Hines recognized by EPA for energy conservation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Hines, the international real estate firm, as an ENERGY STAR[R] Partner of the Year for the third consecutive year. Hines will be recognized for outstanding energy efficiency in its owned and managed office buildings at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., April 15. Several members of the House of Representatives and the Senate will attend the event, and U.S. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will be the keynote speaker.

The ENERGY STAR label for buildings -- the mark of excellence in energy performance -- was created in 1999 to promote strategic energy management and environmental responsibility. Hines has been an ENERGY STAR partner since the label was introduced. Among the company's owned and managed commercial properties that received this recognition are six office buildings in its corporate headquarters in Houston and 49 properties in 26 other cities. The 55 properties, which contain 40 million SF, account for 23% of the total square footage of all non-governmental office buildings in the ENERGY STAR program. In 2002, Hines improved its firm's participation with a 41% increase in the number of its ENERGY STAR-labeled commercial properties.

The ENERGY STAR program celebrates a decade of environmental protection through voluntary participation by leading U.S. businesses and organizations. The EPA's most recent Annual Report estimated that ENERGY STAR helped save businesses and consumers more than $6 billion in 2001.

"When the Hines organization committed itself to energy conservation, we immediately set out to be a leader," said Jeffrey C. Hines, president, Hines. "The ENERGY STAR program challenges property managers to operate our buildings more efficiently, while maintaining the highest standard of quality and service to our tenants."

"EPA is proud to recognize Hines' leadership with an ENERGY STAR award," said Kathleen Hogan, director, EPA's Climate Protection Partnership Division. "They have shown that commitment, measurement and strategic investment help the environment as well as their business objectives."