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CARMEL, Calif. - April 22, 2010 - A recently constructed home on Carmel's Santa Lucia Preserve has earned the U.S. Green Building Council's highest distinction possible- LEED® Platinum-in the LEED for Homes Program. The "Caterpillar House" designed by San Francisco-based firm Feldman Architecture, has been recognized for its sustainability in building and design. It is the first custom home to achieve this level of certification on the Central Coast, and is the ninth in Northern California.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is an internationally recognized achievement in building design and construction, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council to projects that successfully focus on energy savings, water efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, improved indoor air quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

"This achievement exemplifies the culture of our community, as it is one dedicated to a sustainable lifestyle and a respect for nature," said Tony Dawson, CEO of the Santa Lucia Preserve.

Sited on the soft rolling hills of the Santa Lucia Preserve, the design for the home sought to accentuate a connection to the land and provide an environmentally-conscious response to the site. Some of the green features of the home include:

* Solar energy - Integrated photovoltaic panels enable the house to produce all of its annual energy requirements. The house, in fact, exceeds California Title 24 requirements by 49%, as well as requirements set by LEED.

* Water catchment - A 27,300-gallon rainwater harvesting system with three tanks sit close to the home.

* Rammed earth walls - Excavated earth was repurposed for the construction of rammed earth walls. These walls gently curve to respond to the arch of the adjacent hilltop and also act as a thermal mass, regulating temperatures from day to night.

* Passive heating and cooling - The glazing, natural ventilation and operable shading also act as a passive heating and cooling system, cooling the house in the summer and warming the house in winter.

* Low "embodied energy" materials = locally sourced and/or recycled content.

Based in SoMa, Feldman Architecture is an award-winning residential design practice that is recognized for creating warm, light-filled spaces that are sustainable and carefully detailed. Feldman Architecture's projects have been recognized with a number of prominent green design awards. For more information about Feldman Architecture visit www.feldmanarchitecture.com. For more information about the Santa Lucia Preserve visit www.santaluciapreserve.com or call 877-626-8200.

### About the Santa Lucia Preserve The Santa Lucia Preserve is a 20,000 acre sanctuary located three miles from Carmel, California, and home to a community of 300 families dedicated to nurturing and protecting the unique wildlife habitat they call home. Amenities include a Tom Fazio golf course, sports and aquatics center, full-service equestrian facility, and 1920's Hacienda offering fine dining and lodging for owners and guests. For more information visit www.santaluciapreserve.com.

About Feldman Architecture
Feldman Architecture is an award-winning residential design practice based in San Francisco. Established in 2003, the firm is recognized for creating warm, light-filled spaces that are site-sensitive and carefully detailed. Feldman Architecture's projects have been recognized with a number of prominent green design awards, including the San Francisco American Institute of Architect's Honor Award for Energy and Sustainability, the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' Award of Excellence and California Home + Design's Eco-Friendly Design Award. www.feldmanarchitecture.com.

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Since USGBC's founding in 1993, USGBC has grown to more than 18,000 member companies and organizations and a comprehensive suite of LEED green building certification systems. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations all sharing USGBC commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.

About LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is a third-party certification system for building and designing high-performance green homes that are energy-and-resource-efficient and healthy for its occupants. Developed and administered by USGBC, LEED for Homes awards points to projects in eight categories of environmental performance: Innovation & Design Process, Location & Linkages, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Awareness & Education. To date, more than 5,000 homes have achieved certification with LEED for Homes program, and over 20,000 have registered and are in process. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/homes.