Green building development needs increase of regulations

Việt Nam needs more regulations on assessing and supporting green buildings, an important global trend for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to experts.

Speaking at an international conference on laws and policies for green buildings held in HCM City yesterday, they said Việt Nam’s rapidly rising urban population is causing rising demand for housing but also the consequences of urbanisation like including pollution and declining natural resources.

Assoc Prof Dr Trần Việt Dũng, deputy dean of the Law University of HCM City, said green buildings are not just a trend, but an integral part of global commitments to sustainable development.

There is potential for co-operation between educational facilities and government agencies in expanding the boundaries of green construction, he said.

Việt Nam’s construction industry is pushing ahead with green methods, reflecting the country’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, he added.

Việt Nam currently has over 300 building that meet green criteria and are certified by many various local and international organisations such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) of the US Green Building Council, Green

Mark certification from Singapore and LOTUS from the Vietnam Green Building Council.

But this multiplicity leads to difficulties in managing the development of green buildings.

Lưu Thị Thanh Mẫu, deputy chairwoman of the Việt Nam Young Entrepreneurs Association and deputy chairwoman of the HCM City Real Estate Association, called for issuing a set of assessment tools for green buildings and regulations on the assessment and certification of green buildings.

Việt Nam also needs more favourable policies for green building investors such as low-interest loans and incentives for green bond issuers, and awards to honour green construction, she said.

Assoc Prof Dr Lưu Quốc Thái of the university’s Faculty of Commercial Law said investment in green building is a global trend, but Việt Nam lacks a legal framework to standardise and support it.

He said other countries' experiences in green construction show that government agency participation is crucial for facilitating and standardising investment and certification.

Việt Nam could learn from those countries to frame laws for land planning for green buildings, energy usage, favourable policies, and certification, he added.