9.26.2007 - 01:20pm ET

(CSRwire) HARTFORD, CT -September 26, 2007 – ING announced today the next phase of its worldwide sustainability commitment by agreeing to purchase clean, emission-free wind energy credits for its U.S. operations. The purchase is equal to 100 percent of its electricity usage at ING locations throughout the U.S. The global financial services company is seeking to become carbon-neutral by the end of 2007.

"ING is committed to conducting its business responsibly around the globe and Environmental protection is a fundamental part of this commitment," said Tom McInerney, ING Executive Board member, chairman and chief executive officer, ING Insurance Americas. "We make decisions about sustainability every day at ING, which is why we are part of a worldwide dialogue that addresses climate change and why we focus on developing strategies to mitigate ING’s impact on the environment."

With this commitment, ING joins the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership 100% Club. Marcus Peacock, EPA's deputy administrator, commented, "America is shifting to a 'green culture,' with more and more businesses understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. EPA commends ING for making a long-term commitment to protecting the environment by purchasing green power."

In January 2007, ING Group announced its intention to become carbon-neutral by the end of the year, through the reduction and/or compensation of all its global carbon emissions that result from energy usage and travel. As part of these efforts, the ING plan called for continuing efforts to increase energy efficiency, expanding the purchase of green energy, and offsetting all remaining CO2 emissions through reforestation projects.

ING already offsets all of its global business travel by supporting the planting and rehabilitation of 300 hectares of degraded tropical rainforest in Malaysia. For the fourth year in a row, the company has been listed as a 'best-in-class' company in the Carbon Disclosure Project's Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI). The CDLI comprises 68 of the FT (Financial Times) 500 companies that show distinction in their responses to the Carbon Disclosure Project survey based on their reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and assessment of a company's climate change strategy.

Building with the environment in mind

The company's most visible commitment to environmental responsibility in the U.S. is its new 500,000-square-foot office building under construction in Windsor, Connecticut. ING's design team worked with local energy distributor Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) to infuse the building's design with energy-efficient products and systems. For example, sensors turn off lights in unoccupied spaces, and dim lights on the building's perimeter to compensate for sunlight already flooding a particular area. The facility's rooftop air conditioning system is also highly efficient, as are control and air-handling units.

According to CL&P, the energy savings over the life of these measures will equal 1.87 million gallons of oil, or enough to provide 3,376 homes with electricity each year. Over the same time period these efforts will avoid generation of 31 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, among other environmental benefits. This new building will be the largest ING facility in the country.

ING will buy 70 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean wind energy from leading wind energy marketer and developer Community Energy, Inc. The initial two-year purchase will power major sites for its approximately 10,000 U.S.-based employees in Atlanta, Denver, Des Moines, Iowa, El Segundo, Calif., Hartford, Conn., Minneapolis, Minot, N.D., New York, Scottsdale, Ariz., St. Cloud, Minn., and West Chester, Penn., along with nearly 100 smaller regional offices throughout the United States. The estimated environmental benefit from this purchase alone is equal to offsetting more than 43,270 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the impact of which is equivalent to planting more than 38,981 acres of trees or removing over 9,057 cars from the road each year. ING's online banking unit, ING DIRECT, will join the effort to purchase renewable energy in January.

Brent Alderfer, president of Pennsylvania-based wind energy marketer and developer Community Energy, said, "ING, an industry leader in securing the financial future of its customers, now extends that leadership to a secure environmental future for everyone. We commend ING on its commitment to environmental integrity with its clean energy purchase and for setting the standard for corporate leadership on the environment."

Part of the purchase through Community Energy, Inc., includes participation in a Connecticut green power program through the local utility. The commitment of one million kilowatt hours of eligible CTCleanEnergyOptions* supply entitles ING to designate a free solar energy system to a local community.

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 120,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com.

About Community Energy:

Community Energy Inc. (CEI) is a marketer and developer of wind energy generation founded in 1999 and headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania. CEI is a wholly owned subsidiary of IBERDROLA – one of the largest owners and operators of renewable energy facilities in the world. CEI cites its utility partners and customers as the reason for its success in bringing wind energy to market in new regions of the country. CEI developed and jointly owns wind farms in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and has wind projects under development in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states. For more information, visit www.newwindenergy.com.

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