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Schneider Electric facility earns LEED certification
 
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Aug. 23, 2009 — Schneider Electric announced that its Nashville, Tenn., facility obtained certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The facility, which handles marketing, accounting, finance and engineering operations for Schneider Electric, is the largest facility, and one of only three facilities that are LEED for commercial interiors in Nashville and the state of Tennessee.

Schneider Electric began the LEED certification process in 2007 and received certification in March 2009. At a ceremony today, the certification was commemorated in a celebration including company executives and employees, as well as Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

“Schneider Electric is committed to being a socially responsible company, and our effort to earn LEED certification at our Nashville facility is reflective of our commitment to sustainable development practices,” said Rich Widdowson, vice president, Safety, Real Estate & Environment, Schneider Electric. “Due to our business focus on energy management, we recognize the importance of initiatives such as LEED certification that put a focus on making buildings more energy efficient, safe, productive and green.”

As part of renovations to achieve LEED certification, Schneider Electric augmented the capabilities of its SquareD PowerLink schedule-based lighting system to improve energy efficiency by installing automated occupancy sensors that regulate lighting throughout the building. The company also installed PowerLogic monitoring systems to establish an energy usage baseline, help monitor and measure performance and identify future opportunities for efficiency. Since receiving LEED certification, Schneider Electric also has installed additional systems to increase energy efficiency including its TAC Continuum automation system, which allows the company to review live energy usage and compare it to previous usage. In fact, since 2004 — three years prior to the start of the LEED certification process — the company has reduced energy usage at its Nashville facility by 26 percent.

The building renovation also consisted of new finishes, new office arrangements and energy management technologies for the 100,000-square-foot facility. Specific improvements included:
  • Upgrading to bi-level and lower wattage lighting to improve employee comfort, as well as installing LED exit lights that use about half the energy of the previously installed lights
  • Rebalancing and repairing deficiencies with HVAC units
  • Utilizing sustainable construction materials that minimized employee impact during the construction process, protecting them from dust and odors
  • Removal and recycling of construction and renovation waste materials such as carpet, metal, paper and plastic
  • Making use of recycled office furniture from other Schneider Electric locations as part of a larger company strategy to reduce environmental impact
  • Encouraging employee activity by installing bicycle racks, providing access to regular exercise and improving the overall work environment
  • Building commissioning to ensure indoor air quality is up to current standards and formalizing company policies such as no smoking

    “I am committed to enhancing our community through green initiatives, and compliment Schneider Electric on its significant efforts to improve the workplace for its employees, as well as for our residents and the environment,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “I encourage more of our businesses to follow Schneider Electric’s example.”

    LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Earning this certification provides third-party verification that a company has taken steps to improve energy savings, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction, indoor air quality and sensitivity to the impact of construction resources on the environment. Obtaining LEED certification is a time-consuming process and proof that a company is serious about reducing its impact on the environment.

    About Schneider Electric
    As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than $25 billion in 2008, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations “Make the most of their energy.”
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