UN holds a press conference to tell us about their plans to try turning up thermostats in August

7thSpace - PRESS CONFERENCE ON NEW UNITED NATIONS IN-HOUSE CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE

During a month-long trial period in August, the thermostats would be turned up from 72° F (22.2° C) to 77° F (25° C) in most parts of the Secretariat building and from 70° F (21.1° C) to 75° F (23.9° C) in the conference rooms, Mr. Adlerstein said...Mr. Adlerstein, the official in charge of the Organization’s massive renovations, said that, in launching the campaign, the Secretary-General had said: “We have succeeded in moving climate change to the top of the international agenda for action, and this means that the UN must take action itself. We must lead by example, and if we are to ask others to take action, we must do so as well.”

The initiative would save some 4.4 billion pounds of steam during the month of August, or the equivalent of 300 tons of carbon dioxide in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, he said. That equalled an approximate 10 per cent reduction in energy consumption. It would also produce cash savings estimated at $100,000. If successful, the test would be extended.

A few questions:

1. If scientists for decades have known that CO2 was incredibly dangerous, why didn't you do this decades ago?

2. Why are you doing this only on a trial basis? Will you hold another press conference to tell us the results of the trial?

3. Are you currently using any fossil fuel energy to power this building? If so, on what date will you go completely "off-grid" and use only "clean" energy such as wind and solar power?