Saint-Gobain Joins US-China Clean Energy Research Center Consortium to Advance Energy-Efficiency in Buildings

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products manufacturer, has been selected to join the U.S. Department of Energy's U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center for Building Energy Efficiency (CERC BEE).  This CERC, one of three in the U.S., is dedicated to advancing energy-efficiency in buildings in the U.S. and China.  The CERC BEE features a consortium led by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory that includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory and industry research partners, such as Saint-Gobain.  In its role as an industrial research partner of the CERC BEE, Saint-Gobain will work collaboratively with CERC BEE research labs, share the company's expertise in building science, provide technical support, offer access to the company's research facilities, and supply materials, equipment and more.  

"We are pleased to have been selected to participate in this important venture and firmly believe that this partnership will make important strides towards mitigating the impact of buildings on the environment," said Gilles Colas, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain in North America. "As the leader in sustainable habitat, Saint-Gobain is wholeheartedly committed to inventing solutions to help professionals and communities around the world build and renovate comfortable, healthy, cost-efficient and durable buildings.  We are proud to help lead the fight against climate change through responsible manufacturing practices and the development of sustainable building products that offer greater energy efficiency."

The CERC BEE consortium was officially kicked off yesterday at a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. At the event, Saint-Gobain's Colas joined U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Stephen Chu, Minister Wang Gang from China's Ministry of Science and Technology and Minister Zhang Guobao from China's Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as representatives from other consortium partners.

"We look forward to working with all the partners to help advance the energy performance and sustainability of buildings in the U.S. and China," said Colas. "We expect that the innovations generated by the consortium will lead to better-performing buildings in the U.S., China, and around the globe."

Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed, North America's leading manufacturer and supplier of exterior and interior building products, will kick off the CERC partnership by working on two key research projects in the area of cool roofs and insulation materials.  Research in the areas of glass facade systems, solar integration and data monitoring in energy efficiency are being explored as possible projects to be undertaken by other Saint-Gobain companies as part of the CERC partnership.  

About Saint-Gobain in North America

Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products company, has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  The company has over 330 locations in North America, and approximately 19,000 employees. Saint-Gobain businesses in North America include CertainTeed, North America's leading manufacturer and supplied of exterior and interior building products, and Norton, the largest global manufacturer and supplier of performance engineered abrasives.  In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.8 billion in 2009.  In 2009 and 2010, Saint-Gobain was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national award that recognizes environmentally responsible corporations. For information about Saint-Gobain in North America, visit www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com

More information:

• DOE announcement about the CERC: http://energy.gov/news/9657.htm
• LBNL announcement about the CERC/consortium: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2010/10/07/berkeley-lab-awarded-12-5-million-to-lead-a-u-s-china-clean-energy-research-center/

SOURCE Saint-Gobain