U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S

riONS. N Y. IOO17

TIONS NEWYORK

REFERENCE:

Dear Sir Crispin,

JUL 2 5 I99T 22 July 1997

At the request of the Secretary-General, I wish to respond toyour letter of 6 June 1997 concerning the application of new andmore efficient energy methods to the United Nations Headquartersfacilities.

exist forAs you have noted, significant opportunitiesreducing energy consumption. In this connection, several

both capitalj_c:u.u.i_;j_iiy ciieiyy consumption. J.U uiu.t> uouueiJUconservation projects are underway at Headquarters,improvements and changes in operating methodologies.

However, as this is just the beginning, the offer by theClimate Institute to help organize, without cost to the UnitedNations, a greening programme of the Headquarters facilities wouldprovide further incentives for becoming energy efficient.

I would therefore suggest that your colleague at the ClimateInstitute, Dr. Brown, may wish to meet with Mr. Sevan, AssistantSecretary-General for Central Support Services to discusspossibilities for this programme. He can be reached after 13August, when he returns from leave, on extension (212) 963-5767.

The Secretary-General is most appreciative of your offer.

Yours sincerely,

ph E. Connor'Undefr -S'e c r e t a ry - Gene ra 1

for Administration and Management

Sir Crispin TickellChairman of the BoardClimate Institute120 Maryland Avenue, N.E.Washington, D.C. 20002

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Could Mr. Connor please reply to Mr. Tickell's letter onthe Secretary-General's behalf, taking into account Mr. Desai'sand Mr. Sevan's comments ?

COM.6 (2-78)

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23 June 1997

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I believe that we had asked for (but have not yetreceived) Mr. Desai's comments on Mr. Tickell's letter. Insteadof sending us your comments, perhaps ihe best thing at this stagemay be for you to let us have a draft reply, taking into accountBenon Sevan's comments. (The idea of referring to this in theSecretary-General's opening statement to the Special Session is, ofcourse, no longer feasible but perhaps we can refer to this idea insome other way during the Special Session and mention it in thereply to Tickell).

COM.6 12-78)

UNITED NATIONS W NATIONS UNIES

OFFICE OF THE UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR POLICY COORDINATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Room S-2963 A, United Nations, New York, New York 1 00 1 7 ( "Telephone (212) 963-5958 Fax (212) 963-1010 « .7^ 2,4 1997

/7 -7336 yINTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM ~ .........

TO: Mr. S. Iqbal Riza DATE: 23 June 1997Chef de Cabinet

FROM: Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General forPolicy Coordination and Sustainable Development

SUBJECT: UN Energy Audit - letter from Sir Crispin Tickell, Climate Institute

4 ;•/ [J '. ~< ' ''•I refer to your request for advice on the letter of 6 June from Sir Crispin Tickell,

Chairman of the Board of the Climate Institute.

When the President of the General Assembly addressed the Second Committee inOctober 1996 on the Special Session of the General Assembly to review progress in theimplementation of Agenda 21, he challenged the UN to come forward with an energy auditand a programme for waste reduction. I informed Mr. Connor of the statement of thePresident and suggested that he follow up. .1 also informed UNEP, whose responsibilitiesinclude the follow up to the resolution adopted by the Fiftieth Session of the GA on the"greening of the UN".

Mr. Connor's reply, providing information on the UN's energy savings programmes atUNHQ and on the recycling paper programme and waste management is attached.

The information indicates that, in December 1996, the UN requested ConEd to preparean updated overview of energy us^age patterns today at Headquarters. In summary, energyconsumption is high in the complex, as would be expected in buildings of this vintage and ofany function. ConEd suggests that this energy consumption is "double the typical usage ratefor government buildings prior to the implementation of energy conservation measures".According to ConEd, energy consumption could be reduced by 25% through implementationof capital construction improvements.

The capital cost in construction envisioned to achieve such a reduction is projected byConEd at $9,100,000. The estimated energy savings upon completion of capital constructionwould be $2,504,000. Per year, assuming fixed energy prices. Thus, in very approximatefigures, ConEd's suggestion would result in avoided cost of $10,932,000. over ten years, ifthe first two years were dedicated to construction, with no savings achievable until the third

year. ($2,504,000. x 8 = $20,032,000. avoided cost - $9,100,000. Construction cost =$10,932%000. net avoided cost). Future avoided costs would be $2,504,000. per year forevery year thereafter. Those costs are reflective of major reductions in steam and electricusage. However, such a programme would involve major capital investment.

I have discussed with the Department for Public Information the opportunity of issuinga statement/press release or briefing on this topic. However, DPI did not consider the contentof the memorandum as enough basis for publicity.

Given the fact that ConEd has already undertaken an energy overview, I wonder if it isappropriate to accept Sir Crispin Tickell's offer. The main problem remains the high capitalinvestments for an energy savings programme, despite the avoided costs in later years.

