Asia PR News

GENEVA, March 29 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development announced today that
it is forming an alliance of leading global companies to determine how
buildings can be designed and constructed so that they use no energy from
external power grids, are carbon neutral, and can be built and operated at fair
market values.

The industry effort is led by United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), the
world’s largest supplier of capital goods including elevators, cooling/heating
and on-site power systems to the commercial building industry, and Lafarge
Group (NYSE: LR, Euronext: LG), the world leader in building materials
including cement, concrete, aggregates, gypsum and roofing. The WBCSD and the
two lead companies are in discussions with many other leading global companies
that are expected to join the project and will be announced shortly.

Buildings today account for 40 percent of energy consumption in developed
countries according to the OECD. The effort announced today for transforming
the way buildings are conceived, constructed, operated and dismantled has
ambitious targets: By 2050 new buildings will consume zero net energy from
external power supplies and produce zero net carbon dioxide emissions while
being economically viable to construct and operate.

Constructing buildings that use no net energy from power grids will
require a combination of onsite power generation and ultra-efficient building
materials and equipment.

The project will comprise three phases, each producing reports that
together will form a roadmap to transform the building industry. The first
report will document existing green building successes and setbacks, the
second will identify the full range of present and future opportunities, and
the third will present a unified industry strategy for realizing those
opportunities by 2050, specifically in China, India, Brazil, the U.S. and the
E.U.

Each report will take one year to complete and involve hearings and
conferences with building contractors and suppliers, sustainability experts,
government representatives, regulators, utility officials and others.

"Green" buildings already are erected in various parts of the world but
current cost structure prevents widespread adoption by general contractors.
The project will build on these examples, aligning costs and benefits in the
building equation and by working in close collaboration with architects,
builders, suppliers and building owners to promote a more sustainable approach
to construction. Existing standards for energy efficiency in buildings will be
the starting point for the industry-led alliance.

"Lafarge has been leading efforts in energy efficiency and sustainable
construction in the building materials sector for a number of years, not only
by reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the production process but also by
developing materials that contribute to making buildings more energy
efficient," said Bertrand Collomb, Chairman of Lafarge.

"In this context, Lafarge has been collaborating with leading architects
to promote sustainable construction as illustrated by our partnership with
French Architect Jacques Ferrier, which led to the development of the
‘Hypergreen’ concept: This multi-use tower building, designed for the world’s
mega-cities, is highly energy self-sufficient thanks to the use of the latest
construction methods and technologies."

"Buildings of tomorrow should be self-sufficient in energy and have carbon
neutral emissions," said Jan van Dokkum, president of UTC Power, a United
Technologies company.

"This can be done by incorporating renewable energy sources into a
building’s design, optimizing energy efficiency of support systems, and taking
advantage of geographic and culturally acceptable building practices.
Additionally, this aim is enhanced by using the ‘cradle to cradle’ concept of
producing, using and later re-using building materials. This vision of energy
and carbon neutral designs is a necessary evolution we need to embrace to
achieve sustainability for buildings."

Bjorn Stigson, President of the WBCSD noted that "being smarter and more
efficient about how we use energy in buildings will help us conserve energy,
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. We believe this
initiative can provide extremely cost-effective solutions. It will also set
the course for self-sufficient and environmentally sound buildings in which
future generations will live, work and be entertained. Our partners are
industry leaders with technological expertise and presence that no single
existing organization or government could provide on its own."

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, based in Geneva,
is a coalition of some 190 international companies united by a shared
commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic
growth, ecological balance and social progress. Its members are drawn from
more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, is a Dow Jones
Industrial company that reported $43 billion in 2005 revenues. UTC employs
approximately 220,000 people worldwide and provides high technology products
and services to the building and aerospace industries. It has been recognized
as Fortune magazine’s "Most Admired" aerospace company for six consecutive
years based on criteria including social responsibility and innovation. The
company is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and was one of 20
U.S.-based companies to be listed on the 2006 "100 Global Most Sustainable
Corporations in the World."

Lafarge, headquartered in Paris, is the world leader in building materials
and holds top-ranking positions in all four of its businesses: Cement,
Aggregates & Concrete, Roofing and Gypsum. The company employs 80,000 people
in 75 countries and posted sales of euro 16 billion in 2005. Lafarge has been
committed to sustainable development for many years believing that long-term
value is best created when considering the interests of the community and
environment in which it operates. This strategy reflects the Group’s core
values and combines industrial know-how, performance, value creation, respect
for employees and local cultures, environmental protection and the
conservation of natural resources and energy. It is the only construction
materials company to be listed on the 2006 "100 Global Most Sustainable
Corporations in the World."

For media enquiries please contact:

* WBCSD:
Josephine Chennell, +41 (79) 346 52 03, chennell@wbcsd.org

* United Technologies:
Paul Jackson, +1 (860) 728 7912

* Lafarge:
Louisa Pearce-Smith, Tel: +33 (1) 44 34 18 18,
louisa.pearce-smith@lafarge.com

SOURCE: World Business Council for Sustainable Development

CONTACT: WBCSD, Josephine Chennell,
+41-79-346-52-03,
chennell@wbcsd.org;

United Technologies,
Paul Jackson,
+1-860-728-7912;

Lafarge,
Louisa Pearce-Smith,
+33-1-44-34-18-18,
louisa.pearce-smith@lafarge.com