Policy Development in a Non-OECD Context Energy Efficiency Policy for Argentine Buildings

Energy efficiency has gained attention as an important means of ensuring energy supply, fostering countries’ competitiveness and cost-effectively mitigating CO2 emissions. Yet, evaluations of energy efficiency policies are often lacking or insufficient. Moreover, researchers have tended to overlook these types of policies in non-OECD countries, although at this very moment many of these countries are about to introduce them. This study has sought to assess energy efficiency policy design, implementation and results in non-OECD countries–using Argentina as an example. The focus is on PRONUREE, an energy efficiency policy programme introduced in Argentina in 2007, and more specifically on this policy programme’s sections concerning the existing stock of residential buildings. The study relies on a qualitative research approach and interviews with key players within policy-making, business and academia. Based on this, the programme’s output has been assessed. The broader analysis has been complemented by a more detailed assessment of the transparency and administrative burden in the design process. This study’s results indicate that the output of PRONUREE has been rather limited. The only specific outcome regarding building construction and installed systems is the initiation of the development of a voluntary classification scheme for building envelopes. Moreover, transparency was lacking throughout the process, and a heavy burden of negotiation put on policy makers was revealed. The study concludes that the limited output is partly attributable to a lack of transparency and policy makers’ limited resources. Drawing on so-called policy network theory, it is argued that the lack of interaction between private, public and academic players has hampered the programme’s progression. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of considering (the management of) expectations of actual policy implementation in the study of policy development