Kingspan Panels, a leading U.S. manufacturer of insulated metal wall and roof panels based in Central Florida, attended the White House Summit on Climate, and the Road through Paris. The Summit gathered leaders from the government, private sector, academic, technical and scientific communities to focus on cross-sector efforts to tackle the climate change challenge in the U.S. and globally.
Specifically, the event focused on how to further efforts around carbon mitigation, sustainability and resiliency, as well as how technologies are emerging to support and scale these efforts. Additionally, participants discussed how to further engage and organize in support of the upcoming COP21 Paris climate negotiations.
At the event, Kingspan announced it has joined the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, joining more than 65 companies from across the American economy that are standing with the Obama Administration to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to climate action, and to voice support for a strong outcome in Paris.
By joining President Obama's groundbreaking initiative, Kingspan has committed to reducing their carbon footprints and incorporating climate change and sustainability into their strategic planning.
The American Business Act on Climate Pledge language is as follows:
We applaud the growing number of countries that have already set ambitious targets for climate action. In this context, we support the conclusion of a climate change agreement in Paris that takes a strong step forward toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.
We recognize that delaying action on climate change will be costly in economic and human terms, while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, public health, resilience to natural disasters, and the health of the global environment.
Kingspan has put forth its pledge as follows:
“Kingspan was invited to participate in the White House event announcement with their commitment to reduce GHG avoiding CO2 emissions of 12,882,490 kg.CO2.eq.by 2025” said Paul Bertram, FCSI, CDT, LEED AP, director of Environment and Sustainability for Kingspan Insulated Panels.
“Participating in the American Business Act On Climate Pledge is in alignment with Kingspan’s own Global Net Zero energy operational performance goals," said Bertram. "Kingspan provides advanced high performance building Envelope First Energy Efficiency solutions to reduce Demand Side Energy and related GHGs.”
The Kingspan Group embarked on its own Net Zero Energy Initiative in 2011, with a goalto have all facilities at Net Zero energy by 2020.Kingspan is on pace to achieve the target mark of 50 percent in 2016.
“We are proud to again show our commitment to the drive for sustainable living by joining the responsible firms signing this pledge,” said Kevin Kelly, president of Kingspan Insulated Panels. "Kingspan’s U.S. operations are committed to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy that will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, energy efficiency, public health, resilience to natural disasters, and the health of the global environment."
