Energy efficiency potentials of public buildings in Colombia

Implementation of energy audits and development of innovative financing instruments for public buildings in Colombia

Client

Worldbank

Duration September 2020 – Februar 2022

Background

The implementation of an energy management plan in public buildings is mainly based on the Colombian Law 1715 of 2014, the indicative action plan of the Program for the Rational Use of Energy -PROURE- and on the National Development Plan 2018-2022. According to Article 30 of Law 1715, which regulates the integration of renewable energies, public administrations must set energy efficiency objectives for all their buildings, to be achieved through energy efficient management measures. These are implemented with funds allocated by each institution. So far, this law has not yet been implemented in all public administration buildings. Through the National Development Plan 2018-2022, the “Pact for Colombia, Pact for Justice”, adopted in the Law 1955 of 2019 (Article 292), requires that the investment plans of public administrations include the performance of audits of sources, the setting of energy efficiency targets and measures to achieve these targets.

The composition of the energy consumption for the commercial and public sectors shows that electrical energy accounts for 67% of the total consumption, with electricity being the source with the highest demand. Natural gas follows with 25% and LPG with 8%. Overall, the commercial and public sector consumes approximately 6% (71.1 PJ) of the energy consumed in the long term (BECO, 2018). The energy consumption of public administration buildings is important for lighting and the equipment used for air conditioning of the rooms. These uses represent the uses with higher energy demand. These end uses can be reduced not only by energy efficiency and organizational measures and strategies for rational energy use, but also by implementing passive architectural measures.

Project goals and results

The objectives of the project are:

  • Evaluation of the energy demand and the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public buildings in Colombia.
  • Identification of potential energy efficiency investments through the development of 24 detailed energy audits and assessments in different types of buildings such as education, health/hospital buildings and administrative offices.
  • Development of an investment program for the implementation of energy efficiency measures for further multiplication in Colombia for all public buildings in Colombia.
  • Development of innovative financing instruments in discussion with key stakeholders in workshops and energy policy recommendations taking into account researched barriers.

Tasks of IREES

  • Advising the Worldbank on the identification and prioritization of suitable public buildings for energy audits and analysis.

  • Support and quality assurance of the energy audit methodology, integration of key stakeholders, non-energy benefits, building simulation and potential analysis for Colombia.

  • Technical project management, coordination of the tasks in the team, quality assurance of the results and communication with the Worldbank.

  • Preparation of investment plans and portfolio, development of innovative financing instruments and political recommendations for action.

Project partner(s)

  • Corpoema

  • IDE-E

STAFF