MORRISTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, Schindler Elevator Corporation, a leading global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has made a multi-million dollar investment in sustainable technologies and the renovation of its North American headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey.
The company purchased the 42 year-old building about two years ago. Since the facility hadn’t been updated in over 12 years, a major renovation was necessary to improve its overall efficiency.
Once completed, the building will feature advanced energy saving features that will significantly reduce the facility’s energy use and carbon footprint. Schindler has created a dedicated website (http://adema.kiosk-view.com/schindler) and a lobby kiosk that provides real-time data on the energy-savings, carbon reduction and environmental impact of the building’s new solar roof. The website serves as an educational tool to help visitors better understand the environmental benefits of the renewable energy source as well as the impact weather conditions have on the amount of power produced by the solar roof versus the utility grid.
Energy Saving Upgrades
- The building features a brand new 21,000 square foot solar array, completed in March, comprised of 1,236 photovoltaic solar panels. Each panel will generate 230 watts of renewable energy, and the system is expected to provide approximately 11 percent of the building’s total annual power consumption, enough to power more than 90 houses for one month. To date, the system has offset the generation of more than 50 tons of CO2 since March alone, the equivalent of taking a family sedan off the road for over 400,000 miles.
- Schindler is replacing all 475 windows in the building with energy-efficient, insulating dual-pane windows featuring low-E coatings that help control heat transfer and significantly reduce the strain on the heating and cooling systems. Overall, the new windows represent a 6.7 percent reduction in electricity consumption and a 39.2 percent reduction in natural gas consumption. This savings will mean a 17.5 percent overall reduction in energy costs for the building as well a significant step toward energy independence.
- To reduce energy use even further, most internal and external lighting, including parking lot and roadway lighting will be fitted with energy-efficient T5 and LED light fixtures running on day-light sensors. These sensors automatically adjust the brightness of the light fixtures based on natural light entering the building through the new low-e windows, reducing electricity consumption with no loss of illumination.
- Fifteen thousand square feet of carpeting is being replaced with “cradle-to-cradle” carpet tiles that are essentially waste-free. Old tiles can be recycled piece-by-piece as they age and turned back into the raw material used to make new carpets, reducing the waste that ends up in landfills. The new ceilings will also be made with “cradle-to-cradle” recycled content.
- The building has also been equipped with new vertical transportation. The Schindler 9300® AE escalator with ECOLINE generates energy savings of up to 20% per year. The building also features a newly launched Schindler 3300 machine room less elevator that is up to 60% more efficient than a hydraulic elevator with eco-friendly features such as an energy-saving gearless motor to avoid power loss, frequency converter with standby power mode and LED lights.
- Dual flush, metered plumbing fixtures are utilized in the newly renovated restrooms to reduce water consumption and a cafeteria renovation including new ozone-friendly refrigerator models that are free of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) gases.
“Sustainability has always been a driving force behind everything we do for our customers,” says Michael Landis, vice president, marketing at Schindler North America. “As building owners ourselves, we understand that in order to adopt a truly sustainable approach, we need to show our commitment to that sustainable vision right here in our own facilities.”
With comprehensive targets for economic, environmental and social performance, Schindler is going beyond the innovative products it has produced for years that redefine what it means to have an energy-efficient building transportation system. This three-tiered corporate strategy to sustainability reflects a renewed focus on every aspect of its operations. From key investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing and office facilities to corporate citizenship programs supporting sustainable urban development, Schindler is improving the impact of its infrastructure, products and services on the community and the environment.
“At Schindler, we recognize that sustainability is about much more than being ‘green’,” says Jakob Zueger, chief executive officer, Schindler Americas. “In addition to producing the innovative, energy efficient products we are known for, we are committed to continuously improving the environmental impact of our processes and are dedicated to giving back to the environment at every level of our business. The renovation of our North American headquarters is focused on reducing our carbon footprint. It is just one example of how Schindler is truly embracing the concept of sustainability.”
About Schindler Elevator Corporation
Schindler Elevator Corporation is the North American operation of the Schindler Group, founded in Switzerland in 1874 and a leading global provider of elevators, escalators and related services. Its innovative and environmentally-friendly access and transit-management systems make an important contribution to mobility in urban societies. A pioneer of sustainable mobility, Schindler is once again at the forefront of technological advance through its partnership with Solar Impulse, a cutting-edge project to fly around the world in a plane powered only by solar energy. In 2010, the Schindler Group generated operating revenue of more than CHF 8 billion. Schindler mobility move one billion people every day all over the world. Behind the company’s success are 43,000 employees in over 100 countries.