Nissan Goes Green in New US Headquarters

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080308/D8V96MG00.html

Mar 8, 5:29 AM (ET)

By BILL POOVEY

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) - Nissan wants to talk about more than a way to drive at its soon-to-be-finished Americas headquarters.

The Japanese automaker is showing off "green" features of the $100 million project as a kind of image signpost for car and truck buyers increasingly focused on environmental concerns.

The 10-story, S-shaped, headquarters opens in July, eventually for about 1,500 employees. Nissan North America, which increased annual sales by 4.5 percent to more than 1 million vehicles and a market share of 6.6 percent in 2007, is moving about 20 miles from a Nashville high-rise to a 50-acre campus with a restored wetland.

After relocating to the South from Southern California, Nissan's own facilities engineers developed the headquarters with features aimed at showing a concern for the environment beyond stretching miles per gallon and cutting exhaust emissions.


Sun shades are seen being installed on the outside of the new 10-story Nissan headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., on Jan. 25, 2008. The shades act like reflective visors and have computer-designed blades to reduce glare and heat in the Southern summer. The building, with features aimed at showing a concern for the environment, opens in July 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

A sci-fi sounding "light harvesting system" automatically dims or turns off interior lights in the 460,000 square feet of offices. Sun shades outside - sort of like reflective visors - with computer-designed blades direct sunlight to reduce glare and heat in the Southern summer.

Air conditioning and heat are controlled through outlets at each work station.

FULL story at link.

[NNadir]

1. Nissan cannot "go green." They make cars. n/t.