Real Estate

ING Tower transformed into the first green building in Korea receiving industry recognized certification

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May 11, 2009, ING Real Estate, Corporate Communication

Expected to reduce 350 tons of carbon emissions and increase energy savings by 35% annually. ING Tower will be the first existing (as opposed to newly built) building in Korea to receive certification from the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building (LEED-EB) standard, following the completion of physical renovations and improved operating practices earlier this year.

Brian Ahn, Head of ING Real Estate Investment Management (ING REIM) Korea, stated: “There is a growing trend of many American and European companies showing a preference for offices located in environmentally-friendly buildings despite higher costs, aiming to improve public profile and fulfil Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The renovation of ING Tower as the first building in Korea to receive LEED-EB certification will help ING REIM Korea assume a leading role in environmentally-friendly building management in the industry.”

Improvements to make ING Tower more efficient and environmentally friendly were begun last year, including renovations of the building façade, elevator systems, parking lots and rest rooms, along with upgrades of the building ventilation systems. Strengthened building operational regulations were implemented for environmentally-friendly maintenance of the building.

All materials used in building operations and maintenance have been changed to environmentally-friendly products, and improvements to building water facilities and automatic power/lighting controls have reduced water and energy usage. Upgrades to the building ventilation systems have improved indoor air quality, and real-time tracking of energy usage has allowed for precise management.

In the case of building elevators, rather than dividing operation on a even/odd or low/high floor basis, the new system groups passengers according to floor, increasing operational speed and efficiency while reducing waiting times by 15%.

As a result of the these renovations and operational changes, it is expected ING Tower will enjoy 20-35% in energy savings and up to 350 tons in reduced carbon output, which is the equivalent of 3,300 passenger cars making a round-trip journey from Seoul to Busan. Non-recyclable waste and natural gas usage are expected to fall by 73% and 60%, respectively.