Media Invited to Grand Opening of the Omega Center for Sustainable Living

Omega to Unveil Landmark Achievement in Green Building

RHINEBECK, NY - On Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 3:30 p.m., Omega Institute will
hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the Grand Opening of the much
anticipated Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL), an award-winning green
building renowned for sustainable design and slated to be the first green
building to achieve both LEED(R) Platinum and Living Building Challenge(TM)
certification.

The cutting edge technology of the OCSL brings together wastewater recycling,
clean energy, green architecture, and other sustainability elements that can
be replicated locally and globally. In addition to being self-sustaining in
terms of water and energy usage, the OCSL will provide sustainability
education for students of all ages, professionals, policy makers, developers,
and the 23,000 visitors who attend Omegas programs every year.

Omega's chief executive officer, Skip Backus, will be joined by Majora Carter,
founder of Sustainable South Bronx and president of The Majora Carter Group,
Dr. John Todd, founder of John Todd Ecological Design, and Tara Sullivan,
executive director of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission,
who will all speak at the grand opening celebration of the Omega Center for
Sustainable Living (OCSL). There will also be a special musical performance by
Marshall Crenshaw. The event will be held on Omega's campus in Rhinebeck, NY.

The OCSL is expected to go beyond LEED Platinum certification to achieve
"Living Building Challenge" certification. Developed by the Cascadia Region
Green Building Council, the Living Building Challenge outlines 16 rigorous
requirements that must be met in order for projects to achieve the highest
level of environmental performance possible today.

Join leaders from key environmental groups, governmental officials, the
project's architectural and engineering teams, and select members of the
media, for a first hand look at this pioneering project in the new green
economy.

DATE:
Thursday, July 16, 2009

TIME:
Keynotes & Ribbon Cutting: 3:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Press Availability (Keynote Q&A): 5:00 P.M. - 5:15 P.M.
Self Guided Tour & Reception: 5:00 P.M. - 5:45 P.M.

LOCATION:
Omega Institute
150 Lake Drive
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
(845) 266-4444, ext 233

For more information and directions please visit www.eOmega.org/ocsl.

CONTACT:
Chrissa Pullicino
845.266.4444, ext. 233
chrissap@eomega.org

SOURCE Omega Institute