Buildings Become More Energy Efficient in HCMC

Economic development has led to a rapid increase in the number of commercial buildings and the demand for energy. For this reason, energy efficiency is a growing concern in Vietnam.

Statistics provided by the Ministry of Industry and Trade show that energy consumption increased an average of 11.6 percent annually. Of this, crude oil accounted for about 52 percent, coal 27 percent and electricity 17 percent. High-rise buildings such as office buildings, hotels and apartment blocks are major consumers of commercial energy in Vietnam. The trade and service sector consumed 10 percent of the country’s total energy. It is predicted that in the next 10 years the sector will need 3.6 times more energy than it currently uses.

Huynh Kim Tuoc, the director of the Energy Conservation Center of Ho Chi Minh City, said that buildings in the city can save up to 10-40 percent of the energy they use and that new, big buildings can save 12 percent more energy than older buildings. The Majestic Hotel has been equipped with a solar energy system, an air conditioning system and heat-resistant glass windows. In the future, it will be possible to save 20 percent of the power it currently consumes. However, investment costs will increase 30-40 percent. At this time, Ho Chi Minh City builds about 3.5 million sq.m of new office space annually, while the rest of the country constructs 9 million sq.m. This has led to an increase in demand for power.

Several studies indicate that a building uses more power than a factory. There are air conditioners, light systems, office equipment, elevators and other equipment such as water pumps and ventilators in buildings. Of these, air conditioners consume 40-60 percent of the consumed energy; the light system uses 15-20 percent; office equipment takes 10-15 percent and other equipment uses the remaining energy. Ho Chi Minh City spends VND13 trillion on energy annually. For this reason, there is a dire need to use energy effectively in order to reduce costs, increase profits and become environmentally friendly.

Tuoc said that energy conservation at buildings helps reduce business costs, meets the government’s goal, ensures energy security, allows for sustainable development and protects the environment. With that in mind, for years now the ECC has been organizing an annual contest, “Energy Efficient Building” which develops models for energy efficient buildings. Apart from the contest “ASEAN Energy Efficient Building,” the ECC has launched courses on energy efficiency and provided advice, training and energy audits. Tuoc said that it is also important to utilize natural light/air in buildings and switch off electronic appliances when they are not in use.

The offices of Unilever and Sacombank in Ho Chi Minh City utilize energy efficiently. The Majestic Hotel is the only building in the city and in Vietnam that recognizes the Earth Hour once a month.

In recent years there has been a growing trend of Lotus buildings, green buildings and green architectural projects with a lotus motif, which marks them as being energy efficient. In addition, a Green Project Council has been set up in Vietnam to promote the construction of Lotus projects and environmentally friendly projects. This marks a sharp improvement in businesses’ awareness of the need to join efforts to save energy, cope with climate change and ensure energy security in the future./.

Tags: Vietnam electricity, Vietnam energy, Vietnam power shortage