Bac Ninh: Promoting the application of green materials in modern urban construction

According to construction experts, green materials include unburnt bricks, green cement, lightweight concrete, recycled materials... When put into use, these materials not only help reduce environmental pollution but also save resources, protect the ecosystem, improve community health...

100% of state budget projects use unburnt bricks.

Before the merger, both Bac Ninh and Bac Giang localities focused on encouraging the use of environmentally friendly materials. For many years, 100% of construction projects using the state budget used unburnt bricks. For non-budget projects, when appraising and granting licenses, the authorities also encouraged and guided investors to choose green materials.

According to the assessment of the Department of Construction of Bac Ninh , there are currently no specific regulations issued by the State on the use of green materials for construction works, mainly at the encouragement level. Therefore, during the appraisal process, functional departments always advise and guide investors to choose unburnt materials, insulation materials, energy-saving materials... contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting green building criteria. A comprehensive assessment of factors such as energy efficiency, water use, environmental quality is also carried out to propose additional solutions such as renewable energy, energy-saving lighting systems, and effective waste management.

Mr. Hoang Duc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Province Civil and Urban Development Project Management Board No. 1, shared: “In terms of green construction, the criteria for using environmentally friendly materials have not been specifically regulated, but are only at the level of orientation and encouragement. In addition to the mandatory use of unburnt bricks, we always try to incorporate other criteria such as increasing the density of trees, installing LED lights, energy-saving air conditioners, and prioritizing the use of materials that replace wood and natural stone.”

Although there have been positive changes, according to the assessment of the units, the investment cost for green standard constructions using environmentally friendly materials is still higher than that of conventional constructions, causing many investors, especially in the private sector, to be apprehensive.

At the Bac Ninh Province Civil and Urban Development Project Management Board No. 2, the unit is preparing to invest in Que Vo Medical Center and Tien Du Medical Center. Right from the design stage, the Board has coordinated with consultants to discuss solutions to take advantage of ventilation, natural light, concentrated green tree planting; increase the use of unburnt bricks, materials replacing wood, natural stone and paving materials with good absorption capacity...

Despite positive changes, according to the assessment of the units, the investment cost for green standard constructions using environmentally friendly materials is still higher than that of conventional constructions, causing many investors, especially in the private sector, to be hesitant. In addition, the regulations, standards, and technical and economic norms are not uniform; the budget capital is still limited along with the inadequate awareness of a part of investors... are the reasons why environmentally friendly materials are not widely used.

To promote the application of green materials, the Department of Construction proposed to enhance training and professional development for officials working in appraisal and construction licensing, especially in legal knowledge, technology and new construction materials. At the same time, it requires investors and consultants to research and apply renewable energy systems and propose solutions to optimize efficiency. The proposed solutions include increasing the use of energy-saving lighting systems and light sensors, maximizing natural light and natural ventilation to reduce the load on the air conditioning system.

In particular, promote the use of renewable energy such as solar energy, wind energy, water-saving devices in toilets and irrigation systems; prioritize the use of recycled materials, environmentally friendly materials... At the same time, coordinate to guide localities, businesses, and investors in applying green building criteria, using environmentally friendly materials in the process of evaluating, classifying urban areas, classifying apartment buildings and developing social housing projects according to green standards.

According to Mr. Do Xuan Thuy, Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Province Civil and Urban Development Project Management Board No. 2, the province needs to soon issue specific policies and sanctions to make green materials a mandatory standard, at least for public works and strongly encourage them in the private sector. He also emphasized the need to promote propaganda to raise awareness of the use of green materials in the community and have a mechanism to reward and honor outstanding green works.

Bac Ninh is on the way to becoming a green, modern city. The application of green materials is not only a technical requirement, but also an inevitable choice to protect the environment, save resources and improve the quality of life for people. With the support of management agencies, the determination of investors and the support of the community, this goal promises to soon become a reality.

Article and photos: Duc Anh

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-thuc-day-ung-dung-vat-lieu-xanh-trong-xay-dung-do-thi-hien-dai-postid424218.bbg