Caterpillar Inc. research & development (R&D) center in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, has been awarded Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the new construction category (LEED-NC).

The Wuxi R&D Center, a wholly-owned Caterpillar subsidiary, is the headquarters and main branch of Caterpillar R&D Center (China), Ltd.

To support growing operations in China and the Asia Pacific region, the new 10,000-square-meter, state-of-the-art facility was constructed in Wuxi New District during 2009, with a strong focus on environmental impact and energy-efficient design, Caterpillar says.

“We are proud to have achieved LEED Gold certification for our new Wuxi R&D Center facility. This designation highlights Caterpillar’s leadership in energy management, waste, material and water usage, promoting sustainable development and innovation,” said Brian X. Sun, director of Caterpillar’s Product Development & Global Technology Division with responsibility for China R&D Center, in a written press statement.

LEED is an internationally recognized third-party green building certification system. Developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides independent verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, stewardship of resources and other relevant metrics.

Tana Utley, Caterpillar chief technology officer and vice president of the Product Development & Global Technology Division added, “Caterpillar is committed to sustainable development as we expand our global R&D footprint. We work today to make our world better for future generations.”

Caterpillar says it has incorporated a variety of sustainable ideas in the design and construction of its new Wuxi R&D Center facility in Wuxi, People’s Republic of China (PRC), making it “a unique, high-performance building.”

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas: sustainable sites, water savings, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.