SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Carrier Corp. President Geraud Darnis led a group of officials and dignitaries in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Willis H. Carrier Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) lab at the Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCoE) in Environmental and Energy Systems headquarters in Syracuse, N.Y. Carrier is a charter member of the SyracuseCoE and was actively involved in all aspects of the headquarters’ design process. SyracuseCoE is focused on research in global sustainability, including clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality, and water resource solutions.

In 2005, Carrier pledged $1.5 million for the creation of the world class, 10,000-square-foot laboratory named for Dr. Willis H. Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning and the founder of Carrier Corp. This first-of-its-kind lab is said to facilitate cutting-edge research into the effects of multiple factors - including temperature, humidity, air quality, lighting, and sound - on human health and performance in building environments.

“Carrier is proud to be a charter member and platinum partner of this initiative,” Darnis said. “Innovation is central to Carrier’s genetic code, and supporting SyracuseCoE will improve sustainable built environments for generations to come. We are pleased to join the CoE in advancing knowledge on the design, building, and operation of high performance sustainable buildings of the future.”

The mission of SyracuseCoE is to create innovations that improve human health and productivity, security, and sustainability in commercial buildings. SyracuseCoE’s headquarters building itself is designed to be a showcase for environmental and energy technologies and building innovation. Carrier’s sustainable building solutions can be seen in the application of water-to-water heat pumps and air treatment equipment controlled by Carrier’s Comfort Network®. The air treatment equipment provides personalized comfort and air quality control for the human performance test simulators in the Carrier TIEQ Laboratory.

“SyracuseCoE’s building is a platform for sustainability not just for Syracuse but for all those around the world interested in the advancement of indoor air quality and its impact on human productivity,” Darnis said. “It is only fitting that the TIEQ Laboratory is named for Dr. Carrier, who dedicated his life to developing ways to improve the human condition. That legacy continues today, with Carrier’s two-decade experience in sustainable solutions for our products, technologies, and operations.”

SyracuseCoE also employs outdoor air quality monitoring, building materials testing, advanced underfloor air distribution and heat recovery systems. The facility is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

For more information, visit www.carrier.com or www.syracusecoe.org.

Publication date: 03/29/2010