Sodexo Celebrates LEED-EB Platinum and ENERGY STAR® Certification of its North American Corporate Headquarters

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- One Washingtonian Center, the North American headquarters of Sodexo, Inc. has earned Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating program for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, making it one of only three such structures in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to achieve the USGBC's highest rating. The building, which is owned by LaSalle Investment Management® and operated by Transwestern®, with Sodexo North America as its anchor tenant, also won the ENERGY STAR Award for the fourth consecutive year, earning 94 out of a possible 100 points under the EPA rating program.

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"We were able to make significant contributions to the certification process by providing documentation of our sustainable purchases, particularly as it relates to electronic equipment," said Richard Alexander, facilities manager, Sodexo. "Our IT department was able to document, through detailed assessment, that 65% of inventory is ENERGY STAR certified."

One Washingtonian Center earned LEED credits for access to alternative commuting transportation by demonstrating that 19% of building tenants actually take advantage of it. Sodexo and other tenants also worked with Transwestern to lower energy usage beyond what was called for in existing lease agreements. Under a separate agreement, tenants agreed to significantly reduce energy usage by shutting down HVAC systems during all weekend hours.

Sodexo also operates the Rio Cafe, One Washingtonian Center's onsite cafeteria and dining facility. In an effort to help Transwestern further reduce "wet waste" (e.g. foods, paper products, etc.) throughout the building and earn additional LEED credits for waste management and recycling, Sodexo food service staff has instituted a behind-the-counter food waste collection process. All kitchen waste will be separated into special containers that will later be collected by EnviRelation, a third-party food composting vendor.

"To achieve this level of LEED and ENERGY STAR rating for a multi-tenant building is impossible without the commitment and active participation of its occupants," said Matthew Payne, property manager, Transwestern. "Sodexo and its staff have and continue to be very helpful in our pursuit of excellence at One Washingtonian Center."

With its new LEED status, One Washingtonian Center is one of only two buildings in the state of Maryland to receive LEED Platinum certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. The Discovery Communications headquarters building in Silver Spring, MD is the other. The International Financial Corporation headquarters in the District of Columbia is also certified LEED-EB Platinum. Only thirty five buildings worldwide have earned the LEED-EB Platinum rating.

The building initially achieved a LEED Certified rating in February 2009 under Transwestern's portfolio program, which enables companies and building owners to integrate LEED into their new and existing building projects using a cost-effective, streamlined certification process. The project went on to pursue recertification and attain its current LEED-EB Platinum rating.

Sodexo is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council and committed to sustainability in its operations and for the clients it serves around the world.  Its Better Tomorrow Plan details commitments to reducing carbon, water, and waste at all of the sites where it operates. Sodexo maintains a core of 200 sustainability subject matter experts that support its business partners in implementing a variety of measures like site-level sustainability assessments, efficient equipment operating procedures, staff training protocols and other related services.

For more information about Sodexo's Better Tomorrow Plan, its roadmap to sustainability, visit www.sodexoUSA.com and click the "Corporate Citizenship" link.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $13 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.