More efficient energy solutions in buildings

03/08/2013

With potential energy savings of about 10-40 percent depending on each energy management models, the HITC building in Hanoi is being assisted by the Energy Conservation Center Hanoi (ECC) with the provision of efficient energy management systems.

ECC Hanoi will provide more support programs for energy efficient buildings

Thanks to its energy efficiency solutions, the HITC building saved 20 percent of power consumption from air-conditioning system; 30 percent for its automatic escalator system and 16 percent via cooling water pumping system. The HITC building also applied measures such as installing an inverter for the pumping system, used energy-saving T5 lights; developed automatic escalator control systems; and maintained and dealt with issues to do with the air conditioning system. The building also drafted and implemented energy saving regulations and conducted an energy audit in order to find out the optimum energy efficiency solutions. With these solutions, the HITC building was awarded first prize for unique energy management by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) in 2010.

The success of HITC building showed that buildings could apply energy efficiency solutions, especially in the current circumstances where the potential for energy efficiency in this area is great. According to statistics from a conference on raising awareness and improving skills in energy efficiency recently held by ECC Hanoi, until 2012, energy consumption in Vietnam’s construction sector accounted for about 30 percent of total usage. Apartment buildings and public buildings (shopping centers and supermarkets), mainly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were among the most energy hungry constructions, accounting for about 10 percent of total power consumption in the country. The most inefficient equipment included air-conditioners (accounting for 75 percent ), lighting (about 10 percent) and elevators (about five percent).

With such large energy consumption, the potential of energy efficiency in Vietnam’s construction sector is huge , both in terms of new buildings (about 30-40 percent) and in in-use or renovated buildings (about 15-25 percent).

Therefore, to take advantage of this major potentials and at the same time respond to the national target program on energy saving and efficiency and Hanoi’s energy saving and efficiency program, ECC Hanoi recently carried out a range of support programs for buildings in the city such as popularizing and raising awareness on energy efficiency, and conducting energy audit and consultancy on energy management. According to Hoang Minh Lam, the Deputy Director of ECC Hanoi, in 2013 the center will continue to promote the adoption of energy management systems for local buildings and commercial centers to help them access solutions for improving energy efficiency and gradually replace backward equipment.

Head of Vietnam Certification Center Quacert, a subsidiary of the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quantity under Ministry of Sciences and Technology) Pham Quoc Binh added that the application of energy management systems, especially the ISO 50001 would help enterprises develop an energy saving and efficiency culture, offer initiatives to improve energy efficiency, help them reduce energy costs by adopting simple energy efficiency solutions and turn energy efficiency into a regular activity for business, which would help improve their image./

By Lê My

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