‘Cool U.N.’ Turns Thermostats Up, Carbon Emissions Down
When the weather’s warm in New York City, so are staffers at the United Nations’ headquarters on the East River. That’s thanks to a pilot program dubbed “Cool U.N.,” which raised the thermostats in U.N. offices from 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit during August (conference rooms were allowed to stay at a slightly less balmy 75).
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the effort by saying he would wear lighter suits during August, according to a report from the Associated Press. Staffers followed suit, with women going sleeveless and men leaving their jackets off to keep cool in the warmer offices.
Cool U.N. helped reduce the headquarters’ carbon dioxide emissions by about 2,000 metric tons, according to spokeswoman Michele Montas. That’s as much as is generated by 710 round-trips flights across the Atlantic.
The program’s success has led to its being extended until Sept. 15, Montas said. Thermostats will be turned back down, though, to ensure world leaders are cool during the annual ministerial meeting later this month.
With fall approaching, the U.N. building probably won’t need much additional air-conditioning after that. However, Montas said, the U.N. is considering a similar, energy-saving program for the wintertime, when thermostats will presumably be turned down a bit more, rather than up.
