The international exhibition on power saving products and green energies, Enertec Expo 2012, got underway on August 15 at the Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

Ho Chi Minh City plans to invest around VND1.4 trillion (US$70 million) in bio-technology during the period 2010-2015, with 89 percent of the amount or VND1.2 trillion coming from state budget.

Engineer Nguyen Dinh Minh Toan, Saigon Electronics and Industrial Services JSC (Ho Chi Minh City) and his colleagues have successfully studied the application of solar energy in aquaculture to help farmers reduce costs, save monthly energy and fuel and protect the environment.

With strong propagation, awareness of people and power users has improved considerably; in the last 3 months, Ho Chi Minh City has saved 6.9 million kWh of electricity, 30% higher than same period of 2010. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ly, Deputy General Director of HCM City Power Corporation, amid difficulties in the current power supply, promoting energy saving is one of the most positive solutions.

According to Director of Institute of Atomic Energy, Mr. Vuong Huu Tan, currently, the location of the center is located in the research and proposal. All the work is at the starting point. For the 3 locations of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat, in most meetings and conferences, scientists proposed to build the center near Hanoi. According to scientists, this location will satify all conditions, especially to take full advantage of human resources available in Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute.

The Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) said that in the past five years, they launched many campaigns to promote efficient use of electricity. As a result, the families of all EVN HCMC staff members have been committed to saving 10 percent of power consumption at home. In response to the appeal of the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Union, 100,000 households have been committed to saving power.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology’s Building (estimated to have eight floors and two basements) has been approved by City People's Committee to be built in accordance with the green building model of Lotus standards to become a model for the city.

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.

"Ho Chi Minh City currently has partnerships with many localities of the Russian Federation; many cooperative programs and projects between the two sides have been deployed in both Vietnam and Russia. The city always needs the support and cooperation from Russia and Russian localities, especially in the areas in which Russia is one of the leading countries such as science, technology, energy, oil and gas ..." - Mr. Le Minh Tri stressed and expressed the hope that cooperation between the two sides would become increasingly practical and efficient.

The Metropolitan building (235 Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), with the main function of an office for rent, was built in May 1996. Since 2004, seeing the importance of saving electricity in terms of economy as well as environment, the Directorate of the building has invested in renovating energy using equipment to save costs and meet development demand. With investment solutions, the annual power consumption of the building has been reduced by about 11.9%.

Along with urban growth, the demand for use of energy in urban areas has increased rapidly, especially in big cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang. In such circumstances, using solar energy is considered to be a solution that will help reduce energy consumption in urban areas and prevent climate change. This solution was discussed at a workshop themed 'Climate change and sustainable urban development in Vietnam' that was held recently in Hanoi.

Almost 800 businesses from 22 countries and territories from around the world will take part in the International Exhibition of Construction, Building Materials, Housing and Interior Décor (Vietbuild) being held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 16-20.

On 15 September, the International Exhibition on Electrical, Buildings & Urban Infrastructure, Installation & Automation opened at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, with the participation of 250 companies from 30 countries and territories.

On 25/08/2010, Ho Chi Minh City Energy Conversation Center, in coordination with Ben Tre Women's Union, organized training on energy efficiency for over 400 participants who are members of Women's Union in the locality. This is one of the activities of the project "Raising awareness on cleaner production, energy efficiency and conservation for the public", chaired by Ben Tre Department of Science and Technology.

A campaign for energy efficiency has been started in Ho Chi Minh City with the target of saving 10% of energy expenses for each household. The duration for the program is from June 1st to the end of November.

Two co-authors Nguyen Trong Kien and Nguyen Van Hoang of Nguyen Hoang Tuy Company (Ho Chi Minh City) have successfully implemented a system for remote control and supervision of public lighting, detection of electrical leak system via SMS. Accordingly, in addition to remote controlling lighting of public lamps, the system is also capable of detecting current leakage status and reporting to the management department for prompt react.

The energy conservation exposition 2010 (ENCON EXPO 2010) featuring energy-efficient products and renewable energy will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from November 25-28.

Next week, Kim Dinh Green Energy JSC (Ho chi Minh City) will start installing 50 solar energy lamp posts on the road from Dinh Bo Linh – Thai Sanh Hanh T-junction to Dinh Bo Linh – Highway 50 junction, which has an approximate length of 1 km. Kim Dinh Corporation partially sponsor the installation cost.

The Tien Dat Mui Ne Resort in Binh Thuan Province, 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, is a wonderful place with the blue sea, white sand dunes and green coconuts. The resort recently received a second prize for being a tropical building from the contest “2010 Energy Efficient Building”, an event held annually by the ASEAN Center of Energy (ACE).

Electricity consumption was reduced by 7 to 10% compared to 2008; in the first 3 months of 2010, 5% of electricity consumption was cut down, compared with the same period in 2009. Those are the first benefits that energy efficiency methods have brought to the Landmark building in Ho Chi Minh City.