I would suggest, however,, reconsidering the necessity of making DAM's findingspublic, as they are certainly a clear answer to the challenges of the President of the GeneralAssembly...

3*51JUN I 9m

NOTE TO MR. RIZA

$f4l- iZ^iA -*PO

Letter dated 6 June 1997 from the Chairman of the Boardof Climate Institute, addressed to the Secretary-General

With reference to the above letter copy of which you hadkindly sent to me for comments - copy attached for easy reference- I believe we_should welcome the offer by the_ C_limate_ Instituteto help organize without cost to the United Nat_ipns_ a greeningprogramme of the Headquarters. We are ready to review the matterwith them at their convenience, and ask Mr. Brown, a formercolleague, to get in touch with me and my colleagues to discussthe necessary arrangements.

With regard to the proposal contained in the last paragraphof the above letter, I find it difficult...for me - without knowingat this time the magnitude of the work involved - to recommendto the Secretary-General to make a commitment to complete thePjroject to green the Headquarters by 21 August 2000. I stronglyrecommend, however, that the Secretary-General should, in hisstatement to the Special Session of the General Assembly, make_the point that the United Nations has been actively involved intaking the measures, subject to the availability of resources, togreen the Headquarters. We have several ongoing energyconservation programmes underway, and plan to go further duringthe next biennium, details of which are provided in the attachedcorrespondence.

Benon V. Sevan19 June 1997

cc. Mr. ConnorMr. DesaiMr. Sardegna

NOTE TO MR. SARDEGNA

Letter dated 9 June 1997 from Chairmanof the Board of Climate Institute

Could you please review the proposal contained in theattached copy of the above letter and let me have your viewsurgently tomorrow? I believe we did already send to Mr. Desai abrief report on energy saving measures taken and planned. Pleaselet me have your views, particularly on the last two paragraphsof the letter. I believe it is a good proposal and we shouldwelcome it. I will wait for your comments before I respond tcMr. Riza.

United Nations Headquarters Complex

Energy Savings Programmes

Operating S i tua t ion

1. The United Nations headquarters covers 18 acres between 42nd Street and 48th Street,and 1st Avenue and the East River, in New York City. The main complex, with a gross bu i ld ingarea of approximately 2.5 mi l l ion square feet, is comprised of several interconnecting buildings,inc lud ing the Secretariat Bui ld ing , the Conference Bui ld ing , and the General Assembly B u i l d i n gwas completed in ] 950. Subsequent additions, including Dag Hammarskjold Library, the NorthLawn Building and the South Annex Building, were added in 1961, 1981 and 1982 respectively.

2. Many challenges face those responsible for managing energy usage at large multi-usebui ld ing complexes in 1997. However, in many ways, operating'UN Headquarters poses un iquechallenges. The facility does not easily fall into any particular category of building usage. It is notpurely an office complex, although it includes a high-rise office building. It is not a purely aconference or meeting center, although that is certainly a significant and critical funct ion. TheHeadquarters complex includes a complete library bui lding, with the un ique requirements of tha tbu i ld ing type. It is not a performing arts center, but functions as a performing ails center, andexhibit ion space, many times d u r i n g a given season. It incorporates a full-scale print ing plant,essentially an i n d u s t r i a l product ion space. It includes television and radio studios, which haveunique requirements in terms of environmental parameters. It includes spaces open to the publ ic inlarge numbers, and includes spaces t ha t are technologically sophisticated and restricted. Thenormal support spaces for such a large complex are present: restaurants exist at several separatelocations wi th in the fac i l i ty . These diverse funct ions co-exist gracefully w i t h i n one bu i ld ingcomplex. Indeed, from the perspective of energy usage they exist wi th in one building, as theseparate stnictures are interconnected in terms of air flow, cooling, l i gh t ing and power.

3. The d ivers i ty of f u n c t i o n s has an effect on efficient operat ion. Diverse funct ions requirediverse services of the suppor t ing env i ronmen ta l systems. The cooling system opera t ion tha twould be most energy eff ic ient for a conference center is not the cooling system that would bemost energy eff ic ient for an office complex. Other m u l t i - u s e f a c i l i t i e s solve th i s problem t h r o u g hseparate systems, or th rough soph is t i ca ted b u i l d i n g system controls . Since the. UN Headquar te r swas largely engineered in the l a t e 1940s, w i t h l a t e r a d d i t i o n s , nei ther separate systems norsophisticated controls are in place.

