The new facility is based in the Qingdao Economic and Technical Development Zone. It is equipped with state-of-the-art production facilities offering customised PU systems based on leading technology. The new systems house will serve a diverse customer base in construction, appliance, furniture, automotive, logistics, and the cold chain. This development is a little different due to the fact that its office complex is also a "lighthouse project developed by Bayer and Chinese partners under the Eco Commercial Building (ECB) programme. This is in line with the Chinese government's aim to significantly reduce energy consumption in residential and public buildings as well as highlighting Bayer's commitment to sustainable solutions for the construction industry. The 1,000 m2 complex holds 60 office workplaces and meets its energy needs through long term efficiency gains and renewable energy generation. The building uses 1,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels to generate 80.35 MWh of electricity per year. A thermally activated building system combined with a geothermal source heat pump, supplied by Uponor will maintain a comfortable room temperature throughout the year. Huafon Puren supplied high performance PU roof, ground and floor insulation, while Hempel's low VOC PU wall coatings system protects the building. Once the PU-filled sandwich panels have been installed as wall insulation, a net-zero energy balance will be achieved. Installation will be done as soon as the local authorities have adopted the local regulation regarding fire standards developed jointly by the Ministry for Public Safety and the Ministry of Housing Urban and Rural Development. "The ECB programme is a fully integrated solution with a combination of environmental protection and economic benefits. There are currently 17 ECB members in China and 75 worldwide, explained Michael Voigt, Head of the ECB programme in China. "As a leading provider of high performance materials and innovative system solutions of polyurethane, Bayer offers a diverse range of solutions for the building industry, from exterior wall insulation to interior floor coating systems, Bayer has them all. I believe we are in the best position to demonstrate that environmentally friendly buildings are technically and economically feasible with integrated planning processes and the correct material selection, said Bernd Steinhilber, Senior Vice President, Polyurethanes Asia Pacific, Bayer MaterialScience. With its superior energy performance the building is applying for Gold LEED certification.