Big C Di An goes green

Big C is employing the sun’s energy for a greener future

There are more than 1,000 buildings in Vietnam, each consuming over a million kWh per year, according to Ministry of Construction (MoC) preliminary figures. If these buildings comprehensively applied energy-saving measures,  a huge amount of power would be saved. Green designs and construction oversight processes could allow buildings to save 20-30 per cent of energy consumed, according to the MoC.

 To accelerate the construction of green buildings, the government has ratified Vietnam’s building materials development master planning to 2020, with the targeted manufacturing of high quality, fuel and energy efficient products employing the latest technologies with minor environmental impacts.

 Giant retailer Big C was quick to acknowledge the new green outlook by opening the doors to the Big C Di An trade centre on National Highway 1K, in Di An district, Binh Duong province.

 Big C Di An is the first national-scale trade centre in Vietnam installed with solar energy system and a solar power system of 212 kilowatts with  total investment of VND11 billion ($530,000) installed on the roof of the car park at Big C Di An. The system connects directly to the grid of the shopping centre, each year producing about 230,000 kWh of electricity, tantamount to 7 per cent of the centre’s total power demand and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 150 tonnes.

In addition, the building applies the US’ green building rating system LEED and the environmental assessment standards of LOTUS Vietnam. For instance, the building was installed with T5 fluorescent lamps to save 35 per cent of power compared to using conventional T8 lamps while still meeting Vietnam’s lighting standards. This makes the most of natural light through pure Skylight windows positioned around the building.

All electric equipment under air conditioning and water supply-sewer system were installed with converters to better engine performance. Particularly, the tank system operates at night to make ice for energy storage, which is then melted in daytime (when power prices fetch higher), providing cold air to the trade centre’s air conditioning system.

Through combing these green technologies, Big C Di An could save 30 per cent of power consumption compared to a conventional shopping mall.

 With around 23,500sqm, Big C Di An trade centre creates a consumer world with nearly 40,000 items in the self-service hypermarket and 40 shops covering around 4,500sqm of leasing space in diverse areas of fashion, accessories, food and entertainment which bring together top global  and local brands like KFC, Lotteria, Tous Les Jours, Swensen’s, The Pizza Company, Long Monaco, Kichi Kichi, Tiniworld, Ninomaxx Concept, The Blues, Unicol, John Henry, Aino Sofia, Nike, Kappa, Skechers, Dr. Martens, Ecko, Hanh Fashion, Future World,  PNJ, Diamond World and Vikos.

 Parallel to Big C Binh Duong, inaugurated in September 2012, Big C Di An made efforts to land contracts directly with local manufacturers with long-term cooperation commitment following the principle of abiding by food hygiene standards, while ramping up efforts to market local products in the Big C supermarket chain throughout the country.