The Ministry of Environment and Sevea Co. Ltd. officially launched the third season (2025–2026) of the “Power Wise” competition today, July 11, aiming to promote energy savings in commercial buildings, reduce costs and contribute to mitigating climate change.
“Power Wise” is an initiative designed to accelerate energy efficiency in Cambodia’s commercial sector, representing an important step in the country’s commitment to sustainable development.
Ministry undersecretary of state Khvay Atitya told the media at the launch ceremony that the initiative not only offers notable economic benefits but also demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
He described the programme as a key mechanism contributing to climate change solutions.
“Participating buildings can achieve significant cost savings by improving energy efficiency, which also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The creation of more energy-efficient infrastructure provides immediate benefits for building managers by lowering operational costs in Cambodia and ultimately fostering a more attractive investment climate,” he said.
Season 1 (2021–2022) saw the participation of 22 commercial buildings, while Season 2 (2023–2024) had an additional 21 buildings join, with a total of over 5,000 staff members involved. Across both seasons, participants saved over 460,236 kWh — equivalent to $78,200 — and avoided 348 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Studies show that up to 30 per cent of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted. The third season has been launched with support tailored to each participant’s needs, offering modern tools, expert guidance and personalised solutions that aim to encourage meaningful behavioural change.
Frantz Vaganay, director of Sevea, said that while over 40 buildings have so far joined, he has set the target of increasing this to over 50 buildings in season three.
“Every year, we embark new buildings, new participants … It’s a to-be-continued programme. Every year, we continue to embark new buildings to sensitise new employees,” he said.
“We will have more and more buildings over time, but what I want to explain to you is this is a long-term programme and long-term commitment that will not just stop after two or three editions,” he added.
Season 3 is officially supported by the environment ministry and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, with a continued focus on improving national energy efficiency. The competition element serves as a platform for understanding varied approaches to energy efficiency and promotes behavioural and social changes in daily energy use.
Atitya pointed out that in Cambodia, the building and construction sector consumes over half of the country’s total energy, more than industry and transport.
Moreover, energy use in buildings is expected to more than double by 2040.
Some companies in Cambodia are already taking the lead in tackling this issue through participation in the national energy efficiency competition.
“Energy is used for everyday life and development, but to respond to global challenges like climate change, we must act. We’re seeing temperatures rise. The world is now seriously thinking about how to prevent further warming,” he said.
“To use energy effectively, we must know how to save it. That’s why this competition platform was created — to raise public and business awareness and drive behavioural change, to reduce excessive energy use which impacts expenses, health and the environment through climate change,” he added.
The competition has revealed participants’ strong commitment to reducing energy use, with savings ranging from 10 to 25 per cent reported.
He expressed the hope that more partners and organisations will join Season 3 to further boost its effectiveness and outcomes.
Beyond economic and environmental benefits, energy efficiency is also a strategic tool for increasing the resilience of Cambodia’s economy. Combating climate change cannot succeed without the active participation of all stakeholders — private sector, institutions, NGOs and the public.
The programme reflects the government’s commitment to energy efficiency, which is supported by national policies and initiatives, including the National Energy Efficiency Policy 2022–2030, which aims to reduce energy consumption by 19 per cent by 2030.
It aligns with Cambodia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN) and the Environmental Sector Master Plan 2023–2028, all crucial for meeting the country’s 2050 climate goals.
Through implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Policy (NEEP), the competition directly supports the goal of reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings.
The environment ministry and Sevea called on commercial building owners, tenant institutions, private companies, NGOs, educational institutions and others to register for the programme to save money, increase competitiveness and become sustainability leaders.
Registration is simple and available online at: https://forms.gle/zZtS7EULgadwyx1PA
