BCI Equinox HCMC 2024: Net Zero Energy and Recycling

HO CHI MINH CITY, 8 AUGUST 2024 – On July 26, 2024, BCI Equinox Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was held with the theme of Net Zero Energy & Recycling at Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel. The event attracted more than 1,000 registrations of architects, interior designers, consultants, contractors, investors, as well as students in the built environment field.

Understanding construction factors

The discussion session on the event’s topic featured six industry experts, namely: Wong Wai Foo, Director of Sustainable Urban Regeneration, Keppel Real Estate Vietnam; Tran Huu Anh Tuan, Head of Green Design Department, Archetype Vietnam; Cung Thanh Dat, CEO of Baumschlager Eberle Architekten (BEA); Nguyen Truong Hai, General Director of Saint-Gobain Vietnam; and Pham Tri Dung, General Director of Vicostone Joint Stock Company.

Cung Thanh Dat shared in depth BEA’s key factors in designing a project, namely location, structure, outer shell and function. The construction site needs to be understood both qualitatively as well as through parameters such as the number of sunny and rainy days in a year, wind direction, humidity and heat radiation. This is the ‘input data’ that needs to be sought after to run simulations before and after the design process. After understanding the factors inherent within the construction site, BEA will conduct research to come up with the building structure that is suitable for the locations. Where possible, they will maintain the existing building’s structure to minimise carbon emissions from demolition, or maintain the spatial flow between old buildings and newer additions.

Next, façade is another factor to be researched. For the climate of Vietnam, there were three questions that helped BEA decide on the envelope design:

1) How can we create shade for the building?
2) How can we protect the building from the rainy season?
3) How can we have natural ventilation?

“When these three problems are solved in the design, the building will have the optimum protection, reduce its operational energy, and reduce CO₂ emissions through the selection of suitable materials,” Cung said.

Showcasing Green ideas and materials

Throughout the evening, leading experts in the field also delivered presentations on topics such as:

• Design for People and the Environment by Andy Mai Hoang Dung, Director of MH Architects;
• Lightweight and Sustainable Material Solutions to Increase Energy Efficiency in Construction by Nguyen Truong Hai, General Director of Saint-Gobain Vietnam;
• Pioneer in Green Development by Nguyen Manh Cuong, Regional Sales Director of Vicostone Joint Stock Company;
• Material of the Future by Bui Van Liem, External Relations Director of CaslaQuartz Vietnam;
• Design Freely Without Worrying About Waste Discharge by Florian Garnier, Managing Director of SFA Vietnam; and
• Criteria for Electrical Cabinets: Safety, Sustainability and Long-term Operation by Nguyen Van Chung, Deputy General Director and Operations Director, Sunlight Electrical Vietnam.

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