The fastest, cheapest way to cut emissions is to use less energy in the first place
Energy efficiency reduces bills, lowers emissions, and can be deployed faster than almost any other climate solution. Yet across Southeast Asia, it remains one of the most underutilised tools of the transition.
1/3
of the emissions reductions needed by 2030 could come from energy efficiency alone
International Energy Agency (IEA)
The fastest, cheapest way to cut emissions is to use less energy in the first place
Energy efficiency reduces bills, lowers emissions, and can be deployed faster than almost any other climate solution. Yet across Southeast Asia, it remains one of the most underutilised tools of the transition.
The triple benefit of energy efficiency
Lower bills
Reduced energy use means lower costs for households, businesses, and industry.
Lower emissions
Using less energy means generating less of it , cutting carbon at the source.
Deployable now
Efficiency measures can be implemented faster than new generation capacity.
Why efficiency matters
Energy efficiency is not just an environmental measure — it is an economic one. Lower energy consumption means lower costs for households, businesses, and governments. It reduces pressure on grids, extends the life of infrastructure, and improves the comfort, safety, and liveability of the buildings where people live and work.
Our work — Cambodia
An ambitious target, and the work to reach it
Cambodia has committed to a 19% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 through its National Energy Efficiency Policy. Reaching that target will require faster electrification, better consumer information, and stronger standards for buildings and appliances.
19%
target reduction in Cambodia’s energy
consumption by 2030
Building Energy Code
The Building Energy Code (BEC) is a set of regulations that help moderate energy demand by setting building energy performance standards. These are critical to mitigate peak-load pressures, enabling integration of renewable energy, lowering medium-term energy infrastructure costs, and improving the resilience of the electricity system.
EnergyLab Asia is supporting the development of Cambodia’s first Building Energy Code, working in partnership with ESCAP and the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC). Our work has included a baseline assessment of Cambodia’s building sector, stakeholder consultations, and development of the phased roadmap guiding Cambodia from its current voluntary guidelines toward a mandatory code by 2027–2028. With commercial floor space projected to grow fivefold by 2040 and building electricity demand set to double without intervention, getting this regulatory foundation right is critical to curbing demand growth and meeting Cambodia’s NDC 3.0 targets.
Coordination across sectors
We work to align development partners and the private sector around a shared agenda — making sure efforts reinforce rather than duplicate each other as Cambodia works toward its efficiency targets.