Middleton, WI. (November 8, 2007) – Today at a special dedication, the Green Building Initiative formally recognized the Wisconsin Fertility Institute building’s achievement of a Green Globes rating. Green Globes is an environmental assessment and rating system designed to help facilitate energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly design.

On hand for the dedication were (left to right): Mark Rossolo, director of state and local outreach for the Green Building Initiative, Dr. Elizabeth Pritts, Co-Founder and owner of the Wisconsin Fertility Institute and Kurt Sonnentag, Mayor of Middleton, WI.

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GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE™ RECOGNIZES WISCONSIN FERTILITY INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Institute's New Facility Designed to Better Meets Patient Needs and Reduce Overall Environmental Impact

Madison, WI. (November 8, 2007) — The Wisconsin Fertility Institute was recognized today by the Green Building Initiative for achievements in sustainable design and construction, which were identified using the Green Globes™ environmental assessment and rating system for commercial buildings.

Mark Rossolo, GBI's director of state and local outreach, presented Wisconsin Fertility Institute leaders with a plaque recognizing the building's achievement during a special ceremony today. The Institute was recognized for, among other things, the minimization of air emissions, ozone-depleting substances, effluents and hazardous materials, implementation of strategies to ensure a superior indoor environment, and the re-use of an the existing building to reduce urban sprawl, conserve open space and recycle the entire building shell.

"The Wisconsin Fertility Institute is a perfect example of a project that combines the innovation of environmental design with the functionality of a medical facility," said Rossolo. "This building illustrates that the benefits of green building go far beyond energy-efficiency or what most people consider environmentally sound. Green features were included to help improve indoor air quality and provide a healthier and more inviting workplace for employees, while helping to meet the unique needs of a facility dedicated to delivering high quality care in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as complex and advanced gynecology. The results also reinforce the fact that green building is appropriate and attainable for all types of structures."

Green Globes for new construction was adapted from a system that is widely used in Canada, where it is one of only two green building rating systems recognized by the Canadian federal government. Under the trade name Go Green Plus, it is also the basis of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada's national energy and environmental program for existing buildings.

The 9,600-square-foot building accommodates the doctors and employees of the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, whose mission is to create an academic, evidence-based practice that will offer the entire range of fertility services in a safe and nurturing environment. The facility offers fertility services as well as advanced gynecologic medical and surgical treatments.

"We pursued sustainable construction not only as part of the Institute's commitment to environmental responsibility, but because providing the best indoor environment for our facility is vital to the work we do," said Wisconsin Fertility Institute practice administrator Lisa Arroyo Bryant. "We chose to use the Green Globes system because of its ability to assist us in meeting our goals to reduce our impact on the environment and the surrounding community, and because it is user-friendly and affordable."

To achieve a Green Globes rating, Todd Barnett, an independent design architect, Vanessa Hees, interior designer of VRH Designs, and the Renschler Company, used the Green Globes tool to assess and rate the building themselves. Later, a GBI authorized third-party building science expert was engaged to review the construction documents, conduct an on-site inspection and confirm the original rating. The building achieved the same Green Globe rating from both the building team and the third party assessor.

"The Green Globes system offers a number of advantages that make it perfect for corporate projects like the Wisconsin Fertility Institute," said Eric Truelove, director of sustainable design for the Renschler Company. "It's Web-based, easy to use and cost effective. And, because the rating was confirmed by a third party expert, it reinforces the Institute's environmental commitment as well as its achievement."

Josh Johnson, vice President of the Renschler Company, who served as the architect of record for the Wisconsin Fertility Institute, added that "the key to the success of this project is the same as all of our sustainable projects: teamwork and getting the entire team together early on in the process. The Green Globes system once again provided a platform to help us do this."

The Wisconsin Fertility Institute is one of four buildings in the Madison area that have recently achieved a Green Globes rating, all of which have been built by the Renschler Company. Others include: the RenewAire, LLC corporate headquarters; the East Washington Avenue branch of Home Savings Bank and the Wisconsin Electrical Employees Benefit Fund Office. Madison has the most Green Globes rated buildings in the United States.

Participating in the on-site dedication ceremony at the Wisconsin Fertility Institute were:

• Kurt Sonnentag, Mayor of Middleton, WI
• Dr. Elizabeth Pritts, Co-Founder and owner, Wisconsin Fertility Institute
• Bernie Lange, Renschler Company President and CEO
• Eric Truelove, Renschler Company Director of Sustainable Design Services
• Mark Rossolo, Green Building Initiative

For more information about the GBI or Green Globes, visit www.thegbi.org.

ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches. A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction. For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.