30 October, 2009 - In 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) became the first UN office to receive a gold-level LEED rating by the United States Green Building Council.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; “gold” is its second highest designation.  The LEED certification is the nationally-recognized standard for measuring building sustainability.  The LEED green building rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.

UNEP RONA’s office space includes a variety of environmental-friendly features, including reused construction materials, locally-manufactured materials and optimized energy consumption.  UNEP and the design-and-construction team salvaged nearly 90 per cent of the construction debris from its old office.  For instance, recovered glass panels were used in enhancing the design of the new space.  Almost all the furniture and millwork was reinstalled in the new offices.  UNEP RONA’s ceiling tiles, carpets and flooring are made from recycled content.  The office is taking numerous steps to minimize energy consumption, including using lighting fixtures that decrease lighting power density, installing occupancy sensors and daylight-responsive light fixtures, as well as selecting Energy Star rated items for 97 per cent of the appliances and equipment.  All these features allow UNEP RONA to lower its carbon footprint, putting into practice the principles that it advocates.

In an effort to reduce the environmental impact from employees commuting to work, UNEP worked with the real estate agent to select a building near metro and bus lines and to identify a space within walking distance of a range of services.

UNEP RONA’s LEED Gold achievement is the result of an unprecedented collaboration among landlords, architects, contractors, real estate agents and building management companies.  UNEP RONA worked closely with all its partners to ensure that its new office employed eco-friendly building practices to help UNEP RONA “kick the carbon habit.”  The green strategies implemented provide UNEP RONA staff with an energy-efficient, healthy, environmentally-sound and sustainable office.

UNEP RONA is an example for the rest of the United Nations.  At a workshop “Implementing UN Climate Neutral Strategy in Leased UN Properties: Opportunities in New York City,” UNEP RONA shared its LEED Gold experience with representatives from other agencies.

For more information, please contact Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox, elisabeth.guilbaud-cox@unep.org, 1 (202) 974-1307.

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