29 October 2013
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park Hotel, Bangkok

On 29 October 2013, more than 100 participants from the private and public sector followed the invitation of GIZ and GTCC to join the event in order to discuss how to improve energy efficiency for the building sector in Thailand. Architects, planners, and policy experts from Thailand and Germany discussed policy development and industry trends in the region and Germany. In addition, four German companies presented their latest products on insulation and sensor systems for lighting automation as well as innovative planning approaches to increase energy efficiency in private households and commercial buildings.

Within the scope of a Public Private Partnership with GIZ Thailand recently adopted the building certification system of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). During the event, the first DGNB Certificate that has ever been issued, to a building in Thailand, was awarded to the Häfele Design Center in Phuket. The adaptation of the standard is expected to trigger the demand for DGNB auditors in the near future – a development that GTCC and GIZ plan to support with training and capacity building measures.

In the scope of Thailand’s 20-year Energy Efficiency Development Plan, the Royal Thai Government aims to reduce final energy intensity by 25% in the year 2030 compared to 2010 levels. In his presentation, Pongcharoon Srisovanna from The Energy Conservation Center of Thailand (ECCT) stressed that this goal can only be achieved with significant improvement in the building sector. The great interest in the conference from the private as well as the public sector showed, however, that there is not only a political push and momentum, but also an increasing awareness of Thai investors on the economic benefits of investing in energy efficiency measures, as well as for the social and ecological benefits that come with sustainable design.

Presentation information available upon request.