4. Simi lar ly , diverse funct ions require dif ferent hours of opera t ion . One of the most effectivetools for con t io l of energy usage for any fac i l i t y management is to convince the occupants lh;;.isimple changes in the i r da i ly use of the b u i l d i n g can have major impacts on energy consumptionIn the case of the diverse uses of the UNHQ, even if each i n d i v i d u a l use were reduced, the netgain would not be as d ramat ic as that seen ?,t o ther fac i l i t ies s imply hoc?.use the hours of need !"•>;•

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these different uses do not coincide. Since the building systems are largely interconnected,reduction in use in one part of the system does not necessarily permit major energy intensiveequipment to be shut down, since another use elsewhere may have need at the same time. Overthe last ten years commercial or governmental office buildings have conserved energy byoperating under policies l im i t i ng services such as lighting and cooling to a fixed number of hours.That sort of l imi ta t ion would be largely inappropriate at UNHQ; separate and scattered parts ofthe office staff may be dealing with situations occurring in completely different time zones, oremergencies that simply are not subject to such control.

5. Thus analysis of the relative energy consumption at UNHQ in comparison to desirablestandards is in itself a challenge. Such standards for energy efficiency in buildings are alwaysrelated to building function so dramatically impacts energy usage patterns. No particularbuilding complex appears to be useful as the basis for specific comparisons to the UNHQ.Nevertheless, it is clear that reductions in energy usage are achievable.

Recent Energy Conservation Projects - United Nations Headquarters Complex

6. A series of capital projects has been undertaken at UNHQ to reduce energy consumption.

7. Retro-fit existing fluorescent fixtures, 4 floors SecretariatSummary. 871 1x4 light f ixture were retrofi t ted wi th new reflectors, electronic ballasts andenergy efficient lamps on four floors of the Secretariat Building(18, 19, 21 and 22)completed on 23 October 1991 at a cost of $72,500.00. The United Nations received arebate check in the amount of 535,432.28 from the Apple power Rebate Program. Theprojected energy cost savings per year was $29,008.00.Savings'. Over a period of 10 years the projected savings would be a net gain of 5253,012

S. Retro-fit ex is t ing fluorescent f ixtures , 2 floors SecretariatSummary. 242 1x4 light fixture were re t ro f i t t ed with new reflectors, electronic ballasts andenergy efficient lamps on two floors of the Secretariat Bui ld ing(6 , and 7) completed on 10J u n e 1994 at a cost of 535,217.00. The United Na t ions received a rebate check in theamount of SI 1,905.40 from the Con Ed Enlightened Energy Program. The projected energycost savings per year was 57,745.00.Savings: Over a period of 10 years the projected savings v.'oukl be a net gain of $54,139

9. Replacement of f luorescent l igh t f ix tu res , 2 floors Secretar ialSummary. 408 1x4 l igh t f i x tu r e were replaced with new energy efficient fixtures on twofloors of the Secretariat Bui!d'mg(24 and 25) completed on November 1995 at a cost of588,000.00. The United Na t ions received a rebate check in the amount of 59,483.00 fromthe Con Ed Enlightened Enc-rgy Program. The projected, cost savings per year v/a?$16,000.00.Savings Over a per iod of 10 years the projected savings would be a net gain of 581,483

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10. Replacement of existing ChillerSummary: Replaced one existing 1,270 ton chiller with new 1,800 ton steam turbine drivenchiller completed in June 1996 at a cost of $1,614,000.00. The United Nations received arebate check in the amount of $350,000.00 from the Con Ed Enlightened Energy Program.The projected energy cost savings per year was $335,000.00.Savings: Over a period of 10 years the projected savings would be a net avoided cost of

. $2,086,000.

11. Additionally, as other capital construction work is undertaken involving replacement ofequipment, choices are made that reduce future energy usage. That information is readily available,and the professional engineering firms involved with UN projects have been sensitive to this issue. Itis proposed that this direction continue.

Recent Actions

12. An essential element of planning for future changes is a baseline portrait of current energyusage patterns. Steam and electricity are currently supplied to the United Nations by ConsolidatedEdison (Con Ed), under a monopoly arrangement. Rates for all customers of Con Ed are regulatedby the New York State Public Service Commission. Con Ed is experienced in energy issues.Usage reductions by existing customers are essential to Con Ed's ab i l i t y to operate in a cost-effective manner, without constructing expensive new power plants.

13. In December 1996, the United Na t ions requested that Con Ed prepare an updatedoverview of energy usage pat te rns today at Headquarters to create a base l ine for measurement offuture energy usage. In summary, energy consumpt ion is high in the complex, as would beexpected in bu i ld ings of th i s vintage of any f u n c t i o n . U t i l i t y costs for January 1996 throughJanuary 1997 were $ 9,475,000.

