Covestro LLC Announces Sponsorship of Energy Innovation Center
PITTSBURGH, PA – June 22, 2016 – Covestro LLC, a leading polymer materials supplier, announced a multi-year sponsorship with the Energy Innovation Center, located in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The sponsorship will contribute toward the Energy Innovation Center’s mission to advance sustainable technologies.
“Sustainability sits at the heart of our business strategy, as we continue to push for more energy-efficient solutions through our products and technologies,” said Jerry MacCleary, president of Covestro LLC. “Our sponsorship with the Energy Innovation Center reflects this commitment, while also connecting us to a hub of like-minded organizations who share our vision for a cleaner future. Together, we can make a stronger impact.”
The Energy Innovation Center aims to promote clean technologies and sustainable workforce development by engaging corporate and community leaders in collaboration, education and research. The facility itself was transformed from the former Connelly Trade School into a LEED Platinum-certified building. The renovation incorporates high-tech materials from Covestro, including polyurethane insulation, floor coatings and polycarbonate solutions.
“The Energy Innovation Center provides a firsthand demonstration of how our materials can enhance the aesthetics of a building, while also dramatically improving its energy performance and resiliency,” said MacCleary.
RELATED Chemours Completes First Field Application of Opteon 1100 Foam Blowing Agent, Lapolla Industries’ 4th Generation Foam Named in Green Builder Media Awards
Covestro’s technologies will be showcased throughout the facility, but the company will have a more defined presence in the premiere event space as part of its sponsorship agreement. The 2,150 sq. ft. conference room and a 725 sq.ft. adjoining class room overlooking the Allegheny River will be called the Covestro BrightSpace. While the space is still undergoing renovations, construction is expected to be complete before the end of the year.
“Covestro played an important role in taking the Energy Innovation Center from a visionary concept to a reality, contributing both materials and technical expertise to the project,” said Bill Miller, vice president and chief operations officer at the Energy Innovation Center. “We’re pleased to strengthen our engagement with Covestro, whose support will be invaluable as we continue to work toward our goal of establishing the Energy Innovation Center as the ‘go-to’ place for sustainable innovation.”
The sponsorship was announced at the Energy Innovation Center, where community leaders gathered to hear the inspiring story of Solar Impulse Co-Founders and pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, who are pioneering clean technologies by attempting to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane. The historic airplane is constructed, in part, from the same Covestro technologies that can be found throughout the Energy Innovation Center.
“Covestro has been instrumental in supporting Solar Impulse with technical expertise and helping us meet the challenges of lightness, resistance and efficiency we had in terms of design and construction of the airplane,” said André Borschberg, Co-Founder, CEO and pilot. “The challenge was not an easy one, as they knew that although they were and still are our partners we needed to go with the best available technology on the market.”
“It is interesting to see how chemical companies like Covestro are part of the solution to make the world cleaner and more energy efficient,” added Bertrand Piccard, Initiator, Chairman and also pilot of the solar powered airplane. “The technologies developed for Solar Impulse, such as thermal insulation material and polycarbonate, can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in a very significant way.”
“Both Solar Impulse and the Energy Innovation Center represent the courageous leadership we need to inspire the greater movement toward a cleaner, brighter future,” explained MacCleary. “We are proud to bring these two groundbreaking initiatives together in celebration of what can be achieved when we push the boundaries of innovation.”
About Covestro LLC: Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business with 2015 sales of EUR 12.1 billion. Covestro manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical and sports and leisure industries. The Covestro group has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 15,800 people at the end of 2015. Find more information at www.covestro.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available on the Covestro website at www.covestro.com. Covestro assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
