Green One UN House in Viet Nam Awarded by the World Green Building Council

Receiving the award on behalf of the United Nations, Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam said, "The sustainability of our societies around the world has always been and remains the central mission of the United Nations. This has been very clear from our founding over 70 years ago. It is stated in the UN charter and most recently in the Agenda 2030 which embodies the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. By presenting the UN in Viet Nam with this award today, you recognize the unique role that the United Nations can and must also play in championing the leadership in Green Building design around the world."

One of the Jurors of this Award, Joelle Chen, Regional Head of WorldGBC's Asia Pacific Network said, "Our Green Building Councils in the Asia Pacific Regional Network work with some of the most pioneering companies and innovators on green building. The Green One UN House serves as a model for sustainable construction in Viet Nam and demonstrates how innovative design and sustainable management practices for existing buildings can lay the foundations for meeting many of the Sustainable Development Goals."

The GOUNH was inaugurated in May 2015 by the then UN Secretary-General, H.E. Ban Ki-moon and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, H.E. Pham Binh Minh. Most resident UN agencies had decided to move into one building then as part of the UN's Delivering as One Initiative. The UN in Viet Nam was amongst the very first pioneers globally to realize a One UN House. The new building was designed based on its goal to combat environmental challenges Viet Nam is faced with and reduce the UN's carbon footprint as the implementer of the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, UN staff have been applying green behaviour by reducing printing, replacing plastic products and using public transportation.

The building achieved almost a third of its energy reduction through measures including solar water heating and smart environmental controls and is returning small percentage of site-generated and collected water to the city at a quality which exceeds the required standard. The building is also powered by solar energy collected through solar panels.

It took only two years for GOUNH to be recognized as a leader of green buildings nationwide when it received the Platinum LOTUS Certification in May 2017 which is the highest level of acknowledgement for non-residential green buildings in the Viet Nam by Viet Nam Green Building Council. With recognition from WorldGBC Asia Pacific, GOUNH is leading the way as a climate neutral building across the Asia-Pacific region.

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Note to editors

The World Green Building Council's Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards are biennial awards, which were first held in 2014. They showcase and celebrate the achievements of companies pushing the envelope on sustainable buildings in the region.

Green building projects and companies were nominated by the 15 Green Building Councils which make up the WorldGBC's Asia Pacific Regional Network.

The 2018 winners are:

• Naandi, India - Leadership in Sustainable Design & Performance Award – Residential category; with Special Recognition, Advancing Net Zero;
• Barangaroo South, Australia - Leadership in Sustainable Design & Performance Award – Commercial category;
• Aorangi House, New Zealand - Leadership in Sustainable Design & Performance Award – Commercial category;
• Green One United Nations House, Viet Nam - Leadership in Sustainable Design & Performance Award – Institutional category;
• Swire Properties Limited, Hong Kong - Business Leadership in Sustainability Award; with Special Recognition, Better Places for People;
• Mary Chan, DLN Architects Limited, Hong Kong - Women in Green Building Leadership Award.

The Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award is presented to pioneering green building projects that set new benchmarks for sustainability. There are three sub-category winners for residential, commercial and institutional buildings.

The Business Leadership in Sustainability Award rewards companies that push boundaries, integrate sustainability into their business models and make an outstanding contribution to a sustainable built environment.

The Women in Green Building Leadership Award is a new award for 2018 presented to an inspiring female leader in the green building movement. In a traditionally male-dominated industry, WorldGBC wants to recognise the pivotal role that women play in nurturing and activating their communities and delivering change.

This year, to reflect the growing momentum of the World Green Building Council's global projects Advancing Net Zero and Better Places for People, the awards included recognitions for businesses and projects that have gone above and beyond. The Advancing Net Zero Special Recognition highlights projects that have demonstrated an ambitious and holistic solution to achieving net zero operational carbon emissions; and the Better Places for People Special Recognition spotlights companies that have truly embraced health and wellbeing practices.

Green building projects and companies were nominated by the 15 Green Building Councils which make up the WorldGBC's Asia Pacific Regional Network.

For more information about WorldGBC, visit http://www.worldgbc.org/asia-pacific-regional-network-awards 

For more information about GOUNH, visit http://www.un.org.vn/en/the-one-un-initiative-in-viet-nam-mainmenu-265/…

Some Key Green Features of GOUNH:

• 28.8% of Energy use reduction
• 42% reduction of water use through fixtures
• 94% of existing structure reused
• 35% of total roof is green
• 77% of the roof and paved area limit heat island effects
• 408 solar panels generate at least an average of 110,000 kWh/year

Use of an intelligent and centralized software system to control the building's electrical, thermal comfort and mechanical equipment