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The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Science Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in coordination with the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) - Thailand National Designated Entity (NDE) - and the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) organized the first non-virtual stakeholder consultation workshop for the ''Enabling Readiness for Up-Scaling Investments in Building Energy Efficiency for Achieving NDC Goals in Thailand'' project in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 8th, 2021. This face-to-face consultation workshop aimed at presenting findings from the analysis of ten-year operational data of the Thai Building Energy Code (BEC), and seeking comments and suggestions from stakeholders to strengthen the BEC implementation to support Thailand in achieving the national energy efficiency targets in the building sector.
The workshop was attended by 25 local building energy efficiency experts, representing 12 key national organizations, such as Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NDE), Thai Green Building Institute (TGBI), and academic institutions. The workshop agreed in principle that DEDE should review the criteria and balance stringency of the two existing BEC compliance approaches, i.e., prescriptive and total energy consumption compliances. The workshop also suggested that the BEC requirements should be reviewed and updated every 5 years to reflect development status of construction materials and energy end-use equipment/appliance. The Thai Government, specifically DEDE, should provide the right incentives to the building industry stakeholders to go beyond the BEC requirements, and enhance adoption of the net-zero energy building concept.
"The enabling readiness for up-scaling investments in building energy efficiency for achieving NDC goals in Thailand" project is part of the GCF Readiness activities, designed to support Thailand in achieving its national energy efficiency targets in the building sector, as defined in the Energy Efficiency Plan of 2018 (EEP2018), NAMAs, and Thailand’s NDC. As per the NDC Road Map of Thailand, 113 million tonnes of GHG emissions reduction will be achieved through energy efficiency and renewable energy, and around 26.1 million tonnes of which will be contributed by the building sector. The Building Energy Code (BEC) serves as the cornerstone in meeting Thailand’s GHG emission reduction targets in the building sector through promoting compliance with the BEC, and adoption of sustainable building material and effective construction practices.