EEI Releases New Research: Sustainable Cooling Pathways towards Net-Zero Buildings in Vietnam

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The Environment and Ecology Institute (EEI) is pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific study conducted by the EEI Research Team:

“Sustainable Cooling Pathways towards Net-Zero Buildings in Vietnam: Empirical Diagnosis and Multi-Scenario Energy Modelling”

The study provides a comprehensive multi-regional assessment of 15 representative commercial buildings (hotels, office towers and shopping malls) in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Combining on-site measurements with dynamic energy simulations using OpenStudio/EnergyPlus, the research diagnoses critical performance gaps in current cooling systems and evaluates targeted retrofit scenarios.

Key findings:

• Cooling accounts for a significant share of commercial building electricity use: 34% in Hanoi, 41% in Da Nang and 44% in Ho Chi Minh City (citing IFC and Ministry of Construction data referenced in the study).
• Many facilities recorded interior glass surface temperatures of 34–45°C and indoor CO₂ concentrations exceeding the 1,000 ppm safety threshold, peaking at 1,500–1,800 ppm in several spaces.
• Combined intervention packages (Envelope Retrofit + HVAC Upgrade + Rooftop Solar PV) can deliver total energy reductions of up to 42%.
• Rooftop solar PV offers attractive economics with payback periods of 8–9 years, while deep envelope insulation shows payback periods exceeding 50 years.

The study proposes a clear three-phase roadmap to support Vietnam’s commercial building sector in advancing toward the national Net-Zero 2050 target.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
EEI_Sustainable-Cooling-Pathways-Net-Zero-Buildings-Vietnam_2026.pdf		94 kB

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