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UDR Awarded Prestigious LEED Certification for Savoye Community in Addison, Texas

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  Published in Business and Finance on Thursday, September 30th 2010 at 5:11 GMT by Market Wire

DENVER--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ UDR, Inc. ] (NYSE: UDR), a leading multifamily real estate investment trust (REIT), today announced that its [ Savoye ] apartment community, the first phase of the companya™s residential component for its [ Vitruvian Park^SM ] development located at 3850 Vitruvian Way in Addison, Texas, has recently been awarded [ LEED ]® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council ([ USGBC ]). LEED is the nationa™s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

"The urgency of USGBCa™s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and UDR serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish."

aSince we first broke ground on this development our focus was on constructing a building that would benefit both the environment and our future residents,a said Tom Toomey, president and chief executive officer at UDR. aOur LEED certification is a testament to our vision, our business values and our corporate culture. We consider this a significant achievement and look forward to further demonstrating our commitment to green design and construction.a

Savoye, which consists of 392 apartment homes as well as 16,000 square feet of retail space at the street level, achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. The community has been designed to reduce energy and water demand by up to 30 percent, helping residents save money on their monthly utility bills. Some of Savoyea™s key green features and amenities include:

• A white roof to reduce the [ heat island effect ];
• High-efficiency lighting systems;
• High-efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators;
• [ ENERGY STAR® ] appliances and windows in each apartment home;
• Use of low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)-emitting paints and carpets;
• Materials and guidelines developed to help educate tenants about sustainability and the communitya™s green features.

aUDRa™s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,a said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. aThe urgency of USGBCa™s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and UDR serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.a

Savoye is the second UDR apartment community in the past two months to be designated LEED certified by the USGBC. The companya™s [ Belmont ] community located at 2500 Bennett Avenue in Dallas, Texas received LEED Silver certification in August becoming the first apartment community in the city to achieve this designation. Both properties represent UDRa™s ongoing commitment to [ green building and sustainability ].

Both its modern design and the sustainable features have attracted residents to Savoye. The development, which opened in March of 2010, is currently almost 80% leased highlighting the local communitya™s strong demand for an environmentally friendly apartment complex.

About UDR, Inc.

UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR), an S&P 400 company, is a leading multifamily real estate investment trust with a demonstrated performance history of delivering superior and dependable returns by successfully managing, buying, selling, developing and redeveloping attractive real estate properties in targeted U.S. markets. As of June 30, 2010, UDR owned or had an ownership position in 51,823 apartment homes including 748 homes under development. For over 38 years, UDR has delivered long-term value to shareholders, the best standard of service to residents, and the highest quality experience for associates. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at [ www.udr.com ].