LookAtVietnam – The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and HCM City authorities yesterday kicked off a programme to retrofit buildings to make them energy-efficient.

Retrofitting buildings with modern products, technologies and systems will help reduce emissions.

The Clinton programme and the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment held a conference yesterday to discuss the cost-saving and sustainable business model of retrofitting buildings.

Attendees were building and facility owners of commercial centres, hospitals, hotels and factories.

The programme is the first between the CCI and the HCM City after the latter became a member of the C40, a group of the world’s largest cities committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Buildings are responsible for 15 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, which consume one-third of energy worldwide, according to Christopher Seeley, CCI’s Asia Pacific Regional Manager of Retrofit Programme.

They account for about 80 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in cities.

Retrofitting buildings with modern products, technologies and systems will help reduce emissions.

The programme provides support to building owners who employ best practices, discounted prices of energy-efficient technology and choices on low-cost financing schemes.

The CCI has negotiated agreements with major energy service companies, such as Johnson Controls, Trane, Siemens and Honeywell, who offer energy performance contracts.

It also brings a number of financial institutions such as IFC (International Finance Corporation), Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and ABN Amro to offer financing for projects on competitive terms.

CCI’s Purchasing Alliance provides information and discounted prices on a number of energy-efficient products and technologies.

The programme has helped more than 300 retrofit projects in 30 cities around the world, including Chicago, New York, Bangkok, Mumbai and Melbourne.

etNamNet/Viet Nam News