FIVE ASIAN countries, including the Philippines, have improved energy efficiency by 30%, a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

"Energy efficiency improvements of at least 30% were observed in Cambodia, the PRC (People’s Republic of China), India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka," the ADB said in the Energy and Environment section of its Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013 report.

The Philippines was also one of seven economies that were said to have recorded energy efficiency in excess of the global average in 2010. The other economies were Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taipei.

"Several economies that recorded the biggest improvements in efficiency had access to cheap energy as states of the former Soviet Union, and their more efficient use in recent years can be partly attributed to increases in energy prices," the bank noted.

The ADB also said, "Efficiency in energy use is influenced by several factors, including changes in industrial structure, technology, and energy mix."

"Agriculture and services tend to generate higher GDP (gross domestic product) per unit of energy than manufacturing," it added.

Asia "accounted for almost 40% of global energy demand in 2010," far more than that of Europe and North America, the ADB said.

It further stated that most Asian economies require imports to meet energy demand, with Hong Kong, China and Singapore importing nearly all their energy requirements.

In comparison, the Philippines was the ninth biggest net energy importer, out of 29 countries, from 2008 to 2010.

The report also showed that Asia’s economic development has increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which contribute to climate change.

The highest per capita GHG emissions in 2010 came from Brunei, Australia and Kazakhstan. On the other end of the spectrum, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines were the lowest emitters, with Nepal producing the least emissions.