Pfizer Builds World’s First LEED Platinum Pharmaceutical Factory

With help from Johnson Controls, Pfizer built the world’s first LEED-NC Platinum certified pharmaceutical factory in Dalian, China.

Pfizer has built the first LEED-NC Platinum certified pharmaceutical factory in the world at its factory in Dalian, China. Johnson Controls provided lifecycle green building certification consulting services for the expansion project, alongside building controls systems and other related products to help Pfizer successfully meet energy efficiency challenges in the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, a significant improvement in energy efficiency was recorded, including savings in water (45 percent), energy (35 percent) and cost (28 percent), according to the standards of ASHRAE90.1-2007.

Pfizer ChinaEstablished in 1989, the factory in Dalian is Pfizer’s first production base in China. The expansion project, which is an aseptic workshop for cephalosporin products, is a key step in Pfizer’s efforts to expand investment and capabilities in China. Covering an area of about 13,000 square meters, the expanded area was constructed in 2014 and completed in April 2017. Johnson Controls was involved throughout the full design and construction process of the area. This included providing lifecycle LEED certification consulting services to deliver outstanding energy efficiency and sustainability.

“Pfizer is not only committed to ensuring only the best product quality, but also to advocating sustainability in our business. To this end, we proactively integrate the most advanced and suitable technologies to reduce energy consumption and minimize the impact on the environment,” said Meng Yu, site leader of Pfizer Dalian, “Johnson Controls’ vision of sustainable development aligns strongly with that of Pfizer’s. The company’s professional services, rich experiences and proven solutions in green building certification were important in helping us achieve LEED’s highest level of platinum certification.”

The building is installed with Johnson Controls’ Metasys® Building Automation System (BAS), which has substantially improved the facility’s overall operating efficiency. It also utilizes Johnson Controls’ SPEED smart energy management platform, enabling real-time calculations of factory energy consumption for energy usage optimization through images, texts, and videos. To maximize energy savings, the building collects wastewater and rainwater for watering the lawn and grounds, combined with high-efficiency equipment, and LED and automated solar lighting systems.

“As a global pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer is devoted to improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption,” said Josephine Su, vice president and general manager, Building Technologies & Solutions China, Johnson Controls. “We fully understand the demands and provide an integrated solution including LEED certification consulting by leveraging our product advantages and expertise. We are proud to have assisted Pfizer in reducing their environmental footprint and achieving sustainable development.”

As a result of the significant improvement in energy efficiency achieved by this project, Johnson Controls was awarded the “2017 Best Supplier” by Pfizer.