Cement packs of Ha Tien 1 Cement Company are loaded onto a truck. Energy-saving and environmentally-friendly construction materials have been encouraged as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. — VNA/VNS Photo Van Khanh

HA NOI  (Biz Hub) — The building sector should pay attention to promoting energy efficiency, from the design of buildings through the construction process, experts said at a seminar held in Ha Noi late last week.

They also said it is advisable to use energy-saving and environmentally-friendly construction materials to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Head of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Construction, Nguyen Trung Hoa, highlighted the Viet Nam Clean Energy Programme as part of the national low gas emission development strategy to reduce power consumption.

The programme, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will be piloted in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, HCM City and Can Tho, where there is a high rate of urbanisation, he said.

Experts spoke of convenience, design, durability, and aesthetics as four compulsory criteria for any proposed building. However, Viet Nam is lacking professional technicians and cannot easily access capital sources for technology innovation. Meanwhile, the prices for modern equipment are too expensive and users have yet to become concerned about saving energy.

The project, therefore, will pay attention to improving the competence of staff and exploring how buildings will use energy, said consultant Joseph Deringer.

This will help put forth energy-saving measures, while software systems will also be developed to monitor power usage in Viet Nam, he added. — VNS