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NORCROSS, GA-Five buildings owned by Wells Real Estate Funds have earned the Energy Star designation for efficiency, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, bringing the total number of Wells-owned Energy Star buildings to 14, the company said.

The award was presented to 5 Houston Center, a Class-A office tower in downtown Houston; the three-building University Circle complex in East Palo Alto, Calif.; and Pasadena Corporate Park, near Los Angeles. More are to come, says Scott Meadows, managing director, property services, for Wells Real Estate Funds.

"We’re going to seek superior energy efficiency with any properties we operate," Meadows told GlobeSt.com. "Our focus is to have green practices throughout all our buildings. The value of Energy Star is to provide a baseline we can improve on."

The Energy Star designation is awarded to select properties that meet demanding standards for energy efficiency. Wells became a partner company in the EPA program in the first quarter of this year.

Since its founding in 1984, Wells has invested more than $11 billion in real estate, and has managed over 50-million sf of space in 244 properties nationally. Other Wells Energy Star buildings include: 5995 Opus Parkway in suburban Minneapolis; LakePointe Corporate Center in Charlotte; Weatherford Center and 2100 Space Park Drive in Houston; Westway One near Dallas; Manhattan Towers in Manhattan Beach, Calif.; SanTan Corporate Center II near Phoenix; US Cellular in Madison, Wis.; and 2180 Lake Blvd. in Atlanta. In addition, 83% of Wells’ buildings meet or exceed the national average in energy efficiency, Meadows said.

"We do a green assessment of all the buildings we buy," Meadows said. "Green is a good way to package good management practices. We want great environments for the occupants."