Audubon International Certifies First Earth-Friendly Communities

ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE |

Conservation & Wildlife

Corporate Responsibility

Science & Technology

Syndication Partners

**************************************************************************

E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE

**************************************************************************

Lifestyle Editors/Business Editors/Real Estate Writers/Environment Writers

Audubon International Certifies First Earth-Friendly Communities

WCI Communities in Palm Beach Gardens and Ft. Myers, Florida Receive First Residential Certifications as Gold Signature Sustainable Developments

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA, Nov. 19 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- WCI Communities, Inc. (NYSE:WCI), a leading builder of highly amenitized lifestyle communities, is the first homebuilder ever to have a residential community certified as an Audubon International Gold Signature Sustainable Development.

Demonstrating its environmental commitment and incorporating green building principles into traditional home building, WCI has received certification for not one, but two of its residential Florida communities. Evergrene, a 364-acre development in Palm Beach Gardens and home to WCI's newest concept green house, the Geni G, is located on the East Coast of Florida; and Sun City Center, an active adult community in Fort Myers, is located on the West Coast.

The Audubon International certification marks a significant milestone in a two-year partnership between WCI and Audubon International, a not-for-profit environmental organization working to foster more sustainable human and natural communities through research, education, and technical assistance. Working hand-in-hand since May 2001, WCI and Audubon International are driving change in the homebuilding industry, encouraging the adoption of green building principles and the importance of building sustainable developments.

"WCI's commitment to building sustainable communities is unmatched in the industry. The company's passion and dedication to constantly push the envelope, explore leading-edge green building opportunities and embrace educating customers and key stakeholders is what ultimately led to this well-deserved certification," said Audubon International President and CEO Ronald G. Dodson. "They are a company that backs up their commitments with resources that lead to results."

WCI and Audubon International are in the third year of working together on a commitment which spans 10 projects in Florida--- the first agreement of this size between a builder and a non-profit environmental organization. During the past few years, WCI has invested some $2.5 million in this environmental effort, including a full-time team of four environmental managers dedicated to building sustainable communities and educating consumers, communities and industry leaders well into the future.

"WCI is very honored to receive this outstanding recognition from Audubon International. At WCI we believe we have an inherent responsibility to protect our environment for future generations to come. Our legacy will ultimately be marked by our ability to mainstream green building and sustainability into the home building industry," said Al Hoffman, WCI's Chief Executive Officer.

WCI broke ground on Evergrene in March 2002, with a vision of building an innovative community where residents live in harmony with the environment. From initial concept to build out, Evergrene embraces Audubon International's Principles of Sustainability which include:

-- Understanding the unique attributes of each piece of designated land

-- Protecting local wildlife

-- Conserving and maximizing native and naturalized plants

-- Commitment to water quality and conservation

-- Commitment to green building

-- Dedication to education and outreach on nurturing sustainable communities

Sun City Center, an active adult retirement community, has equally embraced Audubon International's sustainability principles. A 38-acre nature preserve located in the heart of the community has encouraged the return of native wildlife to the area. Residents actively participate in on-going environmental education classes and WCI voluntarily re-engineered and upgraded the irrigation system on Sun City Center's 18-hole championship golf course after discovering water was not being utilized efficiently.

"We believe these two sustainable communities are just the beginning," said Dodson. "WCI is clearly leading the way for individuals and builders to drive change and help protect our natural resources. One person...one home...one community...one industry at a time."

Other WCI communities that are currently being designed and built in accordance with Audubon International's Principles of Sustainability and eligible for certification include:

-- Venetian Golf and River Club, Venice, Florida

-- Hammock Bay, Naples, Florida

-- Tuscany Reserve, Naples, Florida

-- Old Palm Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

-- Parkland Golf & County Club, Parkland, Florida

-- One Watermark Marina, West Palm Beach, Florida

About WCI Communities

WCI Communities, based in Bonita Springs, Florida, has been creating amenity-rich, leisure-oriented master-planned communities for more than 50 years. WCI's award-winning communities offer primary, retirement, and second home buyers traditional and tower home choices with prices from $100,000 to more than $10 million and currently feature approximately 550 holes of golf and 1,000 boat slips as well as country club, tennis and recreational facilities. The company also derives income from its 28-office Prudential Florida WCI Realty division, its mortgage and title businesses, and its amenities division, which operates many of the clubhouses, golf courses, restaurants, and marinas within its 30 communities. The company currently owns and controls over 14,000 acres of developable land in Florida. http://www.wcicommunities.com

About Audubon International

Audubon International, based in Selkirk, New York, is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 environmental organization dedicated to fostering more sustainable human and natural communities through research, education and technical assistance, with an emphasis on helping people become actively involved in good environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management where they live. The mission of Audubon International is "to educate, assist and inspire millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife and natural resources around them."

Audubon International addresses environmental problems by working cooperatively, and in partnership with, a diverse array of program members, environmental organizations, government agencies, universities and individuals to improve quality on the lands they manage. For more information please visit http://www.audubonintl.org

WCI Communities, Inc.

Pamela Cox, APR, 239/498-8347 (direct), 239/405-0196 (cell)

http://www.audubonintl.org

**************************************************************************

To Transmit Your News Over E-Wire, visit http://www.ewire.com or

call 1-[REDACTED-PHONE]. E-Wire Is Broadcast To Millions Of Readers Worldwide

**************************************************************************