Materials are the elements of architecture that enclose space, determine the structure and our aesthetic experience of buildings. They are also essential to the performance of Green Buildings in the 3 main spheres of Sustainability for buildings; Operational Energy Consumption, Impact on the Environment and Interior Environmental Quality.

Operational Energy has been identified for over a decade as arguably the most urgent and important target for Vietnam. In order to lower Energy Consumption effectively, Materials (Passive Design) must work hand in hand with active systems. However, with current efforts in Vietnamese Green Building we are a way off Architecture 2030’s goal to reduce energy consumption by 60% and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C.

The upcoming field in Green Building Materials is Environmental Product Disclosure and Life Cycle Impact Assessment. The tools are available now in Vietnam to assess Green House Gas Emissions related to building material life-cycle costs. From understanding Life Cycle Impacts, we can determine what material choices are the most environmentally beneficial. In other countries, ideas such as adaptive reuse and mass timber structures are gaining traction as more radical ways of reducing GHG emissions of Green Buildings.

With regard to both operational energy and Life Cycle Impacts, Considering Green Building Material is not just about exploring new technical solutions to architecture. First and foremost it is about understanding the materials we have available and applying them in smart ways to our buildings.