Wells Real Estate Funds to Observe “Earth Hour” on March 28

Buildings Going Dark to Promote Environmental Awareness

NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Real Estate Funds, a nationally recognized leader in real estate investing, will turn out the lights at properties nationwide this Saturday in observance of Earth Hour.

“This is our second year as a supporting company of Earth Hour, and our tenants and staff are excited about this opportunity to display our shared environmental commitment.”

Homes, companies and cities around the world will go dark for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m., to promote environmental awareness, in an effort founded by the World Wildlife Fund. Wells is based in the suburbs of Atlanta, one of Earth Hour’s key cities.

Wells specializes in Class-A office properties; its investment programs own 117 buildings nationwide. Wells intends to darken its owned-and-operated buildings, and the company also has invited tenants at some three dozen net-leased buildings to do likewise. Participating Wells buildings in Saturday’s Earth Hour event will include 222 E. 41^st Street in Manhattan, 100 East Pratt Street in Baltimore, 5 Houston Center, and the Key Center tower in Cleveland.

“We are proud to join this worldwide call for environmental awareness,” said Don Henry, chief real estate officer for Wells. “This is our second year as a supporting company of Earth Hour, and our tenants and staff are excited about this opportunity to display our shared environmental commitment.”

WWF bills Earth Hour as the largest global climate event in history. An estimated 50 million people worldwide participated in 2008.

In keeping with Earth Hour, Wells buildings will turn off interior and exterior lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time, except for lighting that is essential for safety or tenant commitments.

Wells is a certified ENERGY STAR^® partner and has earned ENERGY STAR recognition at 23 of its properties nationwide in the past two years. Wells’ portfolios also include five LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings.

Since its founding in 1984, Wells Real Estate Funds has invested more than $12 billion in real estate for more than 250,000 investors. Wells funds include REITs, mutual funds and other commercial real estate investment vehicles. For more information, see www.wellsref.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Readers of this press release should be aware that there are various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in this release. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic and business conditions, industry trends, changes in government rules and regulations (including changes in tax laws), and increases in interest rates. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. This is neither an offer nor a solicitation to purchase securities. Such an offer can be made only by prospectus. For a prospectus, contact Wells Investment Securities, Inc., 6200 The Corners Pkwy., Norcross, Ga. 30092-3365 (tel. [phone]). SEC filings: www.wellsref.com/investmentproducts/reit/secfilings.html.