A new IEEFA report says Bangladesh is close to meeting its national energy efficiency goals, and that news offers a clear chance to cut bills, strengthen industry and protect the country against sudden fuel price shocks. The study finds energy efficiency improved by 13.64% over about a decade and shows that in the most recent year the nation avoided roughly seven million tonnes of oil equivalent in fuel use and saved about USD 3.34 billion in import costs. Those gains came from steady work by government agencies, growing public awareness and some shifts in how homes and factories use power. The report highlights that households and industry together use about two thirds of the country’s energy, so focusing on these sectors would bring the largest benefits. Simple steps would help: clear appliance standards and labels so buyers can choose efficient products, passive building design to cut cooling needs, and better motors and motor drives in factories to save power. Switching captive boilers to electric systems where practical and improving maintenance of machinery can also lower fuel use. The authors suggest enforcing the national building code to encourage design that keeps buildings cooler without relying on air conditioning, and they say lower import duties on efficient appliance components would make good products cheaper up front. To fund larger projects, the report recommends that the central bank support low-cost finance for efficiency investments and that Bangladesh work with development banks on special funds. Another idea is to set up a strong national energy service company to help homes and businesses find and pay for savings that pay back over time. The paper also asks for a clear monitoring system so progress is tracked and policies are fixed where they fall short. Energy efficiency is not only about saving money; it builds resilience by cutting dependence on imported fuels and helps industry stay competitive when global prices rise. If regulators, banks, utilities and companies coordinate, the report argues, Bangladesh can finish its targets early and create new jobs in installation, maintenance and testing of efficient systems. The message is practical: use labels, improve building rules, finance big upgrades and watch results, and the gains will show up as lower bills, stronger factories and a cleaner energy path that helps families and the wider economy. The study recommends that SREDA run awareness events and technical sessions so people and firms know what steps to take. It also asks for training centers and testing labs so local technicians can check and certify machines, and for pilot projects that show quick savings in real factories. Small and medium firms should get shared services so they can upgrade without big upfront costs. These steps are very effective.
