Developing a sustainable education ecosystem: Behind the green certification consulting process for BUV
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Phase 2 of the BUV campus is designed and constructed to meet international standards, with a particular focus on the EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification — a globally recognized green building standard developed by the IFC (a member of the World Bank Group). Beyond academic excellence, the new campus promotes a sustainable, environmentally friendly learning environment that enhances the overall experience for both students and faculty.
Remarkably, only 20% of the campus area is used for construction, while the remaining space is dedicated to landscaping, greenery, and open communal areas. This design approach reflects a philosophy of harmony with nature and aligns with Ecopark’s vision — Asia’s leading sustainable urban area committed to green and livable spaces.
Figure 1 The new campus continues to achieve impressive numbers, far exceeding the basic indicators according to EDGE assessment.
EDGE certification process for BUV
The EDGE Advanced certification that BUV achieved is not only a testament to the university's efforts in applying sustainable construction standards, but also affirms that BUV is the first university in Vietnam to receive this certification for both phases of campus development.
Figure 2 Mr. Thomas James Jacobs, IFC Country Manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, presented the EDGE Advanced Phase 2 Certificate to Prof. Rick Bennett, Vice Rector and Vice President of BUV and Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Thuy, Senior Executive Director of BUV.
However, achieving international values requires rigor and effort from all parties involved. Below are the necessary factors to achieve EDGE Advanced green certification for the project:
Figure 3 BUV saves 43% more energy than similar buildings, a necessary factor to achieve EDGE Advanced certification (energy savings of more than 40%)
Challenge: One of the most important factors in ensuring energy savings and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings in tropical climates is the cooling system. This is one of the most used systems to ensure optimal comfort temperatures.
Solution: During the consultation process, the ARDOR Green team proposed air conditioning system products with low COP combined with wall and roof insulation, along with heat pump water heaters, which helps to reduce more than 37.7% of the energy needed for the air conditioning system, and more than 45% of the energy compared to the standard for hot water. A number of other parameters resonate with the above systems to help the total energy savings up to 43.13%.
Figure 4 BUV saves 39.6% more water consumption than similar projects
Challenge: One of the biggest issues in the consulting process for an advanced educational project is the use of water. Not only the installation of water systems with high saving standards, but also the use of faucets and not turning off the faucet when not needed can lead to significant waste.
Solution: During the project implementation, the contractor was advised to choose faucets with good water saving solutions and automatic shut-off, especially focusing on choosing toilets and sinks, as these will be the most used equipment.
Figure 5 BUV saves over 61% of carbon footprint compared to similar buildings
Challenge: EDGE assesses the embodied carbon energy of the floor construction process by aggregating the impact of all major materials such as cement and steel used in the construction on a unit area. A large-scale building like BUV will typically have a very large carbon load in the floor, wall and roof areas of the building.
Solution: Through smart building design solutions, the load is transferred more directly and efficiently, combined with the use of high-quality reinforced concrete materials, reducing the need for excess material. In addition, the building roof is designed with nearly 75% of the space being corrugated iron roofing with highly insulating materials.
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