17 December 2012: The UN has announced that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has re-occupied his usual office in the Secretariat’s Headquarters building in New York, US, which is being renovated to improve its environmental performance.

The renovation project focuses on energy conservation. When completed, the renovation will lead to a reduction of 50% in energy and water consumption, and a 40% decrease in carbon production. Ban Ki-moon has praised the renovation, indicating that the “modern and eco-friendly systems” will allow the UN to “better serve the world’s people.” The renovation project is scheduled to be finished by 2014. [UN Press Release]