The Development of Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Buildings: A Case Study in Vietnam

Abstract

This paper reports on collaborative activities to promote energy- and resource-efficient construction practices in Vietnam. First, the governance framework was introduced, including government decrees and technical standards. Then, a laboratory with building physics measurement technology was designed and partly set up at the local partner, the Vietnam Institute for Building Materials (VIBM). This can be used to determine the essential characteristic values required for the implementation of energy standards. The requirements of the national technical regulation on energy-efficient buildings of Vietnam—QCVN09:2017/BXD—form the basis for the prioritization of characteristic values. Furthermore, the description of basic characteristic values from international standards can also be used for calculations to optimize the energy consumption of buildings. To carry out transient hygrothermal computer simulations, special characteristic values are also included. These are particularly useful for the research and development of new building materials and the evaluation of entire buildings in terms of thermal and moisture protection. In this way, the practical means for implementing governance instruments are provided, and the associated technical applications are supported. Based on the example of Vietnam, this paper indicates how a developing country can develop a road map for improving its systems for testing, rating, and labeling building materials for energy performance towards sustainable development.