EPA Recognizes USAA Real Estate Company With 2007 Energy Star ® Sustained Excellence Award
March 5, 2007 - San Antonio, TX
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded USAA Real Estate Company a 2007 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 21, 2007. USAA Real Estate Company is the only real estate company in America that has won this award for the past five years.
USAA Real Estate Company, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2000, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency driven by a service oriented, operational excellence culture based on "continuous process improvement" whereby ongoing operating practices are repeatedly reviewed and refined. Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are continuing to promote energy efficiency through participation in ENERGY STAR. Last year alone, Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $14 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 25 million vehicles.
"USAA Real Estate Company continues to protect the environment through our year over year energy savings. 2007 was our highest per year energy consumption savings since becoming an Energy Star Partner. We also drive tremendous financial value for our organization, our partners and our tenants by saving in excess of ten million dollars in the past five years through our energy efficiency focus and partnership with Energy Star." said T. Patrick Duncan, President and CEO of USAA Real Estate Company. "We make energy efficiency a major priority and as an ENERGY STAR partner we see the value it brings to us and our tenants. Participating in ENERGY STAR plays a vital role in our organization and in protecting the planet. "
The 2007 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership consistently. These winners have set and achieved aggressive goals, employed innovative approaches, and shown 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 in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
"Partners like USAA Real Estate Company are outstanding leaders in protecting our environment through energy efficiency," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "As one of the 2007 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence winners, USAA Real Estate Company has taken energy efficiency to new heights year after year and we all benefit."
USAA Real Estate Company has more than $3 billion of assets under management and provides private equity funds, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors. The USAA portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail and hotel properties as well as investments in real estate operating companies with an annual volume of transactions in excess of $1billion. USAA Real Estate is a subsidiary of USAA, which has been serving military families since 1922 and has become one of America's leading financial services companies. The association, well known for its exceptional service, offers its 5.8 million members a comprehensive range of insurance, banking and investment products and services designed to help them meet their financial needs. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with offices throughout the United States and Europe, USAA owns or manages assets of more than $100 billion.
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, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 9,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).