TAMPA, Fl. (April 16, 2012)—With more than one billion people around the globe participating in Earth Day 2012, the Housing Authority has partnered with Johnson Controls, a global leader in delivering solutions, will do its part for the environment by hosting an Earth Day energy celebration that includes a tree planting event on April 23, at 6 p.m. This event will take place at the only certified LEED Gold public housing property in the state of Florida, Moses White Estates, located at 4902 E. Diana.

The ceremony is open to the public and will highlight key tips for sustainable communities. Moses White Estates is home to approximately 200 residents and was built on the premise of being environmentally conscious and energy proficient. This property and its units include such LEED elements as HVAC System of HERS index 72, non-refrigerants, Zero energy-heated gas from the HVAC condenser to heat the water, erosion control, the use of non-invasive plants that are native to Florida and high efficiency irrigation system in all planting beds and low flow plumbing fixtures.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to maintain and give back to the environment that has given so much to us,” says Terry Brady, Director of Energy Services and Special Projects. “The Housing Authority has made its mission to not only educate our residents on how they can become energy preservers, but also in the way that we choose to build our communities.”

About Earth Day: After witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California; Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin founded the first Earth Day initiative. As a result of his efforts 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies.

“To have the only certified LEED Gold public housing property in the state of Florida to date, speaks volumes about our commitment to a cleaner and healthy environment,” said Jerome Ryans, President and CEO.

The Housing Authority of the City of Tampa promotes the development and professional management of a variety of affordable housing opportunities, facilities and supportive services to nurture neighborhoods, provide economic development and self-sufficiency activities to residents while also assuring equal access to safe, quality housing for low and moderate income families throughout the community.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 162,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.