Skip to main content

United Technologies Green Shoots Program Supports Primary School Children in Shanghai, China

UTC Building & Industrial Systems Asia brought its Green Shoots program to more than 200 children at Qingpu Yinxian Primary School in the city of Shanghai. The community outreach initiative, which focuses on promoting sustainability, educated students on sustainable behavior and helped them upgrade the facility. UTC Building & Industrial Systems, the world's largest provider of building technologies, is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"At United Technologies we are committed to making the world a better place to live," said Ross Shuster, president, UTC Building & Industrial Systems Asia. "The 'Green Shoots' program is one example of how United Technologies and its employees improve the world by giving back to the communities in which we operate. I continue to be inspired by the breadth of participation from our employee volunteers in the Green Shoots program." 

There were nearly 80 volunteers at the event, including senior executives and local employees from UTC Building & Industrial Systems Asia and China as well as UTC Aerospace Systems China. The volunteers helped upgrade the school infrastructure, including repainting school walls and replacing deteriorating classroom doors and floors. 

"We were very delighted to have volunteers from United Technologies here," said Zhang Zupei, principal, Qingpu Yinxian Primary School. "We appreciate their efforts to advocate the concept of environmental conservation, which helps cultivate sustainable citizenship in the future, and also brings about learning for the children." 

A Green Shoots library corner was also created by volunteers to help students gain more knowledge about environmental stewardship and healthy living habits. In addition, the volunteers conducted classes for children on environmental conservation, sciences, fire and elevator safety.

"As the world's largest provider of building technologies, UTC Building & Industrial Systems is committed to supporting sustainability," said Perry Zheng, president, UTC Building & Industrial Systems China. "The Green Shoots program will hopefully encourage our children to recognize this, paving the way for a more prosperous and sustainable China.

The Green Shoots program celebrated its fifth anniversary at Yinxian Primary School. To mark the milestone, the volunteers planted five saplings and awarded 20 students with the "Excellent Student Award."

Launched in 2011, the Green Shoots program brings together United Technologies employee volunteers to support primary education in Asia. The program helps enhance the student studying environment through the building and replacement of educational facilities, library set-up and teaching, with the goal of strengthening children's awareness of environmental stewardship and safety. Since its launch, more than 4,000 United Technologies employees have volunteered in the Green Shoots program. The program has covered more than 150 primary schools throughout Asia including those in China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Indonesia and has benefitted more than 18,000 children.

For more information about sustainability initiatives at UTC Building & Industrial Systems, visit www.NaturalLeader.com.

About UTC Building & Industrial Systems
UTC Building & Industrial Systems is the world's largest provider of building technologies. Its elevator, escalator, fire-safety, security, building automation, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and services promote integrated, high-performance buildings that are safer, smarter and sustainable. UTC Building & Industrial Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.BIS.UTC.com or follow @UTCBIS on Twitter.