Developing more green buildings and promoting green standards forconstruction works is a necessary and urgent step to save energy andnatural resources in the country, the chair of the board of the VietnamGreen Building Council has said.
Speaking at a seminarentitled "Green Building Development in Vietnam ", Professor NguyenHuu Dung, who is also an architect, said that the construction industryis the most developed, but the most polluted industry. It consumes 70percent of natural materials, 40 percent of national energy, 30 percentof fresh water and exhausts 30 percent of gas, causing the greenhouseeffects, climate change and higher sea levels.
"The industry must make changes to ensure sustainable development," he said.
According to the Asia-Pacific Green Building Network, Vietnam has had a limited number of green construction projects.
Greenbuilding creates structures and uses processes that are environmentallyresponsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle,including stages of design, construction, operation, maintenance,renovation and deconstruction.
"The development of greenbuilding in Ho Chi Minh City is like a bus without ignition to startthe engine, which needs many people to push it," architect TranKhanhTrung, President of the city’s Green Architect Club, said.
"People"here includes government; organisations, associations; consultants,designers, and project management; construction contractors; suppliers;developers; universities; and media and users.
"TheGovernment has released its Vietnam Green Growth Strategy in 2012 alongwith national technical building regulations for energy-efficientbuildings. Lotus green building rating tools have also been issued,"Trung added.
He also noted that many design consultantshave started providing green building consultancy, and severalcontractors have gained green construction experience. In addition, moredevelopers have begun selecting green solutions for their projects.
"Butas of September, HCM City has had only two buildings certifiedwith the Green Mark and one building awarded with a LEED Certificatefrom the US Green Building Council. No project has received a Lotusrating," Trung said.
In order to create a green buildingmarket in the city, he stated that building public awareness aboutenvironmental protection is very important.
"We should help people understand the value of green buildings, and increase demand for them, and create a market," he said.
"Localgovernment should be strict with the public in enforcing environmentalprotection laws, and also with investors and projects that commitviolations. It should also provide more incentives for green projectsand products," he said.
Associate Professor Do Tu Lan said:"Vietnam should complete its own standards for green citydevelopment, which should be flexible and reasonable for differentcities and regions."
Currently, the United Nations HumanSettlement Programme (HABITAT) is supporting several towns and cities inthe country, like Hoi An, to help them target green growth.
Inaddition, German experts from the German Federal Enterprises forInternational Cooperation (GIZ) are working with the Ministry ofConstruction and medium-sized cities to help them adapt to climatechange, limit natural calamities and prevent flooding.-VNA
Speaking at a seminarentitled "Green Building Development in Vietnam ", Professor NguyenHuu Dung, who is also an architect, said that the construction industryis the most developed, but the most polluted industry. It consumes 70percent of natural materials, 40 percent of national energy, 30 percentof fresh water and exhausts 30 percent of gas, causing the greenhouseeffects, climate change and higher sea levels.
"The industry must make changes to ensure sustainable development," he said.
According to the Asia-Pacific Green Building Network, Vietnam has had a limited number of green construction projects.
Greenbuilding creates structures and uses processes that are environmentallyresponsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle,including stages of design, construction, operation, maintenance,renovation and deconstruction.
"The development of greenbuilding in Ho Chi Minh City is like a bus without ignition to startthe engine, which needs many people to push it," architect TranKhanhTrung, President of the city’s Green Architect Club, said.
"People"here includes government; organisations, associations; consultants,designers, and project management; construction contractors; suppliers;developers; universities; and media and users.
"TheGovernment has released its Vietnam Green Growth Strategy in 2012 alongwith national technical building regulations for energy-efficientbuildings. Lotus green building rating tools have also been issued,"Trung added.
He also noted that many design consultantshave started providing green building consultancy, and severalcontractors have gained green construction experience. In addition, moredevelopers have begun selecting green solutions for their projects.
"Butas of September, HCM City has had only two buildings certifiedwith the Green Mark and one building awarded with a LEED Certificatefrom the US Green Building Council. No project has received a Lotusrating," Trung said.
In order to create a green buildingmarket in the city, he stated that building public awareness aboutenvironmental protection is very important.
"We should help people understand the value of green buildings, and increase demand for them, and create a market," he said.
"Localgovernment should be strict with the public in enforcing environmentalprotection laws, and also with investors and projects that commitviolations. It should also provide more incentives for green projectsand products," he said.
Associate Professor Do Tu Lan said:"Vietnam should complete its own standards for green citydevelopment, which should be flexible and reasonable for differentcities and regions."
Currently, the United Nations HumanSettlement Programme (HABITAT) is supporting several towns and cities inthe country, like Hoi An, to help them target green growth.
Inaddition, German experts from the German Federal Enterprises forInternational Cooperation (GIZ) are working with the Ministry ofConstruction and medium-sized cities to help them adapt to climatechange, limit natural calamities and prevent flooding.-VNA
