Workshop “Sharing experience of Japan and Europe in determining Energy Standards for NET ZERO Projects”

Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Construction, on September 18^th, 2024, in Hanoi, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering and the Energy Conservation Center of Japan (ECCJ) jointly organized the workshop "Sharing Experience of Japan and Europe in Determining Energy Standards for NET ZERO Projects" in online and offline forms, with the participation of many managers, experts, researchers from domestic and international scientific organizations, and business leaders.

The workshop aimed to review and share techniques for implementing the content of the "Action Plan of the Construction Industry in respond to Climate Change for the period 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050 to implement Vietnam's commitments at the COP26 Conference", while creating conditions for delegates to exchange knowledge and practical experience in developing Energy Balanced Projects, Carbon Neutral Projects (collectively referred to as NET ZERO Projects), helping to enhance capacity and develop the green practice community in the Architecture - Construction industry of Vietnam.

Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment Vu Ngoc Anh spoke at the workshop.

Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment of the Ministry of Construction Vu Ngoc Anh said that after the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), Vietnam established a National Steering Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, including 19 representatives from ministries and sectors, to implement Vietnam's commitments at this Conference. The ministries and sectors have developed many strategies, projects and action programs/plans, such as the National Strategy on Climate Change for the period up to 2050, the Action Plan for Methane Emission Reduction up to 2030, and other action plans in the fields of energy, transportation, construction, diplomacy, science and technology.

On May 12^th, 2022, the Ministry issued Decision No. 385/QD-BXD on "Approving the Action Plan of the Construction Industry in respond to Climate Change for the 2022-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, to implement Vietnam's commitments at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This plan targets three priority subjects: Planning, Urban Development and Urban Technical Infrastructure; Exploitation and Production of Building Materials; Building construction and management; aim to improve the State management capacity on climate change and the ability of the Construction Industry in respond to the impacts of climate change, use resources and energy efficiently, develop the sustainable Construction Industry, contributing to achieving Vietnam's commitment at COP26 on net zero emissions by 2050.

Vice Headmaster of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang spoke at the conference.

The construction industry has developed energy benchmarking programs to establish standard data to measure and compare energy efficiency between buildings. However, Vietnam hasn’t developed energy benchmarks for civil buildings, so there is no energy benchmark for Net Zero buildings.

Through this workshop, the Organizing Committee hopes to listen to practical experience from experts from Japan, the Energy Conservation Center of Japan (ECCJ) and the United Kingdom, on determining energy standards for various types of buildings, especially green buildings and energy-saving buildings towards NET ZERO. Therefor, experts and managers can discuss and apply them to the development of policies in real conditions in Vietnam.

At the beginning of the presentation, Dr. Yoshitaka Ushio - Senior Advisor, Energy Conservation Center of Japan (ECCJ) introduced specific and detailed methods and techniques on "Determination of norms for energy-balanced buildings in Japan". According to Mr. Ushio, developing energy norms for each type of building and for different climate zones are necessary.

 Overview of workshop

During the discussion session, delegates attending the workshop in person in Hanoi or via online form discussed issues of green building development, NET ZERO projects, microclimate standards (thermal comfort), experience of Japan and Europe for research on SEC (specific energy consumption) issuance orientation and energy standards for civil houses in Vietnam. The exchange and discussion focused on clarifying issues related to determining energy standards for NET ZERO projects.

 Delegates took a photo at the workshop.

At the end of the workshop, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, Vice headmaster of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang thanked the experts and delegates for attending and sharing many valuable opinions at the workshop. He also said that the opinions will be complied as useful reference documents to help state management agencies at all levels in completing the legal basis according to the roadmap for net zero emissions by 2050 set by the Construction industry.