# Energy Efficiency Policies to Face Buildings' Climate Change Effects in Paraguay
## 4 Review of Good Practices for Paraguay
### About Building Design  
#### 4.2.1 Passive Measures and Efficient Appliances Effects  
In 2005, research was carried out aiming to identify passive cooling systems applicable to urban dwellings built in the western region of Paraguay. The study proposed a typology of single-family urban dwelling, implementing passive cooling techniques that adapt technologically, bioclimatic and economically to the socio-environmental situation of the case study. It was shown that it is possible to achieve a reduction in energy consumption with the implementation of energy-efficient alternatives, which do not represent a decrease in the indoor quality of life. According to the economic analysis, it was also shown that it is possible to amortise the investment over 8.5 years [82]. A study developed by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [83] assessed the energy consumption of single-family dwellings located in Central, Paraguay. The goal was to design a methodology allowing to identify the areas with energy-saving potential and at the same time, to achieve thermal comfort in the dwellings located in a subtropical climate. The authors pointed out that the analysed buildings were constructed with the premise that energy is an abundant resource and is obtained at very low prices. Through the implementation of passive techniques to achieve energy savings, the authors concluded that it is possible to obtain a constructive and technological proposal to improve comfort, reduce costs and minimise the environmental impact of the building. The National Government is continually trying to carry out actions to promote good practices and raise citizens' awareness regarding the importance of rational use of energy. In this perspective, in 2010 a \"Basic Guide of Energy Efficiency, Architecture and Sustainable Mobility\" was launched, aiming to make EE part of people's daily lives and to change the culture of energy waste, which has been installed in the country throughout the years. The authors pointed out that the Guide aimed to initiate the structure of change, which has been so difficult to introduce in the country; to achieve a collective awareness to save energy and distribute it better among the population; improve the energy matrix, reduce dependence on imported hydrocarbons and thus contributing effectively to EE, architecture and sustainable mobility in Paraguay [40]. Within this Guide, there is a section called \"The new dwelling\" in which it is emphasised that dwellings with insufficient insulation and low thermal performance of exterior walls and glazing, in addition to not being comfortable, cause high expenses due to its high-energy consumption as time passes. Considering this, some recommendations regarding the benefits of bioclimatic architecture, advice on the shape and orientation of dwellings, the envelope of buildings, colours to be used on exterior roofs and walls, implementation of natural lighting and ventilation were presented. Finally, it is emphasised that good bioclimatic design can produce savings up to 70% for the air conditioning and lighting of the dwelling with only a 15% increase over the standard cost of construction. These findings agree with some scientific research which considered cities with similar climatic conditions to Paraguay [84; 85; 86] and demonstrated that with the use of passive techniques it is possible to keep indoor temperatures of buildings lower than the outdoor temperature. Furthermore, some recommendations to enhance the buildings' thermal performance were presented. At an urban level, the passive techniques are effective in decreasing the heat island effect, and some techniques can be reviewed in [87; 88; 89]. In 2012, a research paper developed a prototype of bioclimatic social dwelling and evaluated its energy demand and comfort conditions according to the climate in Paraguay. The authors concluded that with correct zoning it is possible to optimise energy consumption throughout the year.