Southeast Asia region

(1) Vietnam: The Ministry of Industry and Trade has released the implementation plan for rooftop photovoltaic and energy conservation. 

On May 14th, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam signed Decision No. 1126/QD-BCT, officially releasing the implementation plan for carrying out the instructions of the Prime Minister No. 10/CT-TTg. The core objective of this plan is to enhance energy conservation efforts and promote the development of rooftop photovoltaic power. 

Energy-saving targets: The proportion of electricity saved across the country in 2026 should be no less than 3%; the electricity-saving target during the peak summer electricity consumption period (April to July) should be raised to no less than 10%. 

Photovoltaic goal: 10% of government offices and 10% of residential buildings across the country will complete the installation of rooftop photovoltaic systems. 

Strict control: Government agencies and public institutions must formulate quarterly energy-saving plans, and the energy-saving results must be included in the annual performance assessment; the overall electricity consumption for public lighting and outdoor advertisements should be reduced by at least 30%, and during peak hours, they should be shut down or have their capacity reduced by more than 50%. 

Technical standard: The minimum energy efficiency standard for electrical equipment will be further increased by 5%, promoting the upgrade of motor energy efficiency to the IE2-IE3 level; the Ministry of Construction will introduce relevant regulations for photovoltaic-compatible buildings. 

Implications for Chinese enterprises: The new building regulations in Vietnam encourage the use of green, intelligent, environmentally friendly and energy-saving building materials and equipment. The integration of intelligent technology and green energy conservation in public buildings has become a mandatory requirement. 

(2) Singapore: The building energy efficiency regulations continue to tighten 

The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) released several policy updates successively in April 2026, with a series of actions focused on energy conservation in public buildings: 

Mandatory Energy Improvement (MEI) mechanism: Applicable to energy-intensive buildings with a floor area of ≥ 5,000 square meters (including government agency buildings). It requires building owners to hire designated professionals to conduct an energy audit within 90 days of receiving the notification, submit an audit report and an energy efficiency improvement plan (EEIP) within one year, and achieve a 10% reduction in energy consumption within three years. 

Regular Energy Audit (PEA): For newly constructed buildings, a mandatory energy audit must be conducted every not more than 3 years after the issuance of the temporary occupancy permit; for existing buildings, this requirement also applies after significant energy-related changes. 

Government public sector takes the lead: In April 2026, the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore delivered a speech in the parliament, emphasizing that the public sector should take the initiative to promote energy conservation, implement the "Go 25" air conditioning energy-saving measures, and actively manage the operating hours of air conditioners. 

Long-term goal: By 2040, existing buildings must meet the ultra-low energy consumption (SLE) standard, and the energy efficiency of new buildings must be increased by 80%, with the embodied carbon reduction by 40%. 

(3) Thailand: Energy-saving initiatives in the public sector continue to be implemented. 

10% power reduction decree: In March, the Energy Department of Thailand required all government agencies to reduce energy consumption by 10%. The core measures included setting air conditioning temperatures at 26-27°C, reducing unnecessary electricity usage, promoting online meetings, etc. It is estimated that this will save 7.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per month and reduce liquefied natural gas imports by approximately 982 tons. 

27 Energy-saving Measures in Bangkok: The Bangkok Municipal Government has launched energy-saving measures for 2026, proposing 27 specific plans covering 77 units. 

Royal Police Solar Energy Program: The Royal Thai Police has launched the first phase of its energy efficiency improvement plan, installing solar photovoltaic systems for 67 police units. The total investment is 301.1 million Thai baht (approximately 8.2 million US dollars). The technical requirements include high-efficiency photovoltaic modules (single piece ≥ 620Wp), grid-connected inverter systems, and web/App energy monitoring platforms. Emphasis is placed on "digital energy management" integration. The official bidding started on June 10th. 

(4) Malaysia: Transition from Voluntary to Mandatory in Green Building Practices 

Starting from 2026, Malaysia officially enters the era of mandatory green buildings. Developers and property owners must master performance-oriented standards, effectively measure carbon emissions, and prioritize long-term building resilience over short-term cost savings. 

EECA Act Enhancement: The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act has been strengthened. A phased rollout of building energy efficiency labels is being implemented for commercial building types (retail, hotels, data centers). The Kuala Lumpur City Hall requires that 30% of the roof area of new development projects be used for solar panels. Penang has already mandated that new projects obtain green building certification and install solar panels. .

CIDB Building Action Plan (CAP30): In February 2026, the 2026-2030 Building Action Plan was launched. The goals include 100% of building practitioners obtaining certifications and 50% of projects valued at over 40 million ringgit achieving green ratings. 