14. Con Ed has suggested that th is energy consumption is "...double the typical use rate forgovernment bui ldings pr ior to the imp lemen ta t ion of energy conservation measures." As has beendiscussed above, UN'HQ is certainly more complex than a typical governmental building.Nevertheless, Con Ed suggests t h a i energy consumpt ion could be reduced by 25% throughimplemen ta t ion of cap i t a l cons t ruc t ion improvements . The c a p i t a l cost in const ruct ion env i s ionedto achieve such a reduction is projected by Con Ed at $9,100,000.00. The es t imated energysavings upon complet ion of capi ta l construct ion would be $2,504,000.00 per year , assuming fixedenergy prices. Thus, in very approximate figures, Con Ed's suggestion would ref i l l in avoidedcost of $10,932,000.00 over ten years, if the f i r s t two years were dedicated to cons t ruc t ion , wi thno savings achievable u n t i l the third year. (52,504,000.00 x 8 ••= $20,032,000.00 avoided cost - $9,100,000.00 construction cost =$ 10,932,000.00 net avoided cost). F u t u r e avoided costs wouldbe $ 2,504,000.00 per year for every year the reaf te r . Those costs are ref lec t ive of majorreductions in steam and electric usage Howevci, such a program would involve major capi ta linvestment.

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Proposed Programme

15. The overview supplied by Con Ed confirms that current capital ini t ia t ives underway are allsteps in the right direction.

(a) Continuation of l ighting retrofits: l ight ing work thus far has been in the area of thefluorescent f ix tures in office spaces. That work is envisioned to continue in a phasedmanner. However, wi th in the complex, existing incandescent fixtures could now bereplaced with new energy-efficient fixtures, which would reduce energy consumption atevery fixture. In addi t ion, older incandescent fixtures generate heat. A significant portion ofthe cooling needed in major spaces at UNHQ is necessitated only by the heat generated bylighting fixtures. Replacement of older incandescent lighting fixtures with fixtures thatgenerate less heat would therefore reduce the need for cooling, a major energy consumer.These fixtures are found in the formal spaces of the United Nations: Conference Rooms,Council Chambers and the General Assembly Plenary Hall, and the lobbies and corridorsadjacent to these spaces.

(b) Con t inua t ion of e q u i p m e n t upgrades: retro-f i t t ing of pumps and motors so tha tthey can operate more eff ic ient ly is another area of energy savings.

(c) Examina t ion and improvement of steam consumption options: the second largechil ler serving UNHQ is scheduled for replacement as part of an overall phase-out ofequipment u t i l i z ing CFC's. As par t of mak ing the equipment choice and designing thei n s t a l l a t i o n , the u t i l i t y op t ions available will be examined, as will the environmental impactof those choices, decisions. Based on the experience of other bui ld ing operators,modernizat ion and improvement o p p o r t u n i t i e s in the chil ler plant wi l l be revealed, andwould then be implemented as par t of the work to replace the old equipment . Simplyreplacing the equ ipmen t wi th a 1997 version wi l l be an increase in efficiency, and thereforeavoided energy usage.

(cl) Modera te the opera t ing s t anda rds to [hose used in other local governmentalb u i l d i n g s . Ad jus tmen t of the summer cooling temperature and win t e r hea t i ng temperatureby a few degrees could create energy cost savings of over 5300,000 per year, with nocap i t a l inves tment . Each one degree, lowering of ihe space temperature in Winter and onedegree raising of temperatures in Summer saves 3% in energy costs.

(e) Phased rep lacement of all p l u m b i n g f ix tu res to low water usage fixtures at a rate of8 to 10 bathrooms a year, wiih a programme target of doing all Ko bathrooms.

(0 S h u t t i n g selected e leva tors o f t "dur ing off-peak hours to save energy.

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(g) Pliased switching all table lamps wi th incandescent bulbs to fluorescent bulbs.

(h) Training Custodial Cleaners staff and HVAC staff to switch off the lights andHVAC systems to conference rooms and other high occupancy areas as soon as themeetings are over. Timers for au tomat ic switching are provided in areas where theoccupancy patters can be predictable.

(i) Phased replacement of steam traps to improve the energy usage from steam

(j) Recover all the condensate from the steam system and using it for cleaning andlawns watering rather than discharge it to drains (to the extend possible).

(k) Hire a carting contractor who sends all garbage to a power producing garbageburning plant. BFI does not send any garbage to landf i l l s , but disposes it off to powerburning plants in Brooklyn and New Jersey.

(1) Hire a gardening contractor who assures us that all the organic waste from thegarden is taken to a composting p l an t .

16. Having obtained an overview, and c o n t i n u i n g with those capital ini t ia t ives and operatinginitiatives tha t have been confirmed as being logical in tha t overview, it is also proposed that abroader context and long-term plan for env i ronment practices be developed.

(a) In this regard, in format ion has been obta ined about s i m i l a r undertakings for otherorganizations from Global Environmental Options (GEO) President Margaret Howard. Itappears that the experience tha t GEO has developed meets the needs of the United Nationsat this moment. GEO has expertise in bringing together the many par t ies who maycontr ibute to a long-term plan , and f a c i l i t a t i n g development of a coherent set of objectives.As the programs, services and technica l in fo rmat ion avai lable from local governmententities, the private sector, within the United Nations system, and the NGO community arequi te extensive, he lp in c o - o r d i n a t i n g these resources is key to development of such a planin a reasonable t ime-frame. Ii is proposed t h a i t h i s process be undertaken wi th in 1997, ifpossible, with a view to developing a long term energy strategy for UNHQ in 1998.

