N.H.O headquarters get LEED green construction certificate

The ceremony was held on Nov. 10 at the N.H.O headquarters at 44B Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 15, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. The certificate has a special significance, proving N.H.O's commitment and core values toward green and sustainable development.

The National Housing Organization Company headquarters was awarded the LEED Certificate. Photo courtesy of N.H.O

To achieve LEED certification, the projects need to achieve a minimum of 40 - 49 points and if the projects want to receive the grade of Silver, Gold or Platinum, construction need to accumulate more from 50 to over 80 points, corresponding to the criteria of the LEED standard set.

To achieve the Silver level LEED certificate, the N.H.O headquarters must meet the seven most rigorous criteria from design to operation, including innovation, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources, location and transportation, sustainable sites, energy and atmosphere, along with water efficiency.

N.H.O’s headquarters consists of three floors with a total floor area of 450 square meters, capable of saving up to 27.9% of total annual energy consumption (kWh/year) compared to the basic level thanks to energy solutions. The project features a high-efficiency VRF system that provides cooling for the building, a motion sensor LED system, heat-resistant glass with good control of solar radiation energy, insulating materials, a fan system to supply fresh air to the building space, and a pressure sensor to monitor the operating status of the fan.

In particular, the headquarters is able to save 40.15% in total annual water consumption compared to the basic level thanks to the installation of low-flow sanitary equipment to optimize water consumption at the source, using a drip irrigation system that helps to consume less water and save physical work.

In terms of waste disposal, the headquarters has dedicated an area to sort, collect and store five types of recyclable materials (mixed paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metal), as well as arranged hazardous waste and organic waste areas.

An office corner at N.H.O headquarters. Photo courtesy of N.H.O

The green area in the building occupies 20% of the total space with the highlight of green gardens right in front of the facade on all three floors of the building. The plants grown are native and have good drought and tolerance.

As the main contractor of the N.H.O office project, Handong E&C focuses on meeting the strict standards of LEED.

N.H.O representative receives (L) the LEED Certificate. Photo courtesy of N.H.O

Park Seung Hoon, deputy managing director of N.H.O, said: "Green development and sustainable development are one of the core values that make N.H.O's success and difference in the market during the past 10 years. This milestone will make a positive impact not only on our environment but also on the lives of our employees, residents, and community partners. We hope that more and more companies join in this trend of positive change."

Han Hyun Jin, director of ADU Co., Ltd. (building architectural design unit), shared: "The architects have outstandingly overcome the stiffness of the walls, concrete blocks with blue systems and green gardens right inside the building, giving the building tenderness and coolness. The staff working here completely feel a wide open and fresh space right inside the building, in the middle of a crowded residential area in Ho Chi Minh City."

Currently, Vietnam has several prestigious Vietnamese green building certification systems, including: LEED - United States Green Building Council (USGBC), EDGE - International Finance Corporation (IFC), LOTUS - Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC).

In Vietnam, as of the third quarter of 2022, only 242 projects have achieved one of these three certificates.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), founded in 1993, is a member-based nonprofit organization that promotes the sustainable design, construction, and operation of buildings.

LEED (Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design) is a set of standards in energy and environmental design developed by USGBC since 1995, in order to create energy-saving buildings and protect the living environment of people. With the ability to apply to many different types of buildings, LEED has become a leading standard applied to big green projects worldwide.