Society

Construction ministry unveils energy-saving plan

The Ministry of Construction has issued a draft circular to provide guidance on management, saving and efficient use of energy in buildings.
The Ministry of Construction has issued a draft circular to provideguidance on management, saving and efficient use of energy in buildings.

Thedraft is expected to be an important step forward in improvingstandards and reducing energy consumption for public and privatebuildings, such as offices, hotels, hospitals, schools with more than2,500 square metres of total floor space.

The number of buildingssuch as houses, shopping centres and hotels has increased rapidly inrecent years. In these buildings, poor energy efficiency measures haveled to huge energy waste.

"The building sector is one of thelarge energy users, accounting for 25 percent of total national energyconsumption. Therefore, applying energy efficiency solutions forbuildings is so important," Nguyen Trung Hoa, head of the Ministry'sDepartment of Science, Technology and Environment, told Xay Dung(Construction) newspaper.

To encourage buildings to save energy,the ministry will grant the Building Energy Efficiency Certificates tobuildings that successfully meet QCVN 09:2013/BXD standards.

Thecompulsory technical requirements will be applied to buildingcomponents such as building envelopes, lighting, ventilation systems andair conditioning, lift and escalator, and heating.

The potential of energy efficiency in constructions including both old and new buildings is very high, experts said.

"Applicationof energy efficient technologies and materials, architectural designscan save around 30-40 percent of energy consumption for new buildings,"said Tran Dinh Thai, from the construction ministry.

"Forrenovated buildings, if energy audits and energy saving solutions areapplied, about 15-25 percent of energy consumption will be saved," headded.

However, the amount of energy consumption in buildingsremains high because Vietnam still lacks detailed regulations andexperts that can promote energy efficiency and conservation, said NguyenCong Thinh from the department.

"The consultant units which havecapacity in building energy efficiency are still few in number. Themost advanced design technology is energy use simulation software forbuildings which have are not yet," said Tran Thanh Vu, Energy EfficiencyConsulting experts at the World Bank Group's International FinanceCorporation (IFC).

The Ministry of Construction will alsoprovide training courses for energy managers and energy auditors toimprove the knowledge of energy conservation. In the future, this workshould be strongly promoted to meet the needs of human resources of theunits engaged in energy efficiency.-VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

See more

Mineral resource discovery activities in the northwest region. (Photo: vietnamplus.vn)

40 gold mines discovered in northwest region

There are 40 gold mines with a total identified resource of 29.8 tonnes, and five copper mines with a total identified resource of over 13,000 tonnes in the northwest region.

Three staff members of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention set off to join rescue efforts in Myanmar. (Photo: tienphong.vn)

Vietnam sends more personnel to rescue operations in Myanmar

This marks the first time that the staff members from the department have participated in the ASEAN-ERAT, demonstrating the spirit of “One ASEAN, One Response: ASEAN responding to disasters as one in the region” as affirmed in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc at the working session with representatives from 21 US higher education institutions in Hanoi on March 31. (Photo: Ministry of Education and Training)

Vietnam, US strengthen higher education cooperation

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc highlighted the growing educational partnership between the two nations, with 30,000 out of 200,000 Vietnamese citizens studying abroad being in the US. In the 2022-2023 academic year, Vietnamese students ranked fifth globally in terms of numbers of international students in the US, rising by 5.7%.

The Vietnamese rescue forces have worked tirelessly to locate survivors. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam delivers 3 tonnes of aid supplies to Myanmar earthquake victims

The aid package includes antibiotics, digestive medications, cold and flu remedies, and basic healthcare equipment like blood pressure monitors, blood glucose metres, bandages, and disinfectants. The supplies also feature mosquito spray pumps and insecticides to prevent disease outbreaks in affected areas.

Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho plans to eliminate run-down houses before reunification anniversary

According to Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, work has started on all 531 houses designated for renovation or reconstruction, benefiting poor households, near-poor families, and people with meritorious service to the nation, with 141 homes already completed and handed over to beneficiaries.

The day for honouring the Vietnamese language in overseas Vietnamese communities is launched on March 29. (Photo: VNA)

Preserving Vietnamese language: Inspiring future generations worldwide

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, highlighted that with over 6 million Vietnamese people living across 130 countries and territories, the Vietnamese language remains a vital bridge connecting them to the homeland and cultural heritage.

Vu Manh Hung, Chairman of Hung Nhon Group, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony on March 29. (Photo: VNA)

Tay Ninh accelerates efforts to eliminate substandard houses for border communities

As part of this programme, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 22 new homes for impoverished families in Tay Ninh’s border region took place on March 29. It is spearheaded by the Fund for the Poor of Tan Chau district, in collaboration with Hung Nhon Group, De Heus Group of Netherlands, and Tay Ninh’s National Assembly delegation.

A gathering of the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Association in RoK urged to strengthen unity

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho suggested the General Association of Vietnamese People enhance cooperation with organisations and businesses, promote dissemination of the Vietnam Village project in the RoK, and continue hosting annual Vietnamese language classes for children from multicultural families.

The Zalo page of the Ministry of Public Security (Photo: screenshot)

Ministry of Public Security launches Zalo page

Together with the ministry’s website and its Facebook page, the Zalo page is an official information channel of the public security force on the cyber environment, with the function of informing and popularising the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and the MPS's regulations on ensuring security, order, and building the people's public security force.

Children are excited about the new Vietnamese bookcase in Osaka. (Photo: VNA)

Painting contest launched for Vietnamese children in Japan

Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha emphasised that the 100,000-strong Vietnamese community in the Kansai region is continuously striving to maintain and promote the Vietnamese language through cultural activities that enhance awareness of national identity among the youth.