BlueCross Earns LEED Platinum Certification

Insurer is first in Memphis to earn platinum ranking for a commercial property

MEMPHIS, Tenn. —BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s downtown office is the first commercial building in Memphis to earn Platinum LEED certification. The site’s new environmentally-friendly features are estimated to save 46 percent on annual energy costs.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was established by the U.S. Green Building Council and is the world’s leading green building rating system.

“BlueCross has served the people of Tennessee for more than 70 years. In Memphis, we’ve done so primarily from this building,” said Calvin Anderson, BlueCross senior vice president and chief of staff. “Our mission is to help deliver peace of mind through better health. That includes where and how we work. Being good stewards of our natural resources is just another way we can positively support and share our appreciation of this beautiful city and its great people.”

To achieve Platinum certification, the highest LEED accreditation, the 47 year-old building underwent several transformations:

  • Replacing its original heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system with a variable refrigerant flow, which is estimated to operate 19 percent more efficiently than building codes require.
  • Installing a new 82 kilowatt elevated solar array that generates electric power that helps offset a percentage of the building’s consumption.
  • Installing low-flow fixtures which reduce water usage by 30 percent.
  • Adding thermally-insulated argon gas-filled windows that significantly decrease heating and air conditioning needs.

The Memphis office is the company’s first Platinum designation. Its company headquarters in Chattanooga and offices in Nashville and Knoxville have each previously earned Gold LEED status.

“Reducing costs through lowered energy consumption is one of the many ways we continue to deliver on our commitments to sustainable business practices in Memphis and across Tennessee,” said Dan Jacobson, BlueCross vice president of properties and corporate services.

About BlueCross ®

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on serving more than 3.4million members in Tennessee and across the country. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com

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