Energy-efficient electronic products gaining popularity

Manufacturers are increasingly moving toward energy-efficient electronics and electrical and engineering products due to rising awareness of environmental sustainability.

A decade ago when solar home systems started to garner attention, solar energy was limited to small-scale power solutions that could light up homes, charge mobile phones and run radios and TVs. 

In recent years, the use of solar energy has diversified and renewable energy is being used to run power pumps, water pumps, solar street lights and solar fridges, to name a few. 

The demand for environment-friendly products is going up, said M Jocelin, sales manager of Shenzhen Yingli New Energy Resources Company Ltd of China.

His company produces solar panels, LED bulbs, fans, TVs, radios and mobile phone chargers that could be run by solar power. The products were displayed at the seventh International Innovation and Development Expo held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Rahimafrooz Distribution Ltd, a concern of Rahimafrooz Group, has brought in hotel room solutions made by France's Hager, a leading supplier of solutions and services for electrical installations in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

The solutions are controlled by a key card, which can be used to regulate energy consumption in a room.

The company has already supplied the solutions to five major hotels in Bangladesh and is in the process of installing another three, said Reza Noor Alam, a senior official of the company. 

Allied Solar has brought in, among other products, street lights with built-in battery, said Rasheduzzaman Raju, assistant manager for sales and marketing of the company.

Honeycom IT & Automation's home automation system can reduce carbon emissions by 35 percent and water use by 40 percent and save energy by 50 percent, said Imtiaz Ahmed, the company's commissioning engineer.

SSG Solar, Bengal Solar and Rangpur Metal Industries also displayed their products at the three-day exhibition of eco-friendly industrial equipment makers, which ended yesterday. AGM Saifullah, assistant manager of Hamko Electric & Electronics, said a shift to energy-efficient technologies and operations can save companies a huge amount of money.

The price of energy-efficient products and solutions is also coming down gradually. An LED light that sold for Tk 1,100 two years ago is now priced at Tk 600, he said. 

The cost of renewable energy is changing a lot, with the prices of solar having slumped 90 percent.

In many cases, solar and onshore wind energies are actually competitive with other sources of energy, according to experts. 

Some 130 companies from 13 countries, including Bangladesh, showcased efficient generators, solar PV and irrigation pumps, intelligent fire safety and building construction equipment, LED lighting, heat control and air-conditioning systems, eco-industrial products, latest green technology and services in the exhibition.

ExpoNet Exhibition and 360 Total Solution organised the event.