American company Honeywell helps rebuild second primary school in quake-hit SW China

An American Fortune 100 company has helped rebuild a second primary school for poor students in southwest China's Sichuan Province, where a devastating earthquake in 2008 left 87,000 people dead or missing.

Honeywell International, a leading New Jersey-based diversified technology and manufacturing company, donated more than 2.5 million yuan (367,647 U.S. dollars) for the reconstruction of the primary school in Baohe Village, Zhongjiang County, a rural area high in the mountains.

"The school is now the most beautiful in the county and will benefit more than 120 students in four nearby villages," said the school's headmaster, Cao Xiancai.

The school, which opened Wednesday, with a floor space of more than 970 square meters, is three times larger than the old school, said Cao, adding that the school is also better equipped.

The school's reconstruction cost 3.19 million yuan and some funds came from the local government.

Shane Tedjarati, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell China and India, said to create a safe and secure school for the children, Honeywell's closed circuit TV system, alarm systems, access control systems and smoke detectors have been installed in the school.

The Honeywell Baohe Primary School is also energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, he said.

The same roofing materials used in the Bird's Nest, the China National Stadium built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was used for the school's construction, better insulating the buildings and keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter, he said, adding that the design will help save energy.

The environmentally-friendly design will contribute to reducing the school's electricity consumption by 9,000 kwh per year, a saving of 5,400 yuan in energy costs for the school per year, he added.

Honeywell said the company and its employees donated 1.3 million U.S. dollars for reconstruction of damaged schools and health care facilities after the May 12, 2008, quake.

In May 2009, Honeywell completed rebuilding another school -- Honeywell United Primary School -- in Xiushui Township, Anxian County.

The company also help in the building of five village clinics in Liangping County in neighboring Chongqing Municipality last year.

Source:Xinhua