Carrier Corp.’s Monterrey, Mexico, factory is the first HVAC facility worldwide to be named a LEED-gold operation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Carrier Corp.’s Monterrey, Mexico, factory is the first HVAC operation worldwide to be named a LEED-gold facility from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The designation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building-rating program denotes structures that meet environmental and energy conservation standards.

“This certification further demonstrates our natural leadership,” said Carrier Corp. President Geraud Darnis. “Carrier is committed to providing energy-efficient building solutions to our customers to help reduce their costs and minimize the impact on the environment. We apply those same standards internally to produce green products in green factories.”

 Darnis added that the plant is also the first non-U.S. industrial facility meet the LEED-gold standard for existing buildings in the operations and maintenance category.

Among the improvements Carrier made at the facility to reach the gold standard: changing lighting to high-efficiency models, using smaller compressors and undertaking a comprehensive energy audit.

Rick Fedrizzi, the USGBC’s president, CEO and founding chairman said Carrier is a leader.

"Carrier demonstrates continuous leadership in sustainability and the built environment,” Fedrizzi said. “This recent accomplishment is another example of that leadership and Carrier's belief that green products must start in a green company. 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."