The Cabinet has approved the National Housing Authority (NHA) to advance the energy-saving green home project after the Global Environment Facility (GEF) allocated over $3.14 million USD to develop Green Home No. 5, piloting seven rental building projects to help low-income groups reduce long-term expenses.
On 22 September 2026, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), through the National Housing Authority (NHA), to proceed with the “Project to Promote Energy-Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Housing in Thailand.” This follows Thailand receiving funding approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of $3,141,142 USD via cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The project aims to apply international knowledge, technology, and standards to develop an energy-saving green home system accessible to low- and middle-income earners.
Mr. Nikorn Somklang, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, revealed that today the Cabinet approved the “Project to Promote Energy-Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Housing in Thailand,” proposed by the Ministry through the National Housing Authority. This marks an important opportunity to advance Thailand’s housing development in line with international trends, focusing not only on housing security but also on quality of life, energy efficiency, lifetime costs, and environmental impact.
Mr. Nikorn added that the project's significance lies not only in building energy-efficient homes but also in adapting international knowledge, technology, and approaches into standards suitable for Thailand’s context. A key outcome is developing the “Green Home No. 5” standard and labeling system for both low-rise and high-rise residences, along with establishing a database of energy-saving technologies appropriate for Thailand’s climate. This knowledge base will enable systematic expansion and future housing development.
He further emphasized that the core goal is to ensure the benefits of this development reach the people, especially low- and middle-income earners, enabling access to quality housing that uses energy efficiently and reduces long-term costs. Therefore, besides developing standards and technology, the project focuses on studying financial mechanisms to increase access to energy-efficient housing, encouraging private sector participation, and exploring low-interest funding options for long-term expansion. Upgrading housing standards truly matters only when people can access and benefit from them, Mr. Nikorn said.
Mr. Tawepong Wichaidit, Governor of the National Housing Authority, stated that the project results from collaboration among NHA, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) to prepare and submit a proposal to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Round 7 (GEF7) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the GEF Agency. GEF approved funding of $3,141,142 USD. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, via NHA, collaborates with the Thai Environment Institute Foundation (TEI) as a co-managing agency.
Following the Cabinet’s approval today, NHA is ready to drive the project forward to tangible results. NHA’s key role is to transform this international cooperation opportunity into practical outcomes within Thailand’s housing development system. This effort will not end with the pilot project but will develop into knowledge, standards, and tools for future housing development. Crucially, “green homes” must not be limited to upper-class housing but be applicable to ordinary housing accessible to the general public. This will be supported by personnel development, knowledge transfer, and awareness-raising to prepare for broader adoption and expansion.
To implement the concept, NHA plans to pilot in seven rental building projects totaling 1,373 units by applying energy efficiency technologies and materials such as solar cells for common areas and wastewater treatment electrical systems, double roof structures, lightweight brick walls, and solar-control glass. The project targets a direct greenhouse gas emission reduction of 163,516 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Additionally, the initiative will extend to NHA’s other housing projects and external housing markets, potentially reducing indirect greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.25 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, Mr. Tawepong said.
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