(b) The local u t i l i t y indus t ry is being de-regulated in 1998. BMS has i n i t i a t e d a requestthat the Office of Legal Services (OLA) inves t iga te what choices the United Nat ions mayhave under the new leg i s l a t i on . BMS would also request t h a t via publ ic advertisement, theUnited Nations solicit in tb imal ion from the mar.v enti t ies that have arisen to offer servicesto organizat ions in th i s new u t i l i t y environmciv.

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Recycling paper programme and waste management

17. The UN has had a very successful paper recycling programme since 1987, collecting over1,000 tons per year on average, and earning in the region of $100,000 eveiy year. The UN hasrecycled 4,210 tons of paper since July 1993. However, it should be noted that over the previous12-month period, March 1996 - February 1997, there has been a marked reduction in the volumeof paper emanating from the Print ing Plant for recycling, compared to the period March 1995 -February 1996. This, as we unders tand it, is a result of increased efficiency in the Pr int ing Plant,reduced print runs, improvement- in the qua l i ty of recycled paper used to pr int UN documents andgreater familiarity on the part of the printing staff with using recycled paper. It is a positivedevelopment. However, as a result, it is projected that, for the first time since 1987, the UN'sincome from the sale of recyclable paper will fall below $100,000 for the year. The peak year forthe programme, to date, has been July 1995 - June 1996 when the income realised was $181,000.

18. As for the future, BMS, together with the paper recycling contractor, is exploring ways inwhich the collection of recyclable paper in the secretariat building can be expanded by changing thefocus of collection from central collection points on each floor, to desk-side recycling. This willincrease the volume of paper collected, however, it wi l l also reduce revenues since there would begreater contaminat ion from carbonised paper and coloured paper, etc, in each bag picked up.

19. BMS began the recycling of corrugated cardboard boxes in 1993, baling them and makingthem available to the recycling contractor . Thus far, we had removed 360 tons of material fromthe waste stream and saving, in the process, a m i n i m u m of 550,000 in disposal costs each year.

20. BMS is cur ren t ly working with the Counci l on the Environment of New York City(CENYC) in conduct ing an a u d i t of food waste and food preparat ion waste in the cateringfacilities. Food waste is a major component of our waste disposal cost and volume and, therefore,its reduction is one of our main areas of concern Consideration is also being given to havingCENYC conduct a more comprehensive audit to identify where waste can be prevented. Thisaudit would i n c l u d e an eva lua t ion of the procurement process, recommendation on the use ofenvi ronment - f r iendly m a t e r i a l s and the reuse of ma te r i a l s that are no rma l ly discarded.

21. In con junc t ion wi ih the a u d i t of food waste, BMS is also explor ing the possibil i ty ofintroducing "in-vcssel composting" at the. UN. "Ill-vessel composting1 1 is the process by whichorganic waste is broken down in a con ta iner to become compost w i th in a l i m i t e d period of t ime.BMS staff have made site vis i ts to some opera t ions which use i :in-vessel composting" and, so far,have been favourably impressed. There is a s igni f icant i n i t i a l f inanc ia l investment in this process,however we believe it has the p o t e n t i a l , in the fu ture , to reduce disposal costs. The major benefit,however, would be in removing th is ma te r i a l ' f rom the waste stream, keeping it out of land fi l ls andconverting i t in to compost for pos i t ive r e s u l t s .

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22. BMS introduced separation and collect ion of a l u m i n i u m cans and bottles in 1992, passingthem on to the waste removal contractor. However, we are aware that these material will be ofgreater benefit to groups that support homeless people and, as such, have been makingarrangements with the Upper West Side Recycling graph to pick up, on a regular basis, at no costto the UN. This is expected to commence by 1 May 1997.

23. We have been informed by CENYC that their audit of food waste will be completed and areport submitted by the end of June 1997. Fur the r e v a l u a t i o n of the composting al ternat ive will beundertaken based on the report of the audit and a decision made as to its s u i t a b i l i t y for the UN'spurposes by 31 December 1997. With regard to desk-side recycling, we have set 11 September1997 as the date for implementation.

VL . United Nations'^^Nations I ' n i c s

\j

.^ Mr. Benon Sevan 23 Decemh.-\Y Assistant Secretary-General for

\\ •. i l k - ' i . i j-V ,rV

Conference and Support Services

Joseph E. Connor, Under-Secretary-Generalfor Administration and Management

Energy effi c i encv at United Nations Headquarters, New V o r •

I have read your memorandum of 19 D.ecejnber, which has bee:;copied to Mr. Desai. I think your suggestion in the lastparagraph is the .appropriate one and I congratulate you and y.: .colleagues on all that has been done thus far as tabulated :ryour letter on conservation of various resources.

