SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower extended its industry leadership in environmental sustainability today by earning industry accolades for green initiatives implemented at the company's solar panel manufacturing plant in the Philippines. Recognition included Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as a 2015 Excellence in Ecology and Economy (E3) Award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"We're honored that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce has recognized our efforts to operate a sustainable business, and look forward to using our proven experience to help residential, commercial and utility customers around the world achieve their own sustainability goals," said Marty Neese, SunPower COO. "With the help of a dedicated team in the Philippines, we're proud to have secured LEED certification which is an important element of SunPower's holistic sustainability strategy to pursue LEED, Cradle to Cradle, and Landfill-Free certifications for all of our solar panel assembly sites."

Several elements contributed to the SunPower solar panel manufacturing plant's LEED certification and E3 Award recognition, including a rain water collection system and water reduction measures, one megawatt of installed solar power capacity, as well as light-emitting diode (LED) lights installed throughout the campus. The Philippine plant is SunPower's fifth site to earn LEED certification.

Additional LEED certified SunPower buildings include:

• Headquarters in San Jose, Calif. (LEED Gold Certified)
• Fab 2 solar cell manufacturing plant in the Philippines (LEED Gold Certified)
• Fab 3 AUO SunPower solar cell manufacturing plant in Malaysia (LEED Gold Certified)
• Fab 3 AUO SunPower administration building in Malaysia (LEED Platinum Certified)

The U.S. Green Building Council's internationally-recognized LEED program offers five different rating groups depending on project type. SunPower's Philippine solar panel manufacturing plant was certified according to the Building Operations and Maintenance standards that apply to existing buildings. The site earned enough credits in the following seven categories to reach Gold certification: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority credits. For more on LEED, visit www.usgbc.org/leed.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's E3 Award recognizes organizations in the country that demonstrate business sustainability through environmental stewardship. SunPower's Philippine solar panel manufacturing plant earned first place for the Large Enterprise Category. Award criteria included exceeding compliance with environmental laws and regulations, as well as demonstrating commitment to sustainability through the company's implementation approach. For more on the E3 Award visit www.philippinechamber.com.

For an infographic and more information on SunPower's latest sustainability achievements, including how SunPower is the first and only solar company to earn the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver designation for its panels manufactured in Mexico and France, visit www.sunpower.com/sustainability. 

About SunPower Corp.As one of the world's most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower Corp. (SWPRF) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower's more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.