At the regional level: ASEAN framework and cross-border cooperation

At the ASEAN level, the framework and projects continue to drive the regional green transformation: 

The PEEB-ASEAN project is advancing steadily: The project held its first steering committee meeting in April, aiming to support member countries in strengthening policies and market environments for green buildings. This project is closely aligned with the "East Asia Energy Cooperation Action Plan (APAEC) 2026-2030", with the goal of reducing regional energy intensity by 40% by 2030. 

Technical assistance and financing support: The ASEAN Energy Center (ACE) provides technical assistance grants (up to $10,000) through the "ASEAN-BUILT" platform to commercial buildings in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to help them obtain sustainable financing. Additionally, ACE launched the "Positive Energy Building Challenge" project, targeting local governments in Malaysia and Indonesia, to solicit innovative projects in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency in public buildings.

Country Updates: Policies and Project Implementation

Singapore

（1）Public Sector Energy Conservation Mandate: Affected by global energy supply, on April 8th, the Singaporean government required all government departments and statutory bodies to immediately implement energy-saving measures, including setting air conditioners at 25°C or higher, actively managing equipment operation times, accelerating the installation of LED lighting and smart sensors, etc. 

（2）Energy efficiency regulation upgrade: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore introduced the "Mandatory Energy Improvement (MEI) System" through the amendment of the "Building Control Act". This system requires the owners of energy-intensive buildings with a floor area of 5,000 square meters or more (such as office buildings, hotels, medical institutions, etc.) to hire professionals to conduct energy audits and submit improvement plans, and to reduce energy consumption by 10% within three years. 

Thailand

（1）Public sector mandatory energy conservation: On March 10th, the Thai Cabinet approved a measure requiring all government agencies to reduce energy consumption by 10%. Specific measures include setting air conditioning temperatures at 26-27°C, reducing unnecessary electricity usage, switching to online meetings, and supporting remote work. 

（2）"Green Hospital" Initiative: The Thai government is promoting a "green hospital" program. As a pilot project, 25 public hospitals will install rooftop solar systems. It is estimated that this will save over 55 million Thai baht in electricity costs annually and reduce 7,211 tons of carbon emissions. The plan intends to be extended to all hospitals under the Ministry of Health in the future. 

Vietnam

（1）National Energy Saving Directive: On March 30, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Notification No. 10/CT-TTg, requiring that the national electricity consumption be reduced by at least 3% in 2026, and the conservation target during the peak electricity consumption period from April to July be raised to 10%. In the public building sector, government office buildings must implement energy-saving plans and adopt efficient technologies, and the public lighting systems must save at least 30% of electricity. 

（2）Mandatory energy efficiency labeling: As of January 1, 2026, Vietnam will implement mandatory energy efficiency labeling for certain building materials. According to the implementation plan approved on March 31, document No. 527/QD-TTg, this measure aims to promote the green transformation and technological innovation in the building materials industry. 

（3）Local Planning of Da Nang City: On March 23rd, Da Nang City released its electricity-saving plan for the period 2026-2030, with the focus on public buildings. The goal is to have 50% of office buildings install rooftop solar panels by 2030, and all street lighting must be replaced with LED lights. 

Malaysia

（1）Mandatory Green Building Initiative and Reform: 2026 marks the beginning of a mandatory green building era in Malaysia. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government is reviewing the "Completion and Compliance Certificate" (CCC) framework, aiming to enhance efficiency through digital integration and promote sustainable urbanization. 

（2）Local-level energy-saving measures: On April 13th, the Malaysian government instructed 156 local governments across the country to immediately implement comprehensive energy-saving measures, including setting the air conditioning temperature in government buildings at 24°C, implementing a rotation policy for remote working, installing solar energy and energy-efficient LED lights, and installing intelligent building management systems, etc. 

（3）Malaysia-China Smart City Cooperation: Malaysia is collaborating with China to implement smart city pilot projects, establishing command centers in cities such as Ipoh and Beihai. The cooperation involves the construction of smart infrastructure such as energy-saving systems, smart homes, and IoT-based building management. 

INDONESIA

（1）Jakarta Building Energy Efficiency Regulations: Jakarta has issued Provincial Regulation No. 5 of 2026 regarding energy and water resource efficiency in buildings. This policy aligns with Jakarta's climate goals for 2030-2050 and aims to promote implementation by strengthening institutional capacity building (such as training over 700 stakeholders). 

（2）Construction of the new capital "Nusantara": Indonesia is accelerating the construction of the new capital Nusantara (IKN), which is positioned as an "intelligent and sustainable" city. This large-scale project has generated a huge demand for products such as intelligent operation and maintenance systems. 

（3）Relaxing restrictions on foreign investment: To encourage investment and cooperation in the energy conservation sector, Indonesia has relaxed the restrictions on foreign participation in the engineering contracting field.