Efficient lighting helps high-rises save energy

Using effective lighting solutions in high-rise buildings can help save electricity and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, a seminar heard in HCM City on Friday.

Experts from Dutch electronics giant Philips said since multi-storied office buildings consume 30 – 40 per cent of the total power used in a typical city and lighting accounts for around 35 per cent of their power consumption, it is a significant opportunity to save power.

Nguyen Van Phuoc of the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said high-rises over the world account for around 33 per cent of all carbon dioxide emitted into the environment.

HCM City to improve drug distribution

Customers select medicines at a Saigon Pharmaceutical Co outlet in HCM City. The firm’s drugstores have been awarded "good pharmacy practice" certifications by the health ministry. (Photo: VNS)

HCM City’s wholesale medicine markets will be restructured to ensure quality and reduce the number of layers of intermediaries, the city Department of Health has said.

Pham Khanh Phong Lan, its deputy head, said wholesale markets that meet quality standards and function well would remain in operation.

But the markets in Districts 1, 11, and 5 would be closed or restricted, she said.

Drug distributors failing to meet Good Distribution Practices (GDP) standards would also be closed down by the end of this year, she said.

GDP standards cover warehouses and other facilities for storing medicine and equipment for their transport.

"More than 70 per cent of the 663 distributing companies in the city meet the standards," she said.

Furthermore, all pharmacies in the city will have to meet Good Pharmacy Practices standards by the end of next year, the department has said.

Only 1,000 out of the existing 4,000 do so.

The city would also regulate the operations of the 385 traditional medicine establishments, Lan added.

Quang Ninh hosts ASEAN Labour Inspection Meeting

The first ASEAN Labour Inspection Meeting is due to take place in the northern province of Quang Ninh from October 13-14 with the participation of agencies from 10 ASEAN countries.

HCM City tests quality of groundwater

The Department of Science and Technology is collecting 1,800 underground water samples in Go Vap District in HCM City to test for pollution level.

Based on the testing result, the department will propose measures to prevent pollution and limit the exploitation of underground water.

Underground water 50 metres beneath the ground surface is seriously polluted, especially in areas surrounding industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City as well as Binh Hung Hoa Cemetery.

The excessive exploitation of underground water has also led to land-surface subsidence in many areas in District 6 and Binh Chanh and Thu Duc districts.

US firm launches ozone waste treatment plant

The US-owned Green Life Corporation has launched an industrial wastewater treatment system that uses ozone.

It is designed and manufactured by its parent, Power Sanitation System Network (PSSN).

The CEO of PSSN, Duc Tran, underlined the importance of processing waste saying environmental degradation causes birth defects and serious diseases like cancer and hepatitis.

Italian NGO grants scholarships

An Italian non-governmental organisation, Care the People, granted 85 scholarships worth over VND93 million (US$4,770) to disadvantaged pupils and students in the central city of Da Nang yesterday.

The scholarships have been granted twice every year since 2003.

Since its launch, more than 800 students in the city have been granted scholarships worth over VND1 billion ($51,300).

Over 1000 find employment at Hanoi jobs fair

More than 1,100 people were successfully recruited at a jobs fair held on October 10 by the Hanoi city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

VNN/VNS/VOV