Developed based on established building physics science and adapted to the conditions, climate, and regulations of the Vietnam construction sector, LOTUS provides a holistic assessment of environmental performance over the life cycle of buildings. It provides an integrated approach for evaluating buildings in terms of energy consumption, water use and waste management as well as indoor environmental quality. It serves as an objective rating system that can be used by any stakeholder in the construction process – developers, designers, contractors and owners alike – for decision-making purposes.

Since the first LOTUS pilot program was released in 2010, the rating system has undergone several updates and revisions. The latest version is LOTUS New Construction (NC) v3, released in April 2019. LOTUS now cover almost all building types and project scopes, including:

Green Materials & Products in LOTUS

LOTUS encourages the selection of materials and products that have mitigated environmental impact, enhance the quality of indoor spaces, and also contribute towards better energy performance. The design team should carefully consider the sustainability criteria along with usual factors in material selection, like durability, budget and aesthetic. If feasible, the general contractor should be consulted regarding the availability and costs associated with procurement of such materials.

No. Products and Materials with Green features Examples Credits in LOTUS NC v3
1 Reused Materials Salvaged brick, pavers, lumber MR-2
2 Materials with Recycled Content Steel, gypsum ceilings/boards, carpet, insulation MR-2
3 Regionally sourced Materials Harvested, extracted and/or manufactured within 150 km of project site (from 14/10/2024) MR-2
4 Rapidly Renewable Materials Cotton insulation, bamboo flooring, linoleum flooring, straw board MR-2
5 Timber from sustainable sources

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified wood

Vietnam Forest Certification Scheme (VFCS) certified wood

MR-2
6 Materials with third-party certification based on whole lifecycle analysis (LCA) Global GreenTag LCARate, Cradle to Cradle, NSF Sustainability Assessment MR-2
7 Materials with third-party verifications  Environmental claims third-party verified through claim verification or through certification under third-party ecolabels MR-2
8 Non-baked Materials Concrete bricks, gypsum panels, pre-cast concrete panels, AAC blocks MR-3
9 Low-Emitting Materials Low or no VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants
Low or no formaldehyde composite wood products
H-PR-2 and H-2
10 High Efficiency Water Fixtures High efficiency or dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, low flow faucets W-PR-1, W-1
11 Efficient Irrigation Systems Drip irrigation, irrigation system with soil moisture sensor W-2
12 Stormwater Control Products Rainwater harvesting systems, permeable and pervious materials, open-grid pavements SE-4
13 Environment-friendly refrigerants Low-impact alternatives to refrigerants commonly used in building refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems SE-6
14 High Reflectance Materials Paving and roofing surface materials with high solar reflectance index (SRI) H-6, SE-5, E-PR-3, E-2, E-3
15 Efficient Building Envelope Components Energy-efficient glazing with low SHGC and U-values, thermal insulation materials with low thermal conductivity (XPS foam, PU foam, rockwool, etc.), AAC blocks H-6, E-PR-1, E-PR-3, E-2, E-3
16 Efficient ventilation and air-conditioning equipment Air-conditioning systems with high CSPF values (for non-ducted units) and high COP values, systems with variable controls (inverter, VSD/VFD). E-PR-1, E-PR-3, E-2, E-3, E-4
17 Efficient lighting equipment Energy-efficient lighting fixtures (with high lumen efficacy lm/W), lighting controls and sensors E-PR-1, E-PR-3, E-2, E-5
18 Renewable Energy Equipment Solar panels, wind energy, geothermal E-2, E-8
19 Materials for acoustic comfort Materials with good noise insulation, sound-absorbing materials H-7
20 Products reducing concrete usage Pre-stressed slabs, voided slabs, pre-stressed beams and columns  MR-1
21 Energy and water monitoring products Energy and water meters, power monitoring system, building management system (BMS) E-6, W-3
22 Energy-efficient lifts Lifts with energy efficiency class A following the certification guideline VDI 4707 Part 1, lifts equipped with: VVVF drives, regenerative drive, efficient lighting. E-7

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