2008 Galaxy Star Award Winner: United Technologies Corporation (UTC)

Fifteen years ago, before voluntary environmental reporting was common, this high-technology company began measuring and reporting its environmental impact, and it has been committed to reducing energy use, water consumption, and waste throughout its operations. UTC has continually exceeded its own ambitious environmental goals since 1991. In the past 10 years for example, UTC reduced its own energy use by 20 percent while the company more than doubled in revenues. UTC is now well on its way to achieving its next goal of reducing, by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent and water use by 10 percent. Another target is to invest $100 million from 2007 to 2010 in energy conservation projects, including co-generation systems.

Believing that climate change is a critical environmental concern, and with a worldwide real estate portfolio of more than 100 million square feet, UTC also is committed to designing and building new facilities with the lowest possible environmental footprint. This year, UTC began using the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in all new facilities, whether owned or leased, including two new facilities in China that are designed to meet LEED Gold and Platinum standards, respectively.

Richard Bennett, UTC vice president, environment health and safety, noted, “At UTC, we have focused on energy conservation both in our own operations and for UTC products in use around the world, and we’re pleased to be recognized for our results. There is always still work to be done, but recognition along the way is a source of pride for the corporation and its 225,000 employees worldwide, who invent and implement changes and help us achieve our aggressive goals.”