BALTIMORE, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Stratford Realty Management Company, a Baltimore-based property management and leasing company, aligned with CQI Associates, LLC, a Columbia, Maryland-based energy and environmental management consulting firm, to complete the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance™ certification for 201 N. Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland. The LEED green building certification program managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. This accomplishment makes 201 N. Charles Street one of the first existing buildings to be LEED Gold certified in the downtown Baltimore business district.

201 N. Charles Street is a 30-story, Class-A office building located blocks from Baltimore‘s Inner Harbor. Tenants include Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton and Johns Hopkins University. The building is in exceptional condition and has been expertly maintained by Stratford Realty Management Company, giving the appearance of a building far younger than one built in 1967.

Stratford Realty believes that green operations will lead to growth and revitalization opportunities for downtown Baltimore. The initial investment in the project’s green and sustainable technologies, strategies and design resulted in an estimated savings of more than $130,000 in the first year.

With an ENERGY STAR performance rating of 80, 201 N. Charles Street is 60 percent more energy efficient and annually saves $1.43 per square foot in energy costs when compared to the average U.S. office building.

“CQI Associates was thrilled to partner with Stratford Realty to complete the LEED certification for 201 N. Charles Street,” said Richard Anderson, principal of CQI Associates, LLC. “Our passion is for the environment and helping businesses achieve a higher level of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. With origins in energy management, CQI Associates has the experience and expertise to lead the most unique and challenging projects toward successful implementation and LEED certification.”

About CQI Associates, LLC

CQI Associates, LLC is a leader in energy and environmental consulting. The firm offers services that allow clients to increase profitability by minimizing operating costs. From small businesses to national accounts such as Northrop Grumman, Fuji, and AutoNation, CQI Associates provides custom-tailored services to suit each company’s unique needs. To learn more about the energy and environmental management services CQI Associates offers, please visit www.cqiassociates.com or call (410) 740-0667.

SOURCE CQI Associates, LLC