• New building will use 65 percent less energy and half the water
  • CSC2 is centerpiece of long-term effort to reduce environmental impact
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) opened its first environmentally friendly building named the CSC2.  The new building will house about 550 current BCBSNC employees.
 
The five-story building, which includes a six-level parking deck to reduce land usage, will use 65 percent less energy and half the water per square foot compared with the company’s traditional office space.
 
CSC2 is a “smart building.” Motion sensors detect the presence of employees, turning on lights and HVAC systems.  After a period of inactivity, lights and HVAC systems turn off, preventing unnecessary use of energy.
 
Low-flow plumbing fixtures will save more than 1 million gallons of water each year – enough to supply 10 families with water for a year.   In addition, three 25,000-gallon cisterns, located under the parking deck, will catch rainwater. Together, they hold 75,000 gallons of water.
 
Drought-resistant trees and native plants featured in the courtyard reduce watering needs and provide a beautiful and relaxing outdoor space
 
“With this new building, we’re making environmental stewardship a central business practice,” said BCBSNC President and CEO Bob Greczyn. “We’re committed to setting a standard for others to follow.”
 
The building design promotes recycling and encourages employees to use carpools and fuel-efficient vehicles. The parking deck features covered bike racks and power for electric vehicles. 
                       
CSC2 is the centerpiece of a long-term effort to reduce the company’s environmental impact. BCBSNC has set corporate-wide goals to reduce its overall energy consumption by 25 percent and its water consumption by 20 percent by the end of 2010.
  
Current company-wide environmental initiatives include:
  • Redesigning ventilation systems at all its major buildings to reduce water and electricity use
  • Installing water-saving plumbing fixtures
  • Using environmentally friendly cleaning products
  • Placing prominent recycling centers in all buildings and on all floors
  • Along with current aggressive paper and cardboard recycling, expanding efforts to collect plastic, glass, aluminum and other materials  
BCBSNC is creating a sustainability project manual for all its building projects that includes requirements for use of recycled materials, rapidly renewable materials, proper disposal of construction debris and maximizing purchase of materials from regional sources.
 
When the company has several months worth of documented energy and water savings, as well as other demonstrated environmental protection measures, the facility will be ready to receive Gold certification  under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).   
 
 
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 76 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.
 
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