All BlueCross-owned buildings across Tennessee now LEED-certified
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee announced today that its recently-constructed office building at 161 Heart Drive has been certified LEED® Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the recognized standard for the classification of environmentally friendly buildings. The LEED Gold accreditation is the second-highest benchmark of the U.S. Green Building Council for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Buildings are evaluated in five areas of environmental and human health to achieve LEED certification. Those include: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The company expects the Johnson City office, which supports roughly 100 office-based and telecommuting employees, to be 42 percent more energy efficient than a comparable structure, thanks to building and design materials, climate control, lighting systems and more.
“This achievement honors our efforts to be a green building leader in the communities where we work and live,” said Jeff Sundean, vice president of properties and corporate services for BlueCross.
With the LEED achievement for its Johnson City office, all BlueCross-owned buildings across Tennessee are LEED Gold or higher. The Memphis office, renovated last year, holds LEED platinum status.
About BlueCross
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide its customers and communities with peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on reinventing the health plan for its 3.5 million 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 www.bcbst.com.
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