The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) participated in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on 20 March 2025, organised by Bangunan Gedung Hijau (BGH) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) in collaboration with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Indonesia. The primary objective of the FGD was to gather insights and feedback to refine building data collection methods. The discussion aimed to refine a structured and user-oriented questionnaire, incorporating input from building owners, managers, developers, and government representatives. The questionnaire was designed to identify data collection approaches and key data requirements for monitoring building energy consumption. In addition, the sessions served to inform and engage stakeholders about the latest green building initiatives, including the benefits, potential incentives, and certifications related to green building and energy management reporting. 

The event involved notable institutions including the Indonesia’s Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), HEAT International, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI), Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI), the Indonesian Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Experts (A2RTU), the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII), as well as professionals and academia. With a total of 112 participants, in which 38 participants joining in person (20 females, 18 males) and 74 participants connecting online (23 females, 51 males). 

The FGD was divided into four thematic desks from User Behaviour, Active Design, Passive Design, to Renewable Energy that represented key aspects that influence building energy consumption. The discussion aimed to identify critical factors, relevant data types, and strategies for simplifying data collection while promoting broader participation. 

Photo 1. In-Person Participants of Building Registry FGD, on 20 March 2025 

Active Design Desk: Data Collection and Operational Energy Efficiency 

ACE, represented by Arika Dhia, Technical Officer for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (CEE) Department at ACE, actively engaged in the Active Design Desk discussion that focused on data collection related to operational energy consumption in buildings and joined by participants from BGH, CLASP, and GIZ. 

To streamline energy consumption reporting processes, the Indonesian government has established regulations specifically by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) which mandates energy consumption reporting for buildings with more than 500 Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (TOE) energy use through the POME platform, aligning with the provisions of ESDM Ministerial Regulation No. 3 on energy efficiency and conservation in 2025. Concurrently, the Ministry of Public Works has established PUPR Ministerial Regulation No. 22 in 2021, which requires comprehensive energy data collection from all buildings, creating a foundation for a robust national registry to support energy management and efficiency efforts. 

Despite clear regulatory frameworks, implementation remains challenging due to the decentralised execution. Local governments, responsible for enforcement, often face bottlenecks due to resource and knowledge limitations. Addressing this gap, BGH highlighted the crucial need for capacity building.  

Further discussions underscored the importance of collaborative and coordinated data collection efforts considering the on-going initiatives from GIZ’s Sustainable Energy Transition in Indonesia (SETI) project to collect building energy data in Surabaya and Batam, CLASP’s national appliance data collection, and Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Programme to establish a comprehensive building registry for Jakarta and Semarang. Participants emphasised aligning data collection templates to prevent redundancy and overlapping efforts, reinforcing consistency and effectiveness of data collection. A significant takeaway from this session was the unanimous agreement on adopting standardised approaches for operational energy data collection, thereby fostering unified strategies towards national energy efficiency goals. 

Photo 2. Active Design Desk Participants Discuss Operational Energy Efficiency Data Strategies. Discussion Result Presented by Kynan Tjandaputra from CLASP. 

Passive Design Desk: Building Energy Efficiency Through Strategic Design 

At the Passive Design Desk, ACE was represented by Irma Ramadan, Senior Officer of CEE Department at ACE. The group explored passive design strategies aimed at reducing reliance on electrical appliances, thereby significantly lowering energy consumption. Participants included representatives from the IAI, EBTKE, CLASP, and several academic institutions. 

Key strategies discussed included building orientation, landscaping, natural ventilation, and façade optimisation. Specifically, façade considerations such as Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV), and shading elements were highlighted as critical for reducing active energy system demand and directly decreasing overall energy consumption. The group deliberated on improving the practical application of passive design OTTV calculations integration with Roof Thermal Transfer Value (RTTV), landscape design as a critical factor in reducing the albedo effect. Furthermore, the group stressed the importance of retrofitting existing buildings with high energy demands and the need to tailor passive design strategies to the tropical climate.  

Data availability and reliability emerged as a key challenge for broader implementation. The group noted limited access to data on recycled materials, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and natural ventilation simulations. To address these gaps, collaboration with building developers, facility managers, and local authorities—particularly those responsible for issuing building permits—was recommended and central database platform with improved data visualisation tools was proposed. 

 Photo 3. Passive Design Desk Participants Collaborate on Strategic Energy-Efficient Design Solutions (left) and Discussion Result Presented by Irma Ramadan, Senior Officer of CEE Department at ACE (right).  

Renewable Energy Desk: Integrating Renewable Energy Solutions in Buildings   

At the Renewable Energy Desk, the Centre was represented by Rio Jon Piter Silitonga, Senior Officer of CEE Department at ACE. Discussions centred on strategies to integrate renewable energy solutions into buildings. Representatives from BGH, EBTKE, GGGI, and private sector stakeholders actively participated. 

Key discussions focused on practical considerations for deploying rooftop solar PV systems. Battery energy storage systems were emphasised as essential to enhance reliability, manage intermittency, and support backup power. The importance of system monitoring and design was highlighted to ensure optimal long-term performance and the need for clear net metering policies, streamlined grid connection processes, and standardised technical regulations to facilitate wider adoption. 

To support renewable energy planning and monitoring, several critical data types were identified: solar irradiation levels, seasonal variations, system performance metrics such as energy generation and availability, power quality and grid stability indicators, and financial indicators including cost savings, payback periods, and return on investment. 

Challenges raised included technical complexity, grid stability concerns, inconsistent policy implementation across jurisdictions, and limited access to financing. To address these issues, the group proposed enhancing the national building registry database with detailed renewable system inventories, integrated economic analysis tools, performance benchmarking features, and links between energy generation and consumption data. These improvements aim to streamline data reporting and improve decision-making for both policymakers and building stakeholders. 

The group also emphasised the need for widespread capacity building. Priority training areas included system design and installation, maintenance practices, economic evaluation methods, understanding of regulations, and policy development support. These efforts would help build the technical and institutional capacity required to support long-term renewable integration. The discussion concluded that accelerating renewable integration requires a coordinated approach combining technical standards, enabling policies, accessible financing mechanisms, and strong stakeholder capacity.  

 Photo 4. Renewable Energy Desk Participants Strategies on Sustainable Integration Solutions (left) and Discussion Result Presented by Rio Jon Piter Silitonga, Senior Officer of CEE at ACE (right). 

Conclusion: Low-Carbon Buildings through Collective Action 

A recurring theme throughout the FGD was the urgent need for capacity building. In response to the challenges and opportunities highlighted during the FGD, the ALCBT programme aims to provide targeted capacity building and technical assistance. Under this initiative, GGGI will lead training on green building principles, HEAT will offer capacity building on life-cycle assessment and MRV tools, and the Centre will deliver building energy management training. These efforts reflect a comprehensive and coordinated approach to empowering stakeholders and accelerating the transition toward energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings across the region.  

Through the ALCBT programme, the Centre reaffirms its commitment to advancing energy efficiency and low-carbon building practices across ASEAN. In collaboration with national and regional partners, the Centre will continue supporting the implementation of integrated solutions that ensure the building sector contributes actively to ASEAN’s sustainable development goals.