II ! h L I

1S.ll '

UnitedNations^W^Nations I nics

Mr. Joseph E. Connor, Under-Secretary-Generalfor Adminis t ra t ion and Management

Benon V. Sevan, Assistant Secretary-Generallor Conference and Suppon Services / —

/

Energy efficiency,in the Uni ted Nations Headquarters in New York

I refer to Mr. Desai's memorandum of 12 November 1996 regarding the Special Sessio;of the General Assembly to be held in June 1997, to review progress in the implementation othe commitments made at the United Nations Conference on E n v i r o n m e n t and Deve lopment •1992.

In t h i s connection. I am pleased io i n f o r m vou sha i the ()ftlce of Conference .UK' S i i i ) i x 'Ser\'ices (OCSS) has already unde r t aken a : - , u m h e r of ac; :s : t i e s th;,; co..^;Je ••'. : ' i" ' " - 1

recommended in Mr . Desai's m e m o r a n d u m

For instance, the s t r e a m l i n i n g o: the d i s t r i b u t i o n process and be t t e r stock manage;-,- ' .-resul ted in an overall 21 per cent r e d u c t i o n ;n the v o l u m e of p roduc t ion of p a r l i a m e n t 'documenta t ion ( t h i s f igure is in aggregate of the i 1 per cent reduct ion in the n u m b e r of cop;*.1

panted per original page and of the !h per cent r educ t i on in ;he n u m b e r of o r ig ina l p a g e s 1

With rega^ to the use of - - - y d e d p. ' per. the Reproduction Section ofServices uses recycled pape- e x c l u s i v e l y , '.i1 a d d i t i o n . v,e have a ver\ success!""1 paper r e e v e : : - ' . .programme s ince 19S7. Between 1987 and I9C 'J. ihe United Na t ions earned about SI 00. (XX) ;<•year f rom the recyc l ing p rogramme, reach ing , \ peak of S183.0<X) in the J u l y !99>June l^- 1 'contract year. The United Nations has recycled :n excess of 850 tons of paper each year s1:: ' ;--1987. However , since March 1996, the v o l u m e of paper be ing made available for recycl ing ';•.•.been reduced by approximately 30 per cent . This is a very positive development, nonethele--as i t reflects improved ef f ic iency in the p r i n t i n g p l a n t , as well as a general ly Sower demar.o i f

documents overall and, consequently, lower print runs. To approach the pre- 1996 level ;

output and income in th is and in f u t u r e years , a more aggressive desk-side recycling pb.r. :.;•to be devised and implemented and new opportunities for recycling other materials sough'.

Further , w i t h i n the B u i l d i n g s Managemen t Service ( R M S ) , several iniprove:v.eri'.- ':''-;. •been undertaken in the recent past. In the context of a recent Request for Proposal tor e lec t : 1 . - 'maintenance services which encouraged contractors to propose energy savingexpect to conduct an energy audi t r '" the Headouartcrs complex in the comitv -^regard, we would also l ike to uke ;uiva.nuge of available opportunities ,-iidi n c l u d i n g the. resotirces of Con Edison, the recommended consultant ( G \ o t v > \

energy savings that we are already aware of, and some of these are being undertaken HI rK.1996-1997 workplan, particularly modernization of major cooling equipment and replacemon:of controls. Improvements in day-to-day practices can be made immediately , w h i l eimprovements requiring long-term investment w i l l be phased in as part of the overall long t e rn :capital plan. A statement of the status of past and planned in i t ia t ives wi l l accompany the energyaudit.

BMS is aJso taking steps to enable the establishment of a comprehensive waste prevent ionand management programme at Headquarters. We are, at present, evaJuating the lates:technology for "in vessel" composting whereby organic waste is composted on s i t eFood /cafe ten a waste is the major component of our waste disposal costs and, therefore, is o;rmain area of focus in this exercise. Should this process prove to be feasible, it wi l l e l i m i n a uthe removal of food waste as rubbish and much of i.ts associated costs. It w i l l also of fe r ; ! • , •poss ibi l i ty of earning n o m i n a l income from the end -p roduc t . Dur ing t h i s e x n l o r a t c ~ \ pha-cBMS has already made two s i te v i s i t s to observe ;n \cise!" compost ing equ ipment in operaticA decis ion w i l l be made in the near f u t u r e as ' .o as s u i t a b i l i t y for i n s t a l l a t i o n ai the I 'nr .e .Nat ions Headquarters, based on operational and fmar.cial considerations. BMS is also ir ::\process of commiss ion ing an a u d i t of food w a s t e and is eva lua t ing a proposal from the Cour.:on the Envi ronment of New York Ci ty for conduc t ing an al l-encompassing waste a u d i t .

