(Madison, WI, March 10, 2009) -- Crescent Ridge Corporate Center I, located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, has officially received LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). According to the USGBC's website, the 312,906 square foot building located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is the first multi-tenant property to receive LEED-EB Certification in Minnesota. This certification recognizes that Opus Northwest Management, LLC has implemented continuous sustainability improvement measures guided by LEED-EB. Leonardo Academy was the LEED consultant for this project supporting the successful achievement of Gold Certification.

Opus Northwest implemented many green actions to achieve Gold Certification, these include: (1) green cleaning and sustainable purchasing, (2) construction waste reduction and recycling, (3) alternative transportation and commuting programs, (4) fixture water use reduction 33% greater than LEED basic requirements, and (5) achievement of an Energy Star rating of 91 which correlates to a 50% reduction in emissions compared to the average building.

Leonardo Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 with a vision of advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment. Leonardo Academy helps companies, organizations, buildings, events, families, and individuals achieve sustainability throughout the country and the world. For greening buildings, Leonardo Academy supports implementation and certification under the LEED Green Building Rating System(TM). For additional information about the Leonardo Academy visit www.leonardoacademy.org.

The Opus Group, based in Minneapolis, is a full-service real estate development company with 55 years of experience. Opus is recognized as a national leader in office, industrial, retail, multifamily, government and institutional development and has offices across the United States and in Canada. Committed to creating great real estate, Opus implements best practices in sustainable design and construction to maximize building performance and reduce environmental impacts. For additional information about the Opus Northwest visit www.opuscorp.com.

The LEED Green Building Rating System(TM) is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED-EB is a USGBC-sponsored program for owners who address sustainable operations and maintenance for existing buildings. The USGBC is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. For additional information about the USGBC visit www.usgbc.org.

Leonardo Academy

Leonardo Academy

Leonardo Academy is a charitable (501c3)nonprofit that promotes sustainability. Our primary focus is developing and supporting approaches to environmental improvement that put the competitive market to work on improving the environment. Work includes: Cleaner and Greener® recognition and certification program for emission reduction actions by companies, organizations, events, families and individuals - Key role in authoring and supporting U.S. Green Building Council' LEED® for Existing Buildings Rating System, Supporting development, implementation and documentation of LEED projects - Sustainability training and education - Prairie and savannah restoration - ANSI Accredited Standard Developer: Developing ANSI standard for emissions inventories, emission reduction credits and offsets.

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