7.09.2008 - 04:41pm ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY - July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Environmental Market Solutions, Inc. (EMSI), an environmental and green building consulting company, provided consulting services for Century Prosper Center, the first speculative commercial office building in China to achieve LEED(R) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). EMSI is part of Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Planning for the Century Prosper Center project began in 2002 when the Beijing Prosper Development Company, Ltd. engaged EMSI as sustainability consultants. EMSI faced the challenge of applying USGBC standards in an environment that does not have similar requirements. The USGBC requires strict performance levels for indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation and building commissioning. As the project developed, it became apparent to the building stakeholders that it would serve as a model for green building practices in China.

The $250 million, 1.6 million-square-foot twin tower building in the heart of Beijing's Central Business District was completed in the first quarter of 2008. At capacity, the building can house 10,000 occupants and will include retail and commercial offices.

To improve its energy efficiency, the building features a high-performance curtain wall system that keeps heat outside the building during the summer and inside during the winter; variable speed high-efficiency electric centrifugal chillers with a secondary loop to cool building parameters zones; demand-control ventilation; and "free cooling" during swing seasons along with reductions in lighting power density. Combined, these features can reduce Century Prosper Center's energy costs by $173,000 annually. Water-conserving fixtures and a system to re-use water reduce the center's water use by 52 percent. In addition, compared to a similar project, building construction waste was reduced 58 percent. The building's owners have also vowed to incorporate a green housekeeping program, including using non-toxic cleaning products and employing green practices throughout the building.

"EMSI was instrumental in helping the project meet the high standard of energy and environmental performance goals required for LEED Gold," said Kenneth Langer, president, EMSI. "It was a very successful collaboration which opened doors to promote the green building process, LEED rating system, and the U.S. Green Building Council's role in the region."

In 2005, Mr. Wei Ping, CEO and president of Prosper Development Company, was one of nine Chinese real estate developers to receive an award from the president of USGBC in recognition of his company's efforts in pioneering the green building movement in China.

For more information on these and other Carrier projects and services visit www.carrier.com.

About Carrier Corp

Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, Conn., is the world's largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. With 2007 revenues of $14.6 billion, Carrier has approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of products and services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.carrier.com for more information.

About EMSI

Established in 2000, Environmental Market Solutions, Inc. (EMSI) is an environmental and green building consulting company with offices in Washington, D.C., Missouri, Beijing and Shanghai. The company provides sustainable design consulting services to building developers and owners to create energy-efficient and LEED-certified buildings.

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