New York September 30, 2011 – The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that BYD has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member.  A global leader in new energy solutions, BYD’s membership in the Consortium moves further toward establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI), to set standards for evaluating sustainability practices and purchases industry wide.
 
With more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the U.S., lighting is a critical element of design, which must be integrated throughout the development, redevelopment and renovations processes.  
 
“Our goal in joining the Consortium is to help the Hospitality Industry by establishing sustainability performance criteria that delivers real solutions for hotel brands, owners, and the hotel guest,” said Carson Norcross, Vice President of Sales for Norcross York, LLC, hospitality agent and distributor for BYD. “Our global leadership in three areas – solar power, energy storage, and electric vehicles –, has helped BYD balance cost, return on investment, quality and sustainability. We are happy to be collaborating with hospitality industry leaders to deliver real ROI -- sustainable solutions at reasonable prices, and a better guest experience.”
 
Twenty-three leading organizations are now part of the Consortium, including more than a dozen industry-leading suppliers, leading brands, architects, designers, purchasing firms, and sustainability consultants
 
BYD and the HSPC
The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (HSPC), created and led by MindClick SGM™, is a collaborative organization to help hotel owners purchase products that both reduce their properties’ environmental impact, and contribute to guest comfort, health and well-being.
 
BYD, along with other Consortium members, will help establish criteria for creation of a new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI). The Index will include measures of corporate social responsibility, environmental and product sustainability.  Product categories covered include furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), and operating supplies and equipment (OS&E).
 
"We are happy to welcome BYD to the Consortium,” said JoAnna Abrams, CEO of MindClick SGM™. “More than ever, this announcement makes clear the importance of a truly global set of sustainability solutions for the industry. We look to BYD to drive innovative thinking and cutting-edge technologies that will enhance the guest experience and deliver sustainable lighting solutions at reasonable prices.”  

BYD joins existing Consortium members Marriott International, Audit Logistics, Aqua Hospitality Carpets, Benjamin West, Contract Decor International, Delta Faucet Company, Innvision, InterfaceFLOR, Majestic Mirror and Frame, PE INTERNATIONAL Inc., Quiltcraft Industries, Richloom Fabrics Group, RTKL, SERA Architects,
Shafer Commercial Seating, Simmons Hospitality Bedding and Valley Forge Fabrics.
 
Stella Li, Senior Vice President at BYD, said, “We are delighted to join this group of industry pioneers and visionaries to bring sustainable solutions, and benchmarks, to the industry.”
 
About the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium
Established in June 2011 by MindClick SGM™, the Consortium is comprised of a group of leaders in the hotel industry representing brands, suppliers, architecture and design firms, purchasing companies, owners and sustainability experts.  Led by MindClick, Consortium members are working collaboratively to provide the industry with a unified approach to greening the global supply chain.  The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) will set the criteria for sustainable purchasing and create a repository of supplier performance in the areas of corporate social responsibility, product, and environmental sustainability.  For more information visit www.hspiconsortium.com.
 
About MindClick SGM
MindClick SGM, a leading sustainability research and consulting firm, provides clients with performance measurement tools to develop, implement, improve and promote product and company sustainability.  Serving clients ranging from global Fortune 1000 companies in consumer products, automotive, and hospitality, to family owned building products suppliers, to government municipalities, MindClick drives growth through sustainability.  Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in San Francisco and Seattle, MindClick combines a decade of experience in sustainability with 20+ years of research, product development and marketing expertise.  The result is sustainability performance rating services that provide executive decision makers with the knowledge to maximize business success.  For more information, visit www.mindclicksgm.com.
 
About BYD  
BYD is ranked #1 at the top of Bloomberg’s and BusinessWeek's 2009 Tech 100 List and is the leading manufacturer of advanced, environmentally-friendly battery technologies. BYD’s solar panels have TUV/CE and UL listings, and the company enjoys rapid growth in consumer electronics space and automobile manufacturing under its BYD brand. With investments from Warren Buffett and MidAmerican Energy Holdings, today, BYD is the fastest-growing Chinese automotive and green energy technology manufacturer. The Company trades on the Hong Kong exchange (HKE) under the ticker numbers (HK.0285 – BYD Electronics) and (HK.1211 – BYD Company Ltd).