Geraud Darnis, president and CEO, UTC Climate, Controls & Security, was honored by Urban Green Council for his leadership in the green-building movement and commitment to sustainability.
Urban Green, the New York City affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), recognized Darnis for his impact on the built environment. Carrier is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
The company has a long history of developing innovative technologies for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, and helped establish the USGBC in 1993. It was the first company to join the organization, and is also the only company in the world to be a founding member of the Green Building Councils of the United States, India, Argentina, China, Singapore and France.
"I am honored to receive this recognition from the Urban Green Council, an organization that shares our belief in re-balancing the built environment with the natural environment," Darnis said. "We are convinced that global dialogue and education will accelerate green building and we are proud to affiliate with Urban Green on initiatives to advance our common goal."
UTC Climate, Controls & Security comprehensively embraces sustainability in its operations, products, and services and culture. In its operations, the company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent from 2006 through 2011. In its products and services, the company led the industry in the phase-out of ozone depleting refrigerants and has pioneered some of the industry's most energy efficient technologies. In its culture, the company created the Carrier University Institute for Sustainability to lead courses and workshops supporting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Professional Credentials, becoming the first company to license USGBC's LEED curriculum to train employees and customers in sustainable building solutions. Carrier is now USGBC's largest global partner for LEED education, training industry professionals around the world.
In 2011, Carrier launched the Distinguished Sustainability Lecture Series, a collaborative program with international universities and country organizations to stimulate a dialogue for building a greener future. The lecture series has convened global leaders in sustainability with local markets in Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. The company is also a founding sponsor of USGBC's Center for Green Schools, helping to promote healthier, more sustainable learning environments.
"At Urban Green, our mission is to promote sustainability of buildings through education, advocacy and research. We are honoring Geraud Darnis because he has been a steadfast partner in helping us reach our goals," said Russell Unger, executive director, Urban Green Council. "It's not just about UTC Climate, Controls & Security's cutting-edge energy efficient products; we value Geraud's thoughtful leadership in moving the global green building industry forward and serving as a catalyst to turn conversations into action."