Digitalization and Localization: The Malaysian Construction Industry Development Corporation has signed a cooperation memorandum with China Guanglada, aiming to promote the implementation of AI-driven digital construction technologies in the local market. 

(5) Indonesia: Special Regulations in Jakarta and Energy Efficiency Service Supervision 

Jakarta Energy Efficiency Regulations: The "Provincial Governor Regulation No. 5/2026" issued on February 5, 2026, imposes mandatory requirements for energy and water efficiency in buildings. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31.89% by 2030 and increase energy and water efficiency by up to 30%. 

Energy-saving service regulatory framework: Regulation No. 1 of 2026 issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia (effective on January 8, 2026), establishes a complete regulatory framework for energy-saving services (ESCO), requiring public sector buildings to enhance cooperation with professional ESCOs during the process of energy efficiency improvement. 

(6) Philippines: Government Energy Efficiency Projects Accelerate 

Government Energy Efficiency Acceleration Project: The Asian Development Bank is supporting a total of 500 million US dollars for the Philippine government's energy efficiency project, which will be implemented in two phases - the first phase from 2026 to 2028 will cover approximately 100 buildings, and the second phase from 2028 to 2031 will cover approximately 300 buildings. 

Green and Climate Resilient Housing: The Department of Housing and Urban Development of the Philippines launched the Green and Climate Resilient Housing Project in Iloilo City, demonstrating cold roof designs, rainwater collection, and solar-ready designs.

Europe and the Americas

(1) The EPBD (European Union Building Energy Efficiency Directive) has fully entered the implementation stage 

The year 2026 will be a crucial one for the implementation of the EPBD amendment. Each EU member state must complete the domestic conversion legislation of the directive by May. 

Key milestone on June 30th: 

The European Commission has released an updated explanation for the implementation guidelines of EPBD, which includes the elimination path for fossil fuel boilers and the building solar energy directive. 

The European Commission has completed the revision of the cost-optimal approach (by June 30), which takes into account the cost of greenhouse gas quotas as well as environmental and health externalities. .

The European Commission is required to report the results of the Smart Ready Index (SRI) tests and plans to complete the legislation by June 2027, mandating the use of SRI indicators in large non-residential buildings (including public buildings). .

Key time points: 

Starting from 2027: New public buildings must meet zero-emission standards and the global warming potential (GWP) throughout their entire lifecycle must be calculated. The obligation to calculate the carbon emissions throughout the lifecycle of large buildings (>2,000 square meters) will be applied earlier from 2027. .

Starting from 2028: Public and non-residential buildings with an energy consumption rating of G (the worst level) must be upgraded to at least F level by 2030, and further upgraded to E level by 2030. .

Starting from 2030: All new buildings must be zero-emission buildings. .

Indoor environmental quality is now included in mandatory considerations: The new EPBD clearly regards good indoor climate quality (thermal comfort, indoor air quality) as a key factor for health and well-being, and requires member states to take this into account in their regulations. The European Union Building Technology Association has described it as "a pioneering policy shift". .

Progress in transformation of each member country: 

Germany: Starting from 2026, new public buildings must meet the "near-zero energy consumption" standard, which will drive the market demand for high-performance insulation materials, heat pump systems, and building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology. The German GEG reform is expected to come into effect on July 1st, and the EU building directive will be implemented in Germany in a 1:1 ratio. .

Finland: The Ministry of the Environment has completed the preparatory work for the conversion of the EPBD into national legislation. The new bill is awaiting parliamentary review and will cover new buildings as well as existing renovated buildings. .

Portugal: By 2029, it is required to complete the installation of intelligent building functions; for residential buildings, the integration of automation and control functions must be mandatory by May 2026. .

(2) UK: Public building decarbonization project continues to advance 

The Liverpool City Region has announced a £40 million investment plan to implement decarbonization renovations on 35 public buildings within the area. Heat pumps, solar hot water systems and photovoltaic devices will be installed. It is expected to save approximately 21,500 megawatt-hours of energy annually and reduce carbon emissions by over 50%. The London Financial City Company has completed the verification of the municipal energy-saving project, which can save approximately £345,000 in energy costs and approximately 300 tons of CO₂e in carbon emissions annually. 

(3) France: Upgrading of Renewable Energy Production Obligations 

The French APER regulation stipulates that for new buildings, expansions or major renovations, at least 30% of the building roof area must be integrated with renewable energy systems or greenery systems. By 2026, this proportion will increase to 40%, and by 2027, it will rise to 50%. Parking lots must be equipped with shading structures for renewable energy generation.