Nguyen, P A; Bokel, R and Dobbelsteen, A (2019) Improving energy efficiency in Vietnamese tube houses: A survey of sustainable challenges and potentials. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 8(5), pp. 366-390. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: Refurbishing houses is considered a key measure to improve the energy efficiency of the built environment. However, little is known about the implementation and outcome of housing renovation for energy upgrades in the Vietnamese practice. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the energy performance of the current housing stock in Vietnam and the potential to reduce energy use in households. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a survey with 153 respondents in three major climatic regions of Vietnam. The survey focusses on building characteristics, environmental performance, energy performance and refurbishment activities. Data collected from the survey were statistically analysed to give insight into the current performance of the housing stock and its energy saving potential. Findings: This paper concludes that building design and construction, particularly the building envelope, have a significant influence on the occupants' comfort. However, the energy consumption in houses is not statistically associated with building design and indoor environment. It is suggested that financial status and occupants' behaviour currently have a strong influence on the household energy use. The survey also showed that refurbishment improves the housing performance, especially if improving the indoor environment was one of the drivers. Originality/value: There are very few studies on energy use in households in Vietnam, especially with regards to actual energy consumption. This paper brings insights into the actual energy consumption and reveals the “performance gap” in Vietnamese housing stock.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy efficiency; refurbishment; sustainable; Vietnam |
| Index terms: | renovation, energy-saving, household, energy consumption, built environment, comfort, energy use, implementation, energy performance, building envelope, environmental performance, building design, energy efficiency, indoor environment, performance gap, methodology, tube, housing, Vietnam, housing performance, housing stock, survey |
| Subjects: | architectural design, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, energy systems, environmental science, sustainability and energy, materials science, data collection methods, construction type, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, demography, occupational health and safety management, Geography, research methods, performance management, architectural elements, renovation and retrofit, sustainability assessment |
| Topics: | Procurement, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Design Practice, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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