Broad Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Central air conditioning, Construction |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Zhang Yue |
| Headquarters | Changsha , China |
Area served | Worldwide (more than 60 countries) |
Key people | Zhang Yue (founder and chairman) |
| Products | Non-electric absorption chillers, Prefabricated construction (through Broad Sustainable Building) |
Broad Group is a privately held enterprise specializing in central air conditioning systems that utilize non-electric absorption chillers, powered by natural gas and waste heat. Its headquarters are located in Changsha, China. The company also owns Broad Sustainable Building, a firm focused on prefabricated construction. Founded in 1996, Broad Group exports its products to more than 60 countries worldwide.
1988–1992: Founding and initial development
In 1988, Zhang Yue established the company in Chenzhou, Hunan province, starting with a $3000 investment to manufacture industrial boilers based on his patented design. At a time when most domestic boilers were of poor quality and prone to explosions, Broad’s boilers stood out for their enhanced safety.
1992–2005: Relocation and expansion
The company moved its operations to Changsha in 1992 and began manufacturing absorption chillers. Supported by government policies promoting non-electric chillers to reduce electricity consumption, Broad quickly expanded and by 1996 had become the world leader in absorption chiller sales. The firm entered the global market in 1998, and today its sales are split evenly between domestic and international customers.
In 2015, Broad Sustainable Building constructed the 57-story Mini Sky City skyscraper (204 meters tall) in only 19 days using prefabricated steel components. This rapid construction technique is planned to be applied on a larger scale for the Sky City One project.
Innovations
Developed in 2009, the BSB system achieves significant energy savings and carbon emission reductions primarily through superior thermal insulation. This technology minimizes the loss of cool air indoors during warm weather and prevents heat infiltration, while also retaining warmth during cold conditions. The accelerated building timeline is made possible by assembling factory-made components onsite. The BSB has been certified to endure a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and was highlighted in a United Nations Environment Programme report as a recommended solution for reconstruction following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Environmental achievements
In May 2011, Zhang Yue, founder and chairman of Broad Group, was honored with the Champions of the Earth Award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category by the United Nations Environment Programme, recognizing the company’s dedication to climate action. In 2009, Broad was among ten firms recognized by BusinessWeek at the Greener China Business Awards. Additionally, it was listed among China's "20 Most Admired Companies" by The Economic Observer and Peking University in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005.
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