The Dow Chemical Co. has been selected by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL) as a research partner for the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) Consortium on Building Energy Efficiency. In addition, Dow will chair the CERC Industrial Advisory Board. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formally approved and awarded the proposal submitted by LBNL, leader of the consortium, to develop and implement energy-efficiency technologies for residential and commercial buildings. Dow will contribute funding to the CERC Building Energy Efficiency Consortium, as well as in-kind research support and practical commercialization expertise through Dow Building and Construction, a business unit of Dow.

“Together, the dynamic economies of the U.S. and China lead the world in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which are directly linked to significant energy inefficiencies in the building sectors in each country,” said William Jackson, Global Research and Development director, Dow Building and Construction, and chair of the CERC Industrial Advisory Board. “The CERC Consortium’s mission is to identify and implement new, affordable solutions to improve energy efficiency in homes and buildings.

“This initiative is critical, timely, and full of potential for China, the U.S., and the world. Dow’s selection as an industrial research partner is not only a great honor, but an exceptional opportunity to help us fulfill the Dow 2015 Sustainability Goals relating to energy efficiency, climate change, sustainable chemistry, and breakthroughs to world challenges.”

In October 2010, the CERC Consortium for Building Energy Efficiency was granted $12.5 million from the DOE over five years, and another $12.5 million in matching funds will come from consortium partners in the U.S. Chinese counterparts, currently being finalized, will contribute an additional $25 million. In addition to LBNL, the consortium includes seven U.S. research partners: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Natural Resources Defense Council (Beijing branch), ICF International (Beijing branch), National Association of State Energy Offices, Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California-Davis.

“As a major corporate citizen of China and the U.S., Dow is very proud to play a prominent role in the consortium’s mission of helping both countries become residential and commercial building energy efficiency leaders,” said Peter Sykes, president, Dow China. “The joint U.S.-China CERC Consortium for Building Energy Efficiency will help conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating new business opportunities for both countries.”

CERC was established last year in Beijing in a joint announcement by presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao. A protocol launching the center was signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and Chinese National Energy Administrator Zhang Guobao. Secretary Chu announced the first two consortia in late 2010-one led by the University of Michigan to advance technologies for clean vehicles, and another led by West Virginia University to focus on the next generation of clean coal technologies. Total funding for CERC, including private and public investments in both countries, will be at least $150 million over the five-year program.

“As a leading supplier of insulation wall systems and related energy-efficiency construction materials in both China and the United States, Dow Building and Construction is in a unique position to help guide the research work of the new CERC Consortium on Building Energy Efficiency,” said Karen Carter, general manager, Asia Pacific and India, Dow Building and Construction. “We understand the technology and, equally important, the practical commercial factors for developing successful marketplace solutions in both countries.”

About Dow Building and Construction

A business group within Dow’s Advanced Material Division, Dow Building and Construction is comprised of two business units, Dow Building Solutions and Dow Construction Chemicals, each of which offer strengths in channel management, branding, technology development/support, and demand creation. The two business units collectively employ about 1,700 people worldwide and generate almost $2 billion of revenue while operating more than 30 plants worldwide. Through its strong sales support, customer service and building science expertise, the Building and Construction business units provide meaningful solutions for customers today, while also addressing the industry’s emerging needs and demands with advanced industry knowledge.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, such as renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, energy, coatings, and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe.



For additional details, visit www.blue4greendesign.com.