Cummings Properties Media Release - January 22, 2009

First Energy Star Commercial Building in Beverly
Cummings Properties Media Release

Beverly, MA - Gary Gresh, Sustainability Manager at Cummings Properties, announced that 900 Cummings Center has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star label. According to the Energy Star website, this is the first facility in Beverly to be awarded this recognition.

EPA's rigorous national energy performance rating system provides a 1 to 100 scale to assess how efficiently buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. Those that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible to display the Energy Star label.

EPA estimates that buildings that have earned this award use on average 40 percent less energy than similar buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the environment. Reportedly, more than 6,000 facilities have earned this distinction since the Energy Star for buildings was launched in 1995, although 900 Cummings Center is now only the second office building on the North Shore on this prestigious list.

The 200,000 square foot 900 Cummings Center, owned and managed by Cummings Properties, is the fifth property in the company's portfolio to receive this recognition. Other commercial buildings with the Energy Star designation include 92 Montvale Avenue in Stoneham and 196 Boston Road in Medford.

Two buildings at The Meadows, 370 and 420 Hemenway in Marlborough, earned the Energy Star Homes award in 2003. The Meadows is an independent living retirement community and part of the New Horizons Retirement community. Combined, the two buildings house more than 130 apartments, which are equipped with independently controlled heating and air conditioning systems. Heavily insulated walls and energy efficient lighting help decrease operating costs and increase comfort for residents.

According to Energy Star, benefits of an Energy Star home include using less energy, reducing harmful emissions and decreasing associated health costs.

Gresh pointed out that Cummings Properties has a tradition of developing energy efficient, cost-saving buildings. In addition to the five Energy Star properties, its most recent projects include 42 North Road in Sudbury, which is being built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, and TradeCenter 128 in Woburn, which has been awarded LEED Gold pre-certification for its core and shell development. LEED is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of environmentally responsible buildings. Gresh also noted that photovoltaic solar panels have recently been installed on TradeCenter 128's seven-story garage.

Sustainability improvements geared towards reducing energy use and increasing energy efficiency have been implemented throughout the Cummings Properties portfolio, according to Gresh. Rooftop HVAC systems were replaced with more efficient models, motion sensors were installed in all indoor office spaces and all light fixtures were switched out to the more energy efficient T-8 florescent lights.

"Environmental stewardship leads to sound business decisions," he added, "Our clients save money on their operating costs, these awards attract more tenants for our buildings, and we are reducing our carbon footprint. We all reap the benefits."

Cummings Properties is a commercial real estate and property management company with nearly 40 years of industry experience. It leases nearly 10 million square feet in more than 10 communities north and west of Boston.