Caterpillar Inc. last week announced that the company's multi-functional research & development center in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, was awarded Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the new construction category (LEED-NC).

The Wuxi R&D Center, a wholly owned Caterpillar subsidiary, is the headquarters and main branch of Caterpillar R&D Center (China), Ltd. To support growing operations in China and the Asia Pacific region, the new 10,000-square-meter, state-of-the-art facility was constructed in Wuxi New District during 2009, with a strong focus on environmental impact and energy-efficient design.

"We are proud to have achieved LEED Gold certification for our new Wuxi R&D Center facility,” said Brian Sun, director of Caterpillar's Product Development & Global Technology Division with responsibility for China R&D Center. “This designation highlights Caterpillar's leadership in energy management, waste, material and water usage, promoting sustainable development and innovation."

LEED is an internationally recognized third-party green building certification system. Developed by the United States Green Building Council, LEED provides independent verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, stewardship of resources and other relevant metrics.

More information on the LEED green building certification system is available at www.usgbc.org/LEED.

Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.