Energy Policy Development in a Non-OECD Context - Early Experiences of Energy Efficiency Policy for Residential Buildings in Argentina

The reliability of energy supply is crucial for the well-being of individuals and the prosperityof countries. At the same time, energy production is closely connected to CO2 emissions,which is believed to have an important impact on human-induced global warming. In light ofresultant, partly counteracting challenges, energy efficiency has gained increasing attention as ameans of ensuring energy supply, fostering a country's competitiveness and cost-effectivelymitigating CO2 emissions. Yet, evaluations of energy efficiency policies are often lacking orinsufficient. Moreover, researchers have tended to largely overlook energy efficiency policiesin non-OECD countries, although many developing countries are about to introduce energyefficiency policies. In order to shed particular light on the processes of early-stage implementation (including thedesign of specific policy instruments) in non-OECD countries, this research turns to aqualitative research agenda, mainly relying on interviews with key actors within policy making,business and academia. The specific object of study is constituted by PRONUREE – anumbrella policy for energy efficiency introduced in Argentina in 2007, and more specificallyon the programme's sections for the existing residential building stock. A theoretical processmodel of this umbrella policy is developed based on which the output of the policy is bothidentified and evaluated. The analysis is complemented by the further assessment oftransparency, administrative burden in the design process and the generation of businessopportunities. This study highlights that the output of PRONUREE has so far been rather limited. This ispartly attributed to the lack of transparency. In addition, a heavy burden of negotiation put onthe public authorities, which too impedes implementation, is revealed. By drawing on so-calledpolicy network theory, it is argued that particularly the lack of interaction between private,public and academic actors has hampered the proceeding of the programme. Furthermore,the study highlights the importance of (managing) expectations when assessing policyimplementation