Building Energy Codes Worldwide

Seminar on Analysis for Building Energy Code Development in Vietnam

This meeting took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, however the presentations mentioned below in the links may be helpful for other countries and cities as work on code development and revision.

Dates: January 12-13, 2016

Location: Hai Phong Room, Sofitel Plaza 1 Thanh Nien Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory organized this training event in conjunction with the Ministry of Construction and the Building Technique Institute.

Focus: The focus of this seminar is to train Vietnamese experts in the analysis needed to revise a code. This includes cost-benefit analysis of new technologies and changing conditions, improving understanding of buildings to better assess measures, using existing and incomplete data, and integrating lessons from code implementation and stakeholder engagement in code modifications. During the meeting, we will also discuss a roadmap on standards to support VBEEC, including for building materials.

Audience: Vietnamese institutes involved in energy code development. Other technical organizations from the private sector and government are also welcome to attend all or part of the training. PNNL expects approximately 20 participants to the training.

Seminar Schedule: Day 1

Morning session

Panel: Code Revision Overview

Moderator: Dr. Nguyen Trung Hoa – BTI

Presentation 1: Setting up a formal energy code development process – (Meredydd Evans, PNNL)
Presentation 2: Assessing the existing code and identifying potential changes (Mark Halverson, PNNL)
Presentation 3: PNNL’s recommendations on changes to the VBEEC (Meredydd Evans, PNNL)
Discussion 1: Identifying roles and defining objectives in the code development process – Moderated by MOC
Discussion 2: Recommendations for VBEEC revision

Afternoon session

Panel: Code Revision Analysis

Moderator: Dr. Nguyen Trung Hoa, BTI

Presentation 1: System of building energy-efficient standards and codes in Vietnam (Nguyen Son Lam, IBST)
Presentation 2: Review of cost benefit analysis of code measures (Mark Halverson, PNNL)
Presentation 3: Analysis conducted to develop previous versions of the VBEEC (VACEE)
Presentation 4: Emission calculations and greenhouse gas inventories (Meredydd Evans, PNNL)
Discussion: Collecting the necessary information to do cost-benefit analysis for energy code changes

Seminar Schedule: Day 2

Morning session

Panel: Incorporating implementation lessons

Moderator: Dr. Nguyen Trung Hoa, BTI

Presentation 1: Context and process of code implementation in Vietnam (Nguyen Thu Nhan, IFC Vietnam)
Presentation 2: How to make the code more implementable: clarifying language and thinking about the user (Meredydd Evans, PNNL)
Presentation 3: Overview of U.S. prototype buildings (Mark Halverson, PNNL)
Discussion 1: Implementation and code provisions in the future Vietnamese code
Discussion 2: How to develop prototype buildings in Vietnam
Discussion 3: Options to link implementation and code revisions
Discussion 4: Priorities for VBEEC revisions

Afternoon session

Panel: Roadmap on VBEEC standards

Moderator: Dr. Nguyen Trung Hoa, BTI

Presentation 1: Overview of current standard-setting process (Dr. Luong Duc Long – VIBM)
Presentation 2: Recommended priorities for technical standards and guidelines to support VBEEC (Mark Halverson, PNNL)

IEA EBC Building Energy Codes Working Group

Overview

It is widely recognized that building energy codes (also known as building energy standards) are an effective policy tool for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, residential and commercial alike. However, even in communities and other jurisdictions with extensive history in this area, building energy codes are facing key issues, including:

A need for faster and easier methods to check the compliance of buildings with the code
A need for greater reliability in the evaluation of code compliance
The substantial amount of time it takes for building codes to integrate research and technology breakthroughs, limiting the energy savings potential of building energy codes
The long-life of buildings and thus attending to the resulting challenge of incorporating energy efficiency into major retrofits of older buildings and the role of buildings energy codes in this
The need to meet ambitious policy objectives including zero net energy construction standards, passive ventilation, etc.
The challenge of integrating various distributed energy resources including distributed solar, electric vehicles, and grid-interactive and flexible technologies

In June 2019, the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme (EBC) approved the creation of a Working Group (WG) dedicated to the consideration of building energy codes to foster stronger collaboration addressed at these issues.

Objectives

To enhance understanding of impactful options and practices regarding building energy codes across different countries.
To provide methods for cross-national comparison that lead to meaningful information sharing.
To foster collaboration on building energy code issues that leads to enhanced building energy code programs by incorporating new issues and practices.

Participants

Confirmed participants in the WG include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, as well as ASHRAE and the International Code Council.

Other EBC members are also welcome to join the WG by expressing their intent in writing.

Each participant will provide in-kind contributions to support the cooperation. Participants, at a minimum, will share information on building energy code practices through a survey, webinars, in-person meetings and review of documents. Participating countries will also be invited to take on larger leadership roles on a rotating, optional basis, for example, leading reports, studies, study components or meetings.