Eaton’s highest priorities. We strive to increase the efficiency of our operations, reduce the environmental impact and create the best workplace for our employees through sustainable construction efforts.”

As a leading global power management company, sustainability is at the core of Eaton’s business, and the highlight of this new five-story, 10,000 square meter regional headquarters  is its emphasis on sustainable materials and equipment. The building is powered by Eaton’s industry-leading energy efficient uninterruptible power system (UPS) equipment, breakers, switchgear and lighting control systems, which make significant contributions to environmental protection and emissions reduction.

“Eaton’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Eaton serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system providing building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

Eaton’s Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters building includes the following Gold-certified features:

• 31 percent of furniture is reused
• 34 percent reduction in water use
• 70 percent of wood is FSC certified
• 76 percent regional materials used
• 88 percent demolition debris recycled
• 90 percent of seats have daylight and views
• 100 percent of carpet is recyclable

This building is the first full Eaton facility worldwide to be LEED Gold certified. The company’s 2008 expansion of its North American Electrical Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Penn., also received Gold certification for the new segments.

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.  By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive.  Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

Eaton began operations in China in 1993 through a joint venture agreement to manufacture steering control units and hydraulic motors. Since then, its presence has grown significantly in the region through acquisitions, joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries. In 2004, Eaton moved its Asia Pacific headquarters from Hong Kong to Shanghai.  In China today, Eaton has 27 operations with more than 10,000 employees.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2009 sales of $11.9 billion. Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries.