EPA Recognizes USAA Real Estate Company With 2010 ENERGY STAR(R) Sustained Excellence Award

SAN ANTONIO, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded USAA Real Estate Co. a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. USAA Real Estate Company's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. USAA Real Estate Company is the only real estate company in America that has won eight ENERGY STAR awards.

USAA Real Estate Company, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2000, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. This year "continuous commissioning strategy" was made part of the ongoing preventative maintenance platform thereby once again expanding the focus on energy and water efficiency. Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way towards a more energy-efficient future through participation in ENERGY STAR.  

Last year alone Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

"USAA Real Estate Company is continuing our commitment to increasing energy efficiency as evidenced by our company's continuous improvement mentality through the use of ENERGY STAR concepts," said T. Patrick Duncan, Chairman and CEO of USAA Real Estate Company. "We view our ENERGY STAR partnership as an important way to protect our environment."

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.

"EPA is recognizing USAA Real Estate Company with our highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "USAA's continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment."

About USAA Real Estate Company

USAA Real Estate Company, with over $5 billion of assets, provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors.  In addition the company provides investment vehicles for domestic and foreign investors.  The USAA portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail and hotel properties with annual volume transactions exceeding $3 billion.  USAA Real Estate Company is a subsidiary of USAA, which has served military families since 1922 and has become one of America's leading financial services companies.  For more information about USAA Real Estate Company, visit www.usrealco.com.

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 USAA Real Estate Company