Carrier Corp. Launches Carrier University's Institute for Sustainability

FARMINGTON, Conn., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier Corp. launched the Carrier University Institute for Sustainability under a collaborative initiative with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to become the first company to license USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) curriculum to train its employees and customers in sustainable building solutions. This collaboration offered by the new Institute for Sustainability will allow Carrier to advance sustainability education worldwide. Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), is the world's leader in high technology heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) solutions, improving the world around us through engineered innovation and environmental stewardship.

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"Education is perhaps the most important foundation for the green building movement," said Geraud Darnis, president of Carrier Corp. "The Carrier University Institute for Sustainability will provide a focal point for sustainability education in the buildings marketplace and promote the advancement of green buildings around the world."  Darnis noted that Willis Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning, began training in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry in 1905. Today Carrier continues that educational legacy through its premier learning organization, Carrier University, with locations throughout the world. Carrier University offers comprehensive HVACR training in a wide range of areas including technical skills, sales and marketing skills, business management, customer service, controls and system design. The newly created Carrier University Institute for Sustainability will focus on professional development, technical training and application tools. The Carrier University Institute for Sustainability bundles the company's body of knowledge and expertise into a single place focused on serving those seeking sustainability education.

Carrier's license agreement partnership with the USGBC recognizes that well-trained green building professionals are at the core of USGBC's mission of transforming the built environment to a more sustainable future. With over 400 LEED Accredited Professionals, Carrier now has the capacity to organize and coordinate education events through licensed USGBC's LEED workshops and offer those courses to employees and other audiences globally.  

"Carrier's pioneering leadership in the field of green building has long been established, and as the first company to license USGBC's LEED curriculum and train its employees as instructors, Carrier is showing that leadership once again," said Thom Lowther, vice president of education at USGBC. "Not only is Carrier positioning itself to greatly expand its ability to train its employees worldwide, but their participation will also provide valuable information that will guide us as we further develop this new licensing option and continue to increase the accessibility of USGBC education."

Companies that license USGBC's curriculum are able to hold as many workshops and events as they like throughout the year, translating course materials to several languages worldwide and adapting up to 25 percent of the course content to include regionally specific case studies and emphasis. As a USGBC LEED curriculum license holder, Carrier will be able to offer its employees and customers training by instructors who are trained by USGBC but who work for Carrier.

"We are proud to partner with USGBC to advance LEED around the world through the Carrier University Institute for Sustainability," said John Mandyck, Carrier vice president for Sustainability & Environmental Strategies.

"For over 100 years, Carrier has been the historic leader in educating the HVAC industry. Today, the Carrier University Institute for Sustainability focuses on the unique needs of facility owners, engineers, contractors, and managers for sustainable buildings.  It will help bridge the gap between what sustainability means to its stakeholders and how Carrier can help contribute to high performing buildings," said Mandyck.

Please visit www.Carrier.com/green and click on the Carrier University Institute for Sustainability icon for more information.

About Carrier Corp.

Carrier Corp. is the world's leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy efficient products, building controls, and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and foodservice customers. Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier improves the world around us through engineered innovation and environmental stewardship. Carrier is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.carrier.com for more information.

SOURCE Carrier Corp.