EPA Recognizes Transwestern With Fifth Consecutive ENERGY STAR(R) Sustained Excellence Award

HOUSTON, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Transwestern a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership and commitment to operate buildings efficiently, create value for clients through a reduction in operating expenses, minimize waste and reduce their carbon footprint. Transwestern's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. Transwestern was previously recognized in 2004 and 2005 as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 as a Sustained Excellence recipient - the first third-party commercial real estate services provider to achieve both designations.

Transwestern, an ENERGY STAR partner since 1999, is being honored by the EPA for its long-term commitment to superior energy efficiency, performance proven operating procedures and outstanding annual results. Transwestern continues to take action to provide clients with sustainable energy efficient solutions for their real estate and reduce its environmental footprint. For over 10 years, the firm's energy management practices - including many cutting edge no- and low-cost operational adjustments - have consistently reduced operating costs across the Transwestern managed portfolio by an average of 20 percent.

"We hold our partnership with the EPA and ENERGY STAR in the highest regard and are delighted to receive this exclusive and prestigious recognition," said Larry P. Heard, Transwestern's president and chief executive officer. "Transwestern is committed to proactive energy management and implementing industry-leading techniques to reduce overall energy consumption to the benefit of our clients and their portfolios. This award is a testament to that commitment."

Transwestern has proactively embraced the ENERGY STAR benchmarking program since 2002 as a valuable tool in reducing property operating costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Transwestern's integrated approach allows the firm to quickly evaluate a building's performance and develop continuous improvement plans, maximizing the energy performance of the properties Transwestern manages, regardless of the age or class of the building.

"Transwestern continues to build on each year's successes in energy management, establishing innovative new programs and achieving incremental energy performance improvements," said Alyssa Quarforth, U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program Manager for Commercial Properties.  "With an impressive portfolio of 150 ENERGY STAR labeled buildings in 2009, Transwestern is at the top of their industry, positively impacting the global environment through significant reductions of energy and greenhouse gas emissions."

The 2010 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

TRANSWESTERN QUICK FACTS:

• 2009 ENERGY STAR portfolio rating of 81, an increase of 3 points over 2008
• 56 million square feet benchmarked
• 150 buildings possess the ENERGY STAR label
• Reduced energy consumption across managed portfolio by 31.2 kWh over 2008
• 7.5 million square feet of space in LEED® portfolio
• LEED certification efforts save approximately 10.8 million gallons of water annually

About Transwestern

Transwestern, one of the largest privately held commercial real estate services firms in the U.S., is focused on creating value for our clients in each local market we serve. Transwestern's unique business model offers fully integrated real estate services and operates through six distinct functional lines of business: agency leasing, property and facility management, investment services, tenant advisory, development and research for a broad range of property types, including office, industrial, retail, healthcare and multifamily. Transwestern leads the industry in sustainability and has received multiple EPA ENERGY STAR® awards. www.transwestern.net

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

SOURCE Transwestern