TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 15, 2012-- Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) announced today that Paramount Senior Living at Peters Township, a premier assisted living facility in the South Western Pennsylvania region that is owned and developed by Health Care REIT, has been awarded LEED^® Silver certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED^®, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

“The strength of USGBC has always been the collective strength of our leaders in the building industry,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, Health Care REIT demonstrates their leadership through the LEED^® certification of Peters Township.”

Peters Township is owned by Health Care REIT and operated by Paramount Health Resources. The LEED^® certification of Peters Township was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively contribute to the project and the broader community. Key sustainability metrics of the project include:

• 48 percent water use reduction over baseline model
• 100 percent landscaping water use reduction
• 20 percent energy savings over baseline model
• 81 percent of construction waste diverted from landfill
• Utilization of construction materials obtained regionally, including 12 percent recycled content for new construction materials

“An integral part of Health Care REIT’s strategy is to make sustainable investments, which is the right thing to do for the environment while also creating value for our shareholders,” said George L. Chapman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Health Care REIT. “The pursuit and accomplishment of LEED^® certification for Peters Township demonstrates Health Care REIT’s industry-leading capabilities, as well as its commitment to be a full-service capital partner.”

“Peters Township is a state-of-the-art, premier assisted living community that is focused on providing the highest level of clinical service to our residents,” said James J. Cox, President and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Health Resources. “There was an alignment of incentives when we were given the opportunity to maximize resident satisfaction while employing sustainable strategies to protect the environment.”

Health Care REIT is also pursuing LEED^® certification for several additional projects currently underway. The company’s corporate headquarters was also recently awarded LEED^® Platinum.

About Health Care REIT, Inc.

Health Care REIT, Inc., an S&P 500 company with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests across the full spectrum of seniors housing and health care real estate. The company also provides an extensive array of property management and development services. As of March 31, 2012, the company’s broadly diversified portfolio consisted of 956 facilities in 46 states. More information is available on the company’s website at www.hcreit.com.

About U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council has advised Health Care REIT of the following information about its organization: USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED^® Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% of water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

About LEED^®

The U.S. Green Building Council has advised Health Care REIT of the following information about LEED^®: The USGBC's LEED^® green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED^® rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. By using less energy, LEED^® certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

Source: Health Care REIT, Inc.

Health Care REIT, Inc.
Rick Avery, 419-247-2800