NSTAR Takes Home the Gold for Environmental Leadership

Business Wire, May 20, 2008

BOSTON -- NSTAR has earned a coveted Gold Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for its corporate office building in Westwood. Known for its avid support of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the region, NSTAR is now one of only three companies in Massachusetts to meet the rigorous standards of a LEED[R] Gold certification for existing buildings. LEED is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council to companies across the country that meet the criteria for the world's greenest, most energy-efficient and high-performing buildings.

"Earning a LEED certification is truly a prestigious honor for any company," said Thomas J. May, NSTAR Chairman, President and CEO. "We work hard every day to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy to our customers, so it's especially rewarding be recognized for setting an example at our own facility."

To earn a gold certification, a company must apply for and be awarded between 48 and 63 points based on a set of rigid criteria. NSTAR applied for 55 points and earned a perfect score. The company made and documented such far-reaching environmental and energy-saving enhancements as:

* Lighting - replacing fixtures; installing high-performance fluorescent lamps and ballasts, installing occupancy sensors; creating new, controllable lighting zones; implementing daylight harvesting; and disabling lights near windows to reduce night sky pollution

* HVAC - installing new air-handler controls; inspecting all equipment and testing sensor readings; moving designated smoking areas 25 feet away from building entrances and outdoor air intakes

* Landscaping - reducing the amount of water used for irrigation by replacing grass with native vegetation and revising the watering schedule; piloting a new, organic lawn maintenance program; and establishing an erosion and sedimentation control policy

* Commuting - implementing preferred parking for alternative-fuel vehicles; adding an additional bike rack to provide increased parking for bicycles

"NSTAR is to be commended for achieving LEED certification," said Rich Fedrizzi, President, CEO, and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "The company's corporate office will now be a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy buildings and an inspiration for others."

The LEED Green Building Rating System for existing buildings awards points for satisfying green-building criteria in six major environmental categories. For more information about LEED certification, visit www.usgbc.org.

NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.