GM’s CCA Headquarters Shines with Another ENERGY STAR

General Motors’ Customer Care and Aftersales World Headquarters in Grand Blanc, Michigan is practicing environmental stewardship that recently earned it another star. For the fourth year running, the facility earned EPA ENERGY STAR® certification, meaning this office building performs better in energy efficiency than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. To keep this certification current, the facility’s certified energy manager helps identify and implement energy conservation projects. Some of its recent energy efficiency improvements include:

• LED lighting in high-use areas, including outdoor vehicle displays and employee exercise facilities
• Lighting occupancy sensors and timers
• Upgraded heating and cooling systems with variable frequency drives to better match power needs

Grand Blanc CCA took best practices in efficiency beyond the facility by hosting a “Bring Your Green to GM Day” to educate employees on energy conservation at work and at home. By partnering with local utility Consumers Energy and other companies, Grand Blanc employees learned from experts about using energy efficient products and technologies at home. Employees also signed up for complimentary home energy audits.

The landfill-free facility also recently replaced worn-out carpeting with new carpet tiles made from 43,200 pounds of recycled byproducts such as fishing nets and carpet yarn. By recycling waste into new carpeting, supplier Interface avoided 121 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by burning 59 tons of coal.

In addition to 1,200 employees, Grand Blanc CCA is home to over 336 species of wildlife. The facility earned Wildlife Habitat Certification in 2008 for efforts to protect natural habitats on site. Employees enjoy a walking path near wetlands, grassy areas and a forest on the campus, all home to a variety of critters. Grand Blanc’s Wildlife at Work Committee maintains pollinator gardens at the site, along with 18 bluebird houses and wood duck and bat nesting boxes made from scrap Chevrolet Volt battery covers.

GM is committed to reducing the energy intensity of its facilities by 10 percent, achieving landfill-free at 150 sites, and implementing certified wildlife habitats at each GM site where feasible by 2020. Grand Blanc CCA is a shining star toward each of these commitments.