Experts urge energy-efficient appliances, regular energy audits

Chattogram Bureau: Experts have called for wider use of energy-efficient appliances in households and industries, alongside regular energy audits, to reduce energy waste, improve efficiency and support Bangladesh’s transition to clean and sustainable energy.Dr Jamal Uddin Ahmed, director of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), made the call while presenting the keynote paper at a discussion marking World Standards Day at the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) Chattogram divisional office on Wednesday.The discussion was held at the conference room of the BSTI divisional office in the Jamburi Field area of Agrabad. This year’s theme was “A Shared Vision for a Better World: Affordable and Clean Energy.”In his keynote presentation, Dr Jamal highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. He stressed the need to combine different energy sources and expand the use of renewable energy technologies.He said maintaining proper quality standards for solar panels, inverters, batteries and other renewable energy equipment was essential to achieving the desired efficiency and ensuring safety.Although Bangladesh has made significant progress in expanding electricity access, he said stronger quality control and improved laboratory facilities were necessary to achieve the country's renewable energy targets of 20 per cent by 2030 and 30 per cent by 2041, as outlined in his presentation.Praising BSTI’s solar module and inverter testing laboratory, Dr Jamal underscored the importance of standards-based industrialisation in building a sustainable future.“Sustainable development begins with standards,” he said, stressing that energy efficiency and reliable product quality must go hand in hand.Speaking as the chief guest, Chattogram Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) and Director (Local Government) Monowara Begum urged BSTI to maintain uncompromising standards in its certification and monitoring activities.She said licences should be issued only after ensuring that products fully meet the required quality standards.Referring to the newly constructed building and modern laboratory facilities in Chattogram, one of the country's principal commercial centres, she said the improved infrastructure was intended to ensure faster and more convenient services for stakeholders without unnecessary harassment.Warning against deceptive business practices, including changing expiry dates on products, she said quality assurance would remain difficult unless people placed public welfare and human values above personal interests.She also suggested installing promotional banners at major shopping malls to raise public awareness of BSTI’s services and activities.Presiding over the meeting, BSTI Chattogram Office Chief and Deputy Director (Metrology) Md Momen Us Sajjad highlighted the significance of World Standards Day and presented statistics on the divisional office’s contributions to product quality assurance and market monitoring.He said the office was working to strengthen testing facilities, including the testing of vitamin A in edible oil and other essential products through modern laboratories.Maintaining product standards, he noted, not only benefits businesses but also helps protect the environment and build a sustainable economy.To make services more accessible to consumers, BSTI has introduced digital services, QR codes and a helpline, 16119, he said.He also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to regular mobile court operations and legal action against dishonest traders to strengthen quality control in the market.Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Md Saidzaman, another special guest, described the BSTI logo as a symbol of public trust and called on businesses to act more responsibly in ensuring product quality and promoting Bangladeshi goods in international markets.He emphasised the importance of introducing energy audits to prevent waste, making information more accessible through QR codes and strengthening market surveillance to ensure that products sold to consumers meet required standards.SM Nazer Hossain, president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and a special guest, stressed the need for greater public awareness to prevent adulteration and ensure fair prices for essential goods and services.He called for continued market monitoring and mobile court operations against dishonest traders, adding that BSTI, social organisations and concerned citizens should work together to ensure accurate weights and measurements.He also urged greater cooperation among stakeholders to establish a safe, fair and non-discriminatory marketplace. The discussion was conducted by Assistant Directors (Certification Marks) Shimu Biswas and Farhana Jahan Parul. Deputy Director (Chemistry) Ibrahim Khalil also spoke at the event.