Reducing energy consumption through more efficient buildings, power plants and vehicles is still the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but projects are often hampered by unclear policies from governments, said speakers at a business forum on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference.

The reason for this situation is that investors do not pay attention to energy conservation methods and their advantages to the socio-economic development. According to the architect Nguyen Tan Van, the chairman of the Vietnam Architect Association, we are not clearly aware of “green architecture” benefits. Therefore, when building, investors do not take advantages of natural conditions and the ancestors’ experiences in the field of construction in tropical region. We need to create a friendlier architecture.

On the morning of November 25th, as part of the 2nd Exhibition of Energy efficiency product of and renewable energy in Ho Chi Minh city, Ho Chi Minh City Energy Efficiency Center, in collaboration with the project Promoting energy conservation in small and medium enterprises (PECSME), held the Conference reviewing the execution of the project Promoting energy conservationin small and medium enterprises in the 2006-2010 period, in Southern region.

The World Bank's lending for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects increased by 300 percent between fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2010, to a record $3.4 billion. But over that same period, lending to fossil fuel projects also jumped 430 percent.

While some members of Congress seem to think that spending federal dollars on local projects is a bad thing, hundreds of farmers and rural business owners are eagerly taking the opportunity to improve their operations through federal clean energy loans and grants totalling more than $30 million. The funds, administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will pay for 516 projects that install renewable energy equipment and improve energy efficiency at agricultural operations.

The Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (DOVECO) in Tam Diep Town, Ninh Binh Province was established in 1955 and operates under the Vietnam National Vegetable, Fruit and Agricultural Product Corporation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. With four modern production lines, the company is capable to make 25,000 tonnes of products each year. DOVECO is a leading provider of processed agricultural products in Vietnam. It is also the first company to bring Vietnamese fruit and vegetables to the world market.

The vast majority of the European Parliament has voted in favour of plans to release €146m of unused European Union (EU) funds to finance energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Today’s vote swing has given the go-ahead to amend legislation on the European Energy Recovery Plan (EERP) to channel unspent capital into a new fund.

In June 2009, funded by the National program on energy efficiency and conservation, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lam Dong selected Da Lat Garment Joint Stock Company as one of the two enterprises to implement energy audit. Through surveys and measurement, the advisory group has identified some opportunities to save energy and made some suggestions to help this business implement each step in the process of reducing energy cost.

According to the project of “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Small and Medium Enterprises” implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology under supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and assistance of the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the Dong Thap Province Center for Industry Promotion and Development Consultancy has carried out an energy audit program at the Ba Tang Ice Company (in Long Thanh Hamlet, Phu Thanh A Commune, Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province).

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the contests have attracted more than 100 buildings, 77 among which meet demands of organization board. Thirty three buildings of those have given domestic prizes and five won the prizes at ASEAN level. In the past, most of buildings were in the south. This year, many of buildings including schools and hospitals are located in the north.

VietnamPlus and Siemens signed a partnership agreement in Hanoi on Oct. 21 whereby VietnamPlus will be the media sponsor for Siemens Green Technology Journalism Award 2010. This award is created for the first time in ASEAN in order to acknowledge and reward journalists for excellent reporting on energy efficiency, industrial productivity and sustainability issues. It is open to print and online media from Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam.

Arizona is one of the four most improved states in terms of energy efficiency, according to a study released today by the American Council for an Energy – Efficient Economy. The state ranked 18th, up 11 spots from 2009, tying Utah for the most movement. Close behind were New Mexico and Alaska, which both leaped eight spots.

California has topped the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE)’s state energy efficiency ranking for a fourth year in a row. The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard ranks each region on its energy efficiency policies, programmes, transport policy, building performance codes, combined heat and power and appliance standards.

The city may enter a three-year contract aimed at saving the city an estimated $3 million on electric power acquisition and distribution over 12 years for $1.8 million over three years. The proposed agreement would be made with non-profit American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) to operate an energy efficiency program called Efficiency Smart Power Plant. Cuyahoga Falls has its own municipal electric system and purchases power through AMP.

Hanoi Rubber Joint Stock Company - HARCO (Cau Dien town, Tu Liem district) is an enterprise specialized in manufacturing fabric shoe products and exported floor pads. The technological line system of the company has been put into use for over 30 years, so the productivity as well as energy consumption is quite large.

Just like a regular medical checkup can help promote good health, a home energy checkup can help promote energy efficiency and reduce energy use. Reliant Energy customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex can sign up for a free home checkup to help make sure their homes are in good energy shape for winter and next summer.

Diamond Plaza, recognized as one of the most beautiful buildings in Vietnam, has twice been rewarded as "the ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations) Energy Efficient Building". The building always obeys strictest regulations in design, construction and operation to guarantee aesthetic effects and energy efficiency to meet demands of a "Green Building".

The world's largest consumer product maker announced Monday that it has set ambitious long-term targets for cutting the waste it produces and improving its energy efficiency. Procter & Gamble said it eventually will use only renewable energy to power its factories and only recycled or renewable materials to make and package its products.

On October 9th 2010, in Japan, the energy efficiency training course for Vietnamese staff (ECVN7) ended successfully, after 12 days of hard work, studying the theory and practicing to operate machines at Japanese facilities which well implemented energy efficiency.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the release of a new proposed energy efficiency standard for residential refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. The standard, as proposed, could save consumers as much as $18.6 billion over thirty years. The Obama Administration has made efficiency standards a major priority as a way to save energy and money for American families and businesses.