By Megan Davies
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations isencouraging its New York staff to trade wool business suits forcooler attire this summer so the organization can slash airconditioning costs and help the environment.
"There is going to be a relaxing of the dress protocols andpeople are being encouraged to wear lighter clothing," saidU.S. architect Michael Adlerstein, who is overseeing a $1.8billion renovation of the 60-year-old U.N. skyscraper.
Adlerstein said about $100,000 would be saved by turningthe thermostats up 5 degrees to 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) inthe U.N. secretariat building and to 75 F (24 C) in conferencerooms, during a trial run in the scorching month of August.
It would also help the environment in New York City, hesaid. About 4,400 million pounds of steam -- equivalent toseveral hundred tons of carbon dioxide -- would be saved byreducing air conditioning at the landmark midtown Manhattanbuilding.
He said staff were being encouraged to shed their trademarkdark suits and switch to lighter business casual clothing.Adlerstein sported a white shirt with neither jacket nor tie ashe addressed reporters at U.N. headquarters.
"I don't want to get involved in the fashion police ofdetermining exactly what people can wear, but the encouragementof business casual is where we are going," he said.
If the trial is a success, thermostats will be turned down5 degrees in winter. The year-round changes could save up to $1million annually, Adlerstein said.
Japanese diplomats will likely have an easy time making thetransition. In 2005, Japan launched a "Cool Biz" campaignencouraging people to dress down in summer to reduce airconditioning use and greenhouse gas emissions.
(Reporting by Megan Davies)
