A street in Hanoi lined with trees. (Source: Internet)Hanoi – Authorities have been exerting more efforts and implementing various solutions, especially in energy efficiency, to turn the capital city of Hanoi into a greener city.
Hanoi has been implementing a programme on using energy-efficiency products from 2011-2015, helping cut 10 percent of energy usage in establishments that used a huge amount of energy.
The programme has had 258 solutions to energy conservation, 102 of which have been applied to buildings, saving 3,767 tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) or equal to 75.69 billion VND (3,360 USD).
The city also required buildings to meet the Vietnam Building Criteria on constructions using energy effectively and efficiently.
Managerial models have been built for some buildings that used a lot of energy such as HITC, Sheraton Hotel, Ocean Park, Agribank, Big C Thang Long and Savico Megamall.
The city has also implemented measures to save energy in transportation by building belt roads and increasing the capability of mass transportation.
Enterprises have been encouraged to use new technologies and use renewable energy.
According to Dr. Dao Hong Thai, an expert on the environment, Hanoi needs to develop a contingent of energy managerial human resources in establishments that consume a vast amount of energy in order to improve the energy efficiency.
Constructions must meet criteria on energy efficiency and transport infrastructure and public services in urban areas need to be planned properly to take full advantage of surroundings such as sun, wind directions, or greenery, among solutions, said Thai.-VNA
