Chinese Plant Sets tone

In 2006, Bechtel set the tone for its innovative sustainable design with the construction of a state-of-the-art headset manufacturing plant for Plantronics near Shanghai, China. It was the first industrial facility in China to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certifications—Gold and Silver ratings—from the U.S. Green Building Council. The plant features high-efficiency ventilation systems and high-performance glazing to minimize heat loss and reduce the power necessary for lighting. To conserve water, rain is harvested from roofs and paved areas, and then stored for irrigation and fire protection.

In 2007, Bechtel completed an aluminum smelter in a remote area of eastern Iceland. There, too, sustainability helped lift the project above the ordinary. In an innovative move, the facility was designed so that heat which would ordinarily be wasted is used to warm buildings and clear roads in winter.

The project received Iceland’s highest honor for environmental excellence for generating minimal landfill waste—a big advantage in an island nation with limited landfill space—and discharging no polluted water during construction.