On October 17th, 2025, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association of Civil Engineering Environment (VACEE) in collaboration with the Vietnam Green Building Program and the EDGE Green Building Certification System under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) organized a conference on "Green buildings combined with energy-saving cooling solutions for health and environmental protection".
The conference took place in both in-person and online, within the framework of the Vietnam Green Building and Green Transport Week 2025 (organized by the Ministry of Construction), in presence of a large number of experts, managers, scientists, architects, businesses and international organizations to discuss the orientation of green building development combined with sustainable cooling solutions, energy saving, environmental protection, health protection and improving the quality of life of people.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung - Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Civil Engineering Environment said that currently, climate change is causing increasingly extreme weather, especially prolonged heat waves in urban areas, seriously affecting public health and infrastructure systems.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung - Chairman of Vietnam Association of Construction Environment spoke at the conference.
Globally, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has stated that 2025 could become one of the hottest years in history due to the combined effects of El Niño and global climate change. In Vietnam, many major cities have recorded temperatures exceeding 41°C, leading to a surge in cooling demand in buildings, which accounts for a significant proportion of total electricity consumption.
This reality underscores the urgent need for effective cooling solutions in design, materials, and technology that help save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Dũng emphasized that developing green buildings is not only an inevitable trend but also a social responsibility in responding to climate change and protecting human health as well as the ecosystem.
According to him, combining passive cooling solutions such as natural ventilation, green roofs, and heat-reflective materials with active measures like energy-efficient inverter air conditioning systems will help buildings maintain thermal comfort, significantly reduce energy consumption, and improve indoor air quality.
Attending the conference, Mr. Tạ Quang Hưng, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and Construction Materials (Ministry of Construction), stated that the development of green buildings, green economy, and green transport has been identified by the Party and the State as a strategic direction in the Resolutions of the Central Committee.
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Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and Construction Materials Ta Quang Hung spoke at the conference.
In implementing the Resolutions of the Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the directives of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Construction has recently focused on promoting the green building model through initiatives such as the “Green Building Week” event, issuing policies to encourage investment, and cooperating with international organizations to support training and technology transfer.
According to Deputy Director General Tạ Quang Hưng, developing green buildings is not only an energy-saving solution but also a driver of innovation, contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the economy during its transition toward a green growth model.
Speakers delivered speechs at the conference
At the conference, speakers delivered several presentations, research articles and specific proposals on cooling techniques and energy saving for construction projects.
Conference scence.
From a financial and policy perspective, expert Vũ Hồng Phong, representing the International Finance Corporation (IFC), introduced the EDGE Green Building Certification System, an international tool that quantified the efficiency of energy, water, and material savings in construction. According to him, obtaining EDGE certification not only helps enterprises strengthen their credibility but also opens opportunities to access green financing and preferential credit, thereby promoting the transition toward sustainable development and contributing to realizing Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
At the conclusion of the conference, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Dũng expressed his gratitude for the support and attention of the Ministry of Construction, the companionship of the Vietnam Green Building Program and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as well as the active participation of experts, enterprises, and international organizations in the Association’s recent activities and in the workshop titled “Green Buildings Integrating Energy-Efficient Cooling Solutions for Health and Environmental Protection.”
The Vietnam Association of Civil Engineering Environment committed to closely and effectively cooperate with regulatory agencies and domestic and international partners to promote research, training, and communication on green buildings, thereby contributing to the transition toward sustainable urban development, climate change adaptation, and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Dũng.