The draft version of the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation has dedicated a chapter to describe the responsibility of industrial production facilities in economical and efficient use of energy. This indicates the essential role of the industrial sector in Vietnam efforts to achieve the national target on energy efficiency and conservation.

In the framework of the second International Exhibition on Energy Efficiency and Environment (Entech Hanoi 2010), the Hanoi Industry and Trade Department and the Hanoi Energy Conservation Center recently organized a seminar to discuss solutions for energy efficiency in buildings.

During the construction of Vung Tau Post Hotel, the installation of solar-powered water boilers and lighting system was not taken into account. And now after realizing the importance of such devices, it’s already a “fait accompli”. All rooms were designed in architecturally older ideas, hence very difficult to make changes. For the terrace, it is also impossible to install both solar-powered water boilers system and solar-powered lighting system. Without any additional source of power, the company is now paying as much as VND200 million every month for electric bills.

Quang invested about 30 million dong to build a 20m3 biogas pit and a 5kW generator running on biogas. After 3 years, the system has well satisfied electricity demand of his family such as: three 1-Hp motors, a refrigerator, a washing-machine, a 1-Hp air-conditioner. Hence, his family saves about 1 million VND on electricity each month.

Various bodies in construction have set up energy saving systems in buildings under the Research and Cooperation Program in accordance with protocols with other countries, for instance, cooperation with Bulgaria and Russia in saving energy in buildings; cooperation with Germany in saving energy in construction and reducing consequences of climate change.

A meeting was held in Hanoi Monday for Vietnamese enterprises and firms from Maryland State, US, to seek trade partnership. The meeting, hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offered an opportunity for local firms to learn about the US technologies and latest applications in the environmental area.

Huynh Kim Tuoc, the director of the Ho Chi Minh City Energy Conservation Center, said, "Industries in Vietnam still consume exorbitant amounts of energy due to inefficiency." Statistics show that the energy efficiency at thermoelectric plants in Vietnam is about 28-32 percent while in developed countries this number is about 40 percent.

Quang Nam is a coastal province, located in the key economic area of the Central, with the natural area of 10,408 km2, 18 district-level administrative units and the population of 1.5 million people. After more than 10 years of re-establishment, the local economy has changed a lot with many outstanding achievements.

There are two large industrial factories in the Nam Dong Ha Industrial Zone. These are Geruco Quang Tri MDF Wood Factory and the Hoa Tho – Dong Ha Garment Company. Geruco Quang Tri pays VND1.2-1.5 billion for power monthly consuming one-third of power supply in the city of Dong Ha. With that in mind, the company’s leaders are very concerned about energy efficiency.

With the success of those two projects, we have designed and manufactured the modular exhaust-heat-utilizing boiler with design pressure of 10kG/m2, working pressure of 6kG/m2, heat transfer surface area of the boiler 13,2 m2, the area of water heater 6,33 m2. All the designs have been registered at Vietnam Register.

Featuring tropical monsoon climate, a high density of rivers and streams that are proportionally dispersed and comparatively sloping terrains Vietnam has great potential for the development of small and medium-range hydropower plants. Effective exploitation of this latent potential will not only create people extra income and meet the demand for energy in particular areas but also relieve the state energy deficiency.

Designed with small capacity of 3-8kg per hour, the incinerator is suitable for small and medium businesses, hospitals or medical centers. It uses LPG gas (or DO oil) at the rate of 2,5kg of LPG per hour, uses 220V – 50Hz – single phase electric power.

In Hanoi alone, the survey results in 10 big businesses active in major economic sectors such as textile-garment, leather and footwear, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics etc. showed that these businesses could save 3.2 million kWh, or VND40 billion, each year if they took energy efficient measures.

According to Nguyen Trong Thu, the secretary general of the Bat Trang Ceramics Association, there used to be about 700 traditional coal kilns that were in continuous operation, which caused serious environment pollution.

the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade headquarters, the department director Luu Tien Long, said the movement would become effective in 10 inner districts. 100,000 families will get involved and compete for the awards ‘Energy efficient families’ and ‘Exemplary energy efficient families’. The organizers expect the movement to be warmly welcomed by the community. Accordingly, the city leaders hope at least 300,000 Hanoi families will receive recognition by 2010.

In response to the government’s policy and the national program for energy efficiency, the An Giang Province Department of Industry and Trade together with the Philips Vietnam Company sent a team to rural areas in the province to launch the “The Path for the Goal of Power Saving” program for impoverished residents in the area.

Surveys from 10 businesses, which operate in major industries like textile/garment, leather and footwear, mechanical engineering, energy and electronics, show that 3.2 million kWh of power (roughly VND40 billion) will be saved each year if energy efficiency and conservation solutions are utilized.