FARMINGTON, Conn. - Carrier Corp. has 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.

“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.” Carrier University, with locations throughout the world, 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, bundling the company’s body of knowledge and expertise into a single place focused on serving those seeking sustainability education.

“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.

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

Publication date: 11/29/2010