Episode Summary: Powering More With Less: All You Need To Know About Energy Efficiency

Podcast: World Bank | The Development Podcast
Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Tony Carasani
Guests:

• Jaz Singh, Lead Author, World Bank Group report “Power More with Less”
• Melanie Slade, International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Nitik Arya, Founder, Soga Bricks (India)

Main Theme

This episode takes a deep dive into the urgent global need for energy efficiency—unpacking why it matters, the economic and social opportunities it brings, and how systemic change can be achieved across policy, innovation, and everyday behaviors. Through expert interviews, practical examples (including a field report from India), and a discussion of new World Bank research, listeners are shown how “doing more with less” is pivotal to sustainable development, economic growth, and climate action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Big Picture: Why Energy Efficiency?

• Globally, two-thirds of energy is wasted, equivalent to 5% of global GDP lost every year, even as energy demand surges (Tony Carasani, 00:25).
• Energy efficiency is a win-win: It boosts economies, creates jobs, and reduces emissions.
• New World Bank report, “Power More with Less: Scaling up Energy Efficiency for Growth and Energy Security,” lays out the economic and policy case.

"If we gave the entire globe an energy efficiency rating, what would that be? It would probably be could do better."
— Tony Carasani (01:20)

2. Energy Efficiency in Action: India’s Cooling Challenge

Context

• Urban areas like New Delhi face extreme heat (up to 45°C) and rising energy demand for cooling (03:05).
• Many older buildings lack efficiency measures, intensifying the need (03:15).

Soga Bricks: A Solutions Story

• Entrepreneur Nitik Arya created a start-up making “hollow clay bricks” with strong insulating properties, reducing the need for cooling in buildings (03:44).
• The hollow bricks maintain interiors at 7–8°C cooler than outside, with local production reducing carbon footprint (04:48).
• Impact: Job creation (60–70 direct; 200+ indirect employees), affordable local insulation for schools and homes (06:05).
• World Bank’s role: Loan guarantees made the business possible, enabling scalable social and environmental impact.

“If there was no support from the World Bank then probably this business could not be started in India… I could not imagine this project to be successfully installed in India.”
— Nitik Arya (06:21)

3. Global Trends, Barriers and Levers

How Is the World Doing?

• Current progress is lagging: Energy efficiency improvements are only 1% per year; a 4% annual improvement is needed (Melanie Slade, 01:04 & 08:53).
• All needed technology is available now, and some countries have held 4% improvement rates before.

“We do have all the technologies we need to be able to do this. We don’t have to wait for anything.”
— Melanie Slade (08:53)

Barriers to Progress

• Market failures: Consumers lack information, financing, or incentives.
• Higher upfront costs for efficient appliances deter purchase, despite bigger savings over time (09:46).

“Consumers may not have the financing they need to pay for efficient appliances… it’s not always easy to decide which one is going to provide the best efficiency… The job of government and World Bank and others is to help overcome those barriers.”
— Jaz Singh (09:46)

4. Sector Focus: Cooling

• Air cooling is the single largest and fastest-growing driver of new electricity demand in buildings: Now 9% of global demand (10:54).
• Equity is a challenge: Only 10% of Indian households own air conditioners, but sales are rapidly increasing (10:54).
• Policy misconception: More ambitious efficiency requirements need not restrict access or raise costs—efficient appliances can be cost-neutral, with major running cost savings (11:40).

“We challenge the sense that governments say they can’t introduce more ambitious policy… You can be more ambitious… at reasonable cost.”
— Melanie Slade (12:52)

5. Economic and Broader Social Benefits

• $1 invested in energy efficiency yields $3–$5 in benefits: Job creation, growth, reduced imports (06:47, 13:43).
• Achieving 4% annual gains by 2030 would add $2 trillion to the global economy (13:43).
• Jobs and productivity: Energy efficiency is the largest source of new energy-sector jobs (11 million jobs in 2022; 06:47).
• Impacts beyond economics: Improves health, comfort, learning, and reduces medical bills through better housing (14:59).

“Energy efficiency is the one fuel that every country has in abundance. It’s a home grown fuel.”
— Melanie Slade (14:59)

6. Building Coalitions & Policy Solutions

• System-scale change is needed: From financing/information to market organization and workforce training (16:47).
• Behavioral inertia and fragmented markets are key obstacles; competition, information, and policy can help overcome these (16:47).
• Success stories exist: National programs in India, China, and Mexico (17:56).
• Capacity building: IEA initiated energy efficiency policymaker training for peer learning (19:08).

7. Optimism and Forward Steps

• Global momentum is building: COP28 saw all countries commit to doubling energy efficiency improvement rates (19:54).
• The European Union, China, and India are highlighted as leaders (20:11).
• Technological acceleration is rapid: e.g., Green data centers, advances in heat pumps, new financing models (20:32).

“Every time a new challenge presents itself, the speed of the innovation is staggering.”
— Jaz Singh (20:32)
“We have all the ingredients we need… You just need to get on with it.”
— Melanie Slade (20:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Energy efficiency is basically using less energy to provide the same level of service… If you just expand this to cars and machinery and everything else, how much more we can do with much less energy than we’re using today.”—Jaz Singh (08:04)
• “Study after study shows that $1 the government invests in energy efficiency will yield 3 to $5 in benefits… The benefits are literally there waiting to be tapped.”—Jaz Singh (13:43)
• “The poor spend a much higher share of their income on energy. Anything we can do to ease that burden will have ripple effects in the economy.”—Jaz Singh (17:54)
• “Energy efficient jobs are often really long term, local jobs… more comfortable workplaces make people more productive.”—Melanie Slade (15:14)

Important Timestamps

• [00:25] — Introduction: Why energy efficiency matters globally
• [03:15] — Energy and cooling needs in New Delhi, India
• [04:44] — Soga Bricks: Hollow bricks for insulation and efficiency
• [06:21] — World Bank’s role in SME energy-efficiency innovation
• [08:04] — Practical definition of energy efficiency (Jaz Singh)
• [08:53] — The world’s current progress and required improvement rates (Mel Slade)
• [10:54] — Why cooling is central to the efficiency challenge
• [13:43] — Economic impact: quantifying the value of energy efficiency
• [16:47] — Coalition-building and the need for scaled action
• [19:08] — Policymaker capacity and knowledge-sharing
• [19:54] — International commitment and hope for the future

Conclusion

This episode demystifies energy efficiency as a practical, policy, and innovation challenge. It’s not just about turning off lights or saving money, but about building resilient, job-creating economies, tackling inequality, and achieving climate goals—using solutions and technologies available today. With investment, policy ambition, and concerted effort, “doing more with less” is both achievable and beneficial for all.