ASIATODAY.ID, SELANGOR – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE, or the Centre) has officially launched the implementation of the Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings in ASEAN (PEEB ASEAN) through a kick-off meeting held in Selangor, Malaysia, on May 19, 2025. Financed by France through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), PEEB ASEAN serves as a 4-year-long initiative to support ASEAN’s transition towards more energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable buildings.
The meeting brought together approximately 15 participants both in-person and online, including representatives from 9 ASEAN Member States (AMS), the ASEAN Energy Efficiency & Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN), the EE&C-SSN Working Group for Building, ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), as well as invited International Organisations and Dialogue Partners (DPs). They gathered to discuss the programme’s goals, implementation strategy, framework, and work plan moving forward. The programme was officially established with the grant signing on 10 June 2024 and is scheduled to run until 30 June 2028.
As of 2020, the building sector in ASEAN accounted for 23% of total final energy consumption and 23% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Without targeted interventions, building energy consumption is projected to grow 90% by 2050. Hence, the PEEB ASEAN Programme was developed to address the pressing challenge of ASEAN’s growing building energy consumption amid meeting regional energy targets. This programme is also a part of ASEAN’s efforts in reducing 32% energy intensity by 2025, a target which is outlined in ASEAN’s regional blueprint—the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II (2016-2025).
Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) and Strategic Partnership Department at ACE, expressed enthusiasm for the commencement of the programme and underscores the importance of making ASEAN’s building sector more energy efficient. He noted, “PEEB ASEAN marks a significant milestone in ASEAN’s journey towards a more energy-efficient and climate-resilient future. With this kick-off meeting, we lay the foundation for the programme’s future activities and targeted actions in reducing emissions from ASEAN’s building sector. As the next cycle of the APAEC is under development, this programme further sets a strong precedent for integrating energy efficiency in buildings as a strategic priority. Moreover, the Centre expresses gratitude to the AFD for this collaboration and shared commitment to advance the region’s energy landscape.”
Guillaume Monceaux, PEEB Programme Manager of AFD highlighted the significance of this kick-off meeting, stating, “This kick-off meeting is a pivotal first step in translating our shared commitment to transforming ASEAN’s building sector. We recognise that reducing emissions and meeting regional energy targets is a fundamental priority, hence investing in energy-efficient buildings presents an opportunity to advance ASEAN’s journey towards sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Centre through PEEB ASEAN.”
PEEB ASEAN aims to ensure high energy and environmental performance standards in ASEAN’s building sector. Implemented by the Centre, it will achieve its outcome through four (4) key outputs: enhancing the ASEAN regulatory and policy landscape for energy efficiency in buildings, improving knowledge availability through a digital hub, providing capacity-building support to decision-makers, and accelerating implementation of targeted enabling activities in selected ASEAN Member States (AMS).
This kick-off meeting also discussed PEEB ASEAN’s governance and management structure, which includes a Programme Steering Committee (PSC) comprising representatives from the ASEC, ACE, AFD, and AMS through the EE&C-SSN Focal points. The PSC will be overseeing strategic implementations, approving work plans, and monitoring implementation progress. Technical Working Groups composed of government representatives from each AMS will also be formed to provide technical support, facilitate data collection, and engage with relevant stakeholders within each country.
Within its project period, PEEB ASEAN will raise awareness, drive action, and share knowledge on the importance of energy efficiency in buildings to achieve energy targets. Its communication strategy targets primary audiences including government officials, private sector stakeholders, and regional organizations, as well as secondary audiences such as the general public, media, and academia. Activities will include webinars, competitions, website content, social media campaigns, and publications.
PEEB ASEAN’s kick-off meeting marks a significant milestone in the Centre and AFD’s collaboration. As the programme implementation moves forward, PEEB ASEAN will contribute to ASEAN’s regional efforts in achieving a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape through strengthening policy framework, disseminate knowledge, and supporting AMS in transforming the region’s building sector into becoming more energy efficient. (AT Network)
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