Aug. 11, 2008 - Nissan has spent a bundle relocating its North American headquarters from southern California to a newly constructed, energy-efficient facility in Franklin, Tenn.

Energy-saving features at the new 460,00 square foot Nissan Americas building are expected to be 35% more efficient, according to the company.

Features include specially coated window glass that regulates energy flow into and out of the building and computer-controlled sunshades that help deflect glare. Inside, lights dim or brighten automatically depending on the level of natural light.

Topping off the building is the green roof system, which incorporates 7,500 square feet of low-growing plants that act as insulation and help reduce energy consumption.

Outside, Nissan has invested in planting over 50,000 native plants to restore a 2.5 acre wetland area which will collect rainwater from the entire site and direct it to one of two water-control systems for irrigation.

Nissan opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Tennessee in 1980. "The decision to relocate the corporate offices for the Americas to Tennessee is to better create synergies with manufacturing facilities in Tennessee and Mississippi," the company said in statement.

The company is the latest in a string of carmakers, including Honda and Toyota, to green up their corporate offices in a bid to reflect a more environmentally conscious image.