1 mus t also point o u t . h o w e \ er . t h a i w i t h i n OCSS. & n u m b e r of energy sa \mgs pi,1/ .' . ich were i n c h u :d in :he P r o g r a m mo B . - ' . c e ; :or the B i o n n i u m l^b- iQs)"7 '">ad v "•.

suspended, due to iHiclgei cu;s

W i t h regard to Mr. DcsaiS suggesuo:1. of an er.ergs a n t l i ; - .o ;v commiss ioned *•.'. ' " • .Un i t ed Na t ions , '^c w o u l d welcome ihe opp<^nuiv , t \ ; .o work u i t h exton-.a! organi7.a ' ion>. v. .as Global E n v i r o n m e n t a l Options and the C o u n c i l or , '.he Envi ronmenTo;" New York C i t N .n need not be considered an a u d i t as such; 1 bel ieve that a r e v i e w or a s tudy would tor"'; .•preferable approach. Such an a c t i v i t y may also be usefu! in i m p r o v i n g the image •. ' , ' ;•-.•Organisation enjoys among, both Member States and the pub l i c at l a rge , and OCCS wou ld '-pleased to make its contribution to such an endeavour.

Mr. Dcsai

United Nat:.IVTKROFVirK MKMOKA.MUM

TO: Mr. Joseph H. Connor . Under-Secretary Genera! Dale: 12 N o v e m b e rDepartment of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a;id Management

FROM: Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General ' '"•---• -r-v^. ^;rr-Department for Policy Coordination and Susta jnable Development

SUBJECT: Energy eff iciency in the UN'_Headquar t e r s in N'e\O.'ork. Special Seisin o '_General Assembly in June 1.997.

As you k i i O ' A . ;he Gene ra l - \ - > - > e : r . : - i : ; . . - . . . :>> . • . : . - . bpecuv, Se^viprogress m the i m p l e m e n i a i i o i i o: ' : ; ;^ ;r-::-,;:\:::-.j:v.^ :r..ulo a; :i ' ,c ( N Cx-a/id Deve lopment in 1992.

The F res idem of t i ' .e > i i : . CILV. - J : . : . .'•, ^ . -•• ." • • i i ! ' \ : r . : \ ! N ^ . • . : . • ;• • • i l l also p res ide • e r th.e Spec,.-.i S ^ ^ i i . v

In a recent address :o '.he Scco:;^ ' . ' . . • . : • . . ..;:-cuse the o p p o r i u n i t y of the S pee in! So^.or. ; ,^ ' . \ , : -v : ;p roduct ion p a t t e r n s " . He i r ieni :d ; : s .is o;v.;o:>.

to cio an er .v i ror . iv .en ia l ;i;u;:i of UN c; ;or^ paper .:•••: ,;-...: . a l c u i a i c io;w : . • , ; : , >.if we make ;-. i r ans iuon lo sustainable pr?.:;; :cs;focus on ene rgy c t i i c i c n e v . re i Jv : : i ;on ,r p a c k / L :'.: . ; , - . > c i i : v r . o'. v.v. • . ' . • . . •p:o:urcnici"it prac t ices .

And he cont inues: "Despite the i n i t i a l d i f f i cu l t i e s , i .n is would u i - e the l.'N a:ic: :;-j •..."or.'.r.on Sustainable Deve lopmen i a boost bv h ^ h l i g i i t i n g the p rac t i ca l d i tT icu l ' . ' - v • • : ' .:^-,pvocesse.s and habi t s i n t o sus ta inable ones. The p ro j ec t v. ill bo :>. rea l , c o n c r e t e 'o.:'.co;neSpecial Session, arid 111 llic io:v t:-tcriv, . :•. v. -. ' ;i cciv.onsira'.e hov. '.he I'N ca:i vv.L1 resov.;\

I am ax1. are that D.-\M Iv.ib been a c u \ e ;v. p romoung. t lu v :ecuicuo;i ' \ \ e r .ercs C C . M I S• ••• •• • •' f-"r * ' "" "- ">* ' v . - . ^ ' , - < : - - ' > > . > r ' QSi-i v ! ^ ( S \ - . t ;^;oo!' '^~ ;•. r. ea r':v S'..1.''. ] •

As the methods for enhanced energy efficiency become more and more sophisticated a ; - /as the Ut i l i t ies , i nc lud ing Con Edison, are strong supporters of demand side management t h , ; :wi l l lead to enhanced efficiency w i t h the associated cost savings, I would highly recommend,that you commission an energy a u d i t , as suggested by Ambassador Razali, and present usoutcome and a programme of action for implementation of the recommendations to theCommission on Sustainable Development at its fifth session (April 1997) and the Special Sessionof the General Assembly. It would be a major contribution of the Efficiency Board to the SpecialSession and would certainly enhance the credibil i ty of the United Nations as custodian o;sustainable development.

