A greener world doesn’t just start with using eco-friendly products or conducting business sustainably—it also lies in minimizing every bit of cement and every ounce of waste from construction projects. Therefore, every green building makes a significant contribution to ecosystem conservation by saving countless natural resources and operational costs. Keeping pace with this trend, Vietnam is also actively promoting sustainable construction with LOTUS certification.
What is LOTUS certification?
Due to differences in legal regulations, climate, and industry characteristics, most countries have their own green building assessment systems. In Vietnam, this is LOTUS, issued by the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC) in 2010.
To ensure LOTUS remains aligned with innovations in the domestic construction industry, the certification has been revised and updated multiple times over the years. As of now, the latest version of LOTUS is LOTUS NC V3, released in 2019.
The Mission of LOTUS
Against the backdrop of increasingly severe environmental pollution, encouraging a green and sustainable lifestyle is arguably the most effective way to help build a better future. LOTUS shares this mission, with the goal of promoting sustainable green buildings that are environmentally friendly, protect the rights and health of workers, and enhance the quality of life for the community.
What Does LOTUS Offer Businesses?
LOTUS is not merely an evaluation system; in fact, this certification can serve as a guiding principle for construction companies, specifically including:
- Supporting businesses in planning, setting goals, and establishing long-term directions for sustainable development projects.
- Helping businesses establish a clear path from design and construction through to operation using energy-saving and environmentally friendly solutions while ensuring economic and community benefits.
- Serving as a benchmark for businesses to measure the sustainability of a project in terms of environmental impact, health, and energy and resource efficiency.
- Provides clear and transparent information about green buildings.
Additionally, once a business obtains LOTUS certification, its reputation is enhanced in the eyes of both consumers and partners.
Buildings that apply LOTUS
As the only green building assessment system issued by Vietnam, LOTUS strives to fully address the needs of construction businesses through multiple updates and revisions. And with the latest 2019 version, LOTUS has successfully expanded its certification scope to cover all types of projects, from single-family homes to large-scale real estate developments:
- LOTUS NC V3: Applies to new construction or large-scale renovation projects (gross floor area – GFA of 2,500 m² or more).
- LOTUS BIO: Applicable to operational buildings.
- LOTUS Homes: Applicable to single-family residential buildings.
- LOTUS Small Buildings: Applicable to non-residential buildings with a gross floor area (GFA) of less than 2,500 m².
- LOTUS Interiors: Applicable to buildings with completed interiors.
- LOTUS Small Interiors: Applies to buildings with completed interiors and a total floor area of less than 1,000 m².
Conclusion
Regardless of scale, completing an architectural project takes at least several months. This, combined with the continuous use of energy and construction materials, has negative impacts on the environment and the surrounding community. Therefore, promoting green buildings that fully meet LOTUS certification standards is of utmost importance. By doing so, we can not only minimize energy consumption and costs but also contribute to protecting the surrounding community and the ecosystem.