TURNER CONSTRUCTION SETS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION GOAL

publication date: Oct 21, 2008

NEW YORK, Oct. 10 -- Turner Construction Company announced it has made a commitment to reduce the company's carbon emissions by five percent over the next five years. Turner plans to achieve this plan by reducing electricity consumption in offices and reducing fuel consumption in company-owned and leased vehicles. While reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, Turner also expects to reduce vehicle fuel costs and utility bills.

Turner established this goal through its membership in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders program. The Climate Leaders program is an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing an inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Turner was the first construction management firm in the United States to join the EPA Climate Leaders in 2006 and is the first to set a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal.

"The EPA applauds our corporate partners who are reducing their climate footprints in cost-effective ways," said EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. "Not only is Turner Construction Company contributing to this country's energy independence, Turner is proving that businesses can save green by going green."

This is not Turner's first sustainability endeavor. Since 2000, Turner has completed $3.1 billion of construction that has been LEED certified by the U. S. Green Building Council. An additional $9 billion of projects are LEED registered. Recently, Engineering News-Record recognized Turner as having the most LEED Accredited Professionals on staff among construction management firms and as the largest builder of LEED certified projects in the United States. Turner has also taken steps to green its fleet of company cars by offering more high mileage and hybrid vehicles and has established an environmental purchasing policy for all office supplies.

"Turner is proud to continue setting goals and leading the way for better implementation of green building and environmental practices in the building industry. As the leading green builder in the nation, we will continue to bring awareness to green issues and the benefits of sustainable construction," said Peter Davoren, president and CEO of Turner Construction.

"Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Leaders program demonstrates our company-wide commitment to improving the global environment and increasing the efficiency of our operations," said Michael Deane, Turner's vice president and chief sustainability officer.