23 July 2012: On his visit to Montenegro, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the construction of a new UN eco-building in the city of Podgoriga. The building, constructed with the financial support of the Government of Austria, will be energy efficient, carbon neutral, and provide common premises for UN staff to “Deliver as One.”

Features of the planned new building include: solar panels floating above the roof slab to provide both shade and energy; water from the Morača River, aided by a solar powered heat pump, to cool the building in summer and heat it in the winter; and a perforated roof slab to provide natural light and ventilation. [UN Secretary-General’s Speech] [UN Montenegro Press Release]