Hanoi, May 6, 2014 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction (MOC) launched a technical assistance and training program under USAID’s Vietnam Clean Energy Program to promote energy efficiency in the building sector.  The long-term objective of the program is to support Vietnam’s sustainable growth by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the more efficient usage of electricity in the building sector.

“Vietnam’s aspirations for green growth depend on more efficient uses of electricity, which lower costs for consumers, facilitate innovation, and lessen Vietnam’s need for  fossil fuel-burning electricity production,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director Joakim Parker.

This program will provide technical assistance and training to officials and other stakeholders in the building sector. This technical assistance will enhance their capacity to manage, analyze and use building energy data, establish a database on building energy efficiency, and implement the Vietnam Building Energy Efficiency Code (VBEEC), which is in line with Vietnam’s Green Growth Action Plan for the building sector.  The program will also promote the VBEEC and green building technologies through examining market incentives and energy demand management practices.

USAID assistance will be coordinated with MOC and provincial departments of construction in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, as well as with universities and institutions, and building developers.

The launch event was led by Vice Minister Phan Thi My Linh of MOC and Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Jason Foley of USAID, who is visiting Vietnam. The event included representatives from various ministries, central and provincial government agencies, professional associations, the private sector and media agencies. 

Representatives from the private sector joined a panel discussion on how to promote energy efficient technologies and possible market incentives for energy efficiency and green buildings.  The representatives provided recommendations on access to financing for building construction that meets energy saving standards.

Click here for photos of the event.