As far as the paper use is concerned, you may wish to provide the Special Session • > > . : :an up-date of the 1992 Recyc l i ng P r o g r a m m e a; H e a d q u a r t e r s , t h a t was developeraccordance w i t h the concerns and i dea l s i i f the rece:",; LY.;:ed N ' a t i o n s Torre reiveEnv i ronmen t and Deve lopmen t " (ST 1C :- j°r ">.•

I very much hope tha t you ice, ;:•..•.!iengeiJ ?•;* :r,e PreMCer.: o:' :he General A^eir .- . .look forward to w o r k i n g w i t h \ou 0:1 '.:::•} : ->^ ;e . Tu.e U I M S I O P . :or S u s t a i n a b l e De^e iopnv .my Depanment s tands readv to a s ^ , > t • • > • . , ; :":\;er:u.; ^ r g a n i / a i i o n s t h a t may be -.:be;'•.:. ; • 'respect are:

on ene rgy : G l o b a l l inv i romr .en : . : : ( ) p : . > / • • • •-t h i s n o n l o r p r o i l i org . i ! ' . : / . - . : :v i : ".•. > : . . ~ : , ^ ^ : > . . : J"e.\-'.;

V,'h!ie Ho, . and the Por'.vo:'

on waste : The Co'.;f.:i; o::\ ;he 1 • : " - . : '::-;e:.:

Please g i v e me yo;:r reacno;- , . ; : - , . • . . : • o^ r '

the P r e s i d e n t o f the GA a c c c r d i t - e ! 1 .

0 6 / 0 9 ' 9 7 12 Ji! '£?_• i _ . > u u . , . . . . . . . .89-JUN-1997 1^:34 FROM GREEN COLLEGE OXPijpD

CLIMATE INSTITUTE120 Maryland Awn c. N.S..

. oc

•miil: eJiinat«iri«e*K-*pc.on ~***_"" ** *997

6 June 1997

His Excellency Dr Kofi AnnanSecretary GeneralUnited NationsUnited Nations BuildingNew York 10O17USA

FAX TO: 001 212 826 2057

W« hav« already been in touch since your »le_-^xon aaSecr-atary OAn^ral. I zrenew my congratulations and bmat. wiah«a.

Sine* I caased to t>e British Permanent Raproaontative inSeptember 1990, I have be«n active In the field of theenvironment, mostly as the unofficial adviser of Bucceaaive PrimeMinistern and as Chairman of the British Government Panel onSustainable Development., which acts as a kind of environmentalwatchdog. I have also served as Chairman of the Cllvateinstitute of Washington DC, an international environmentalorganisation whose prime concerns are climate change and oxonedepletion.

The climate institute ..as worked closely with United Hat' onsbodies over the last nine years, in 1988 the Institute organisedthe first Symposium on climate Change under UN sponsorship, andafter the Second World climate Conference and before the EarthSummit at Rio, it carried out ministerial briefings on climatechange in some twenty countries under the auspices of the UnitedNations Environment Programme.

The Institute has also sought to promote energy efficiencyin new buildings, and the use of new architectural materials.In the United'States It has worked directly with the municipalauthorities In over ten cities in this regard, in 1993 It worked

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06/09/97 12:2308-JUN-1997

12 9065001 ^ti2057 V I' 19=35 FROM GREEN COLLEGE nxFORD TO 90012128262057

a.

with UNEP to help organise a UN cities conference onchange; and in 1996 it was the host for an internationalconference on green energy. The Institute has worked closelywith the North American Regional Office of UHEP in the greeningof UNEP's New York offices. The UNEP Worth American RegionalDirector Dr Joanne Fox-Przeworskl sees this initiative as a firststep In greening the UN infrastructure in the United State*. Asyou may know the General Assembly passed resolution UN/CA50/11Ocalling for good environmental housekeeping In the UnitedNations.

On the basis of it» experience, the Institute_has,_that Jthe UN headquarters In New York could make suHatantial•avihgs -" posS'lb'Iy more than $1 'million a" year '-" "froii applyingn&* a gr more e f f icTeht energy methods. 'Ve "belTeve thaf a jprgTsctto green this headquarters could be completed by~2T~A"ugust Jtouu'Vthe fiftieth ajmiyejrsla _.ipf""tHe "' "_ . . . . .

Besides the obvious environmental benefits" and" thecost: 'savings/ the symbolic value of the headquarters of theUnited Nations as a demonstration model of what can be done wouldbe enormous.

One of our Board members, Dr Noel Brown (formerly head ofthe North American office of UNEP) , has indicated to some of yourcolleagues the Institute's willingness to help organize withoutcost to the United Nations a greening programme of theheadguarjtiers. Dr Brown has already discussed the matter withAmbassador Razalll, and hopes soon to meet you to discuss thisand other matters. I hope that you will agree to see him, andthat we can thereafter attempt to bring together worldwidesupport from the architectural, buildings services, energy andenvironmental communities.

It would be nice if you could take the occasion of theSpecial Sessloi of the Assembly on the fifth anniversary of th»Rio Summit to announce that this project wa» underway with a viewto completion in the millennial year. With all good wishes,

Chairman of the Board

TOTPL P.02