Press Releases

CASTROVILLE, Calif. - March 3, 2009 -The area's leading green builder, Ausonio Inc. has earned the EPA's prestigious Energy Star® rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Ausonio Inc.'s office building is now recognized as one the most efficient buildings in the nation.

"Studies by the New Buildings Institute and by CoStar Group, Inc. have demonstrated that Energy Star buildings lower operating costs, boost rental rates, increase sales values and even improve occupancy rates," said Linda Ausonio Grier, property manager for Ausonio Affiliates. "Our next step is to become a Silver Certified LEED building, under the LEED Existing Buildings program."

Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Ausonio Affiliates improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its building.

Some of the improvements made to the Ausonio Inc. office building include the addition of UV protected skylights to bring in daylight and reduce lighting; utilizing the RightLights Program to select energy efficiency upgrades of its lighting; upgrading to efficient Low E windows and installing a heat reflecting "cool roof"; replacing air-conditioning with an efficient staged unit that capitalizes on the Castroville climate by bringing in outside air to cool the building; and using ENERGY STAR-compliant computers with CRT monitors switched to low wattage LCD displays.

EPA's national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.

For more information about Ausonio Inc. and green building, please call (831) 633-3371, visit www.ausonio.com, or the Ausonio Green blog at www.ausoniogreen.blogspot.com. For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.

### About Ausonio Incorporated
Ausonio Incorporated has been the trusted leader in design and construction on California's Central Coast since 1959. More than just a general construction firm, this family-owned and operated company takes pride in its commitment to integrity, providing clients with a skilled team of professionals while delivering a product of the highest quality. With a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) accredited professional on staff, Ausonio Incorporated is setting the standard for green building in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties-designing and building healthier buildings for our community. Ausonio Incorporated received the 2007 Associated General Contractors of California Constructor Award in the Innovative Use of Materials category for the construction of Chartwell School in Seaside, California.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles. For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.