Schneider Electric’s new transformer factory in Taysad OSB has become Schneider’s first LEED Gold certified building in the world.
The factory building, which was awarded with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certificate at Gold level in September 2011, was designed and built to complement Schneider’s work on energy efficiency. With the advanced automation system providing control from around 1,000 different spots, which is designed to be 22% more efficient than the ASHRAE energy efficiency standard, the building is automatically energy efficient depending on the changing internal and external conditions and the energy used is monitored from many areas. The selected mechanical equipment was again selected over the minimum efficiency values of the ASHRAE standard, bringing energy efficiency to the top. T5 and LED type light bulbs and the use of daylight in the lighting system have resulted in 36% efficiency compared to the standard for total indoor and outdoor lighting. High-performance glass, facade and skylight systems have been energy-saving, while daylighting is being utilized at both the office and the production floor.
Fresh air rates for employees’ health were also kept at the standards. In addition, with the ventilation system specially developed for transformer manufacturing, the number of particulate emissions from the production has been reduced to one-half of OSHA (Ocupational Safety and Health Administration) limits. In addition, building chemicals used in construction were selected from the types that would not harm human health.
Water efficiency in the Schneider plant is also an important part of green building design. The rainwater collected from the large roof is passed through the special filtration system and is used in the building with drinking water quality, saving about 3,600 m3 of water. In addition, approximately 2,000 cubic meters of water obtained from the waste treatment system are used in the landscape water.
It was aimed to ensure that employees travel safely and reduce CO2 emissions by ensuring that 88% of their employees come to work with services provided free of charge by the company.
With the waste management policy implemented during construction, 138 tons of waste was recycled. In addition, due to more than half of the selected construction materials were produced İn Turkey and the nature of its raw materials, carbon emissions from transportation have been reduced and contributed to the country’s economy.
In sum, Schneider Electric’s new transformer plant offers benefits both to the environment and to the country as a green building.