HSINCHU, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announced the launch of Green Ark Project. To promote green, energy saving, and zero electronic waste concepts. AUO's Green Ark Project includes the continuous practice of green innovation within AUO by targeting a 25% reduction of carbon emissions in all fabs by 2015. Meanwhile, AUO devotes itself to encouraging green thinking among students and sharing the world's leading green experiences with industry players. By working together with the industry and academia, AUO continuously makes efforts in environmental sustainability.
AUO's Green Ark Project is a three-year project with involvement of government, industrial sectors, and academia. AUO wishes to call for the industry's and students' participation. "AUO has long been implementing AUO Green Solutions. As an industry leader, AUO continues to practice energy saving and lower carbon emissions," said Paul Peng, President of AUO. "We hope to advocate AUO's green experiences and green thinking to the public. AUO encourages students and industry players to develop more green innovations and to build up the Ark of sustainable environment with AUO together."
Since the inception of "AUO Green Solutions" in 2008, AUO has been a dedicated green practitioner of sustainable operations. AUO has focused on the implementation of green fabrication in recent years. Not only AUO's first G8.5 fab in Taichung has obtained LEED(*1) Gold certification in 2009, but also its G8.5 fab located in Houli has been awarded LEED Platinum certification in 2011. AUO targets to obtain LEED Gold certifications and above for all the newly-built LCD fabs and build up energy and water-saving green plants.
AUO has introduced energy management platform to its LCD fab since 2011, and is the first manufacturer in the world to have obtained the ISO 50001(*2) certification. AUO plans to adopt the ISO 50001 energy management system and AUO's unique energy management platform as well as energy-saving technology to all existing fabrications to further build up AUO's smart green fabs. AUO targets at reducing 25% carbon emissions in all its fabs worldwide from the levels of 2010 by the end of 2015. The goal will result in one million tons of carbon emissions reduced, equivalent to carbon emission of 370,000(*3) households per year.
As to the promotion of green thinking, AUO plans to communicate green thinking and zero electronic waste concepts with students in campus. In the coming three years, AUO will organize green innovation campaign and symposiums regularly to encourage students with more green creativity. Meanwhile, AUO will initiate its LEED Gold certificated G8.5 fab in Taichung to be the first green educational facility in Taiwan, validated by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Students will be able to gain more green knowledge through visiting, observing, and learning from the high-tech green plant.
AUO will also invite industry representatives to share and exchange green experiences through the platform including government, industry and academia. At the meantime, AUO wishes to lead the industry and suppliers to advance the development of total green solutions and innovative green energy-saving technologies.
AUO's Green Ark Project promotes green thinking and is committed to pursuing the goal of energy saving and zero electronic waste through its green innovation capability, execution, and successful green experience. By advancing green education, cooperating with the industry and academia, AUO will keep on working for the sustainability of the enterprise as well as the environment.
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*1 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000, the LEED rating systems are developed to assess sustainability of building performance. LEED standards cover new construction and existing building operations, commercial interiors, schools, retail, and home. The rating system covers sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.
*2 The ISO 50001 standard was officially announced energy management systems in June 2011. The standard enables organizations to establish, operate, maintain and improve energy management systems, so that continuous progress could be made to increase energy performance, efficiency and savings.
*3 The value is calculated based on averaged 304 kWh of electricity consumption by each household per month and 0.612 kg / kWh of CO2emission factor published on Taipower's official website.
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is one of the world's leading providers of display and solar total solutions. AUO offers a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications ranging from 1.2 inches to 71 inches. Based on its profound R&D and manufacturing experience, AUO continues to develop advanced display technologies of the next generation. AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in 2008. By building a vertically integrated high-efficiency solar value chain, AUO provides its customers with high-efficiency solar solutions. AUO now houses a staff of more than 43,000 employees, with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech and Slovakia. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO has also been named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for two consecutive years from 2010 to 2011. AUO generated NT$379.7 billion (US$ 12.54 billion) in sales revenue in 2011. For more information, please visit AUO.com.
* 2011 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD30.27:USD1.
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3rd, 2011.
