# Energy Efficiency Policies to Face Buildings' Climate Change Effects in Paraguay
## 3 Review of Paraguayan Actions
### The Road Toward EE in Paraguay
The National Institute of Technology and Standardization oversees the development of technical standards in the Country. In recent years, this Institution has carried out several works in the field of sustainable construction, energy efficiency and for the expansion of renewable energy. It has a Technical Committee for Standardization (_Comite Tecnico Nacional_, CTN) specifically oriented to sustainable construction (CTN 55) and another focused on energy efficiency (CTN 51) [44]. The CTN \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{142.3 pt} p{142.3 pt}} \hline \hline
**Paraguay EE Evolution** & **Energy Efficiency Weaknesses, Objectives, Progress, Challenges and Barriers** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Weaknesses detected in 2013 for the implementation of EE measures [6].} & Limited financial resources in public institutions. \\  & Easy access to inefficient equipment (lower costs). \\  & Low level of consumers’ awareness of available options and their importance. \\  & Lack of technical capacity of state organization staff. \\  & Few outstanding projects focused on greenhouse gas mitigation \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Specific objectives set in the PNEE [38]} & Implement a regulatory framework that optimizes energy consumption in the country. \\  & Promote EE programs that contemplate technological innovation in different sectors. \\  & Boost the culture of efficient use of energy. \\  & Identify sectors with greater EE potential in the country’s energy matrix. \\  & Encourage different actors to realise their EE potential in their respective sectors. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Progress after two years of PNEE implementation [42]} & Creation of energy labelling standards for equipment and appliances (CTN 51). \\  & Activities to promote the efficient use of energy, seminars and events at a national level. \\  & Implementation of efficient lighting projects in a mall and the creation of a project for a public entity. \\  & Estimation of saving potential in electrical energy based on the improvement of EE in the residential sector. \\  & Creation of training programs for professionals in the efficient and rational use of energy. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Challenges to be overcome by CNEE [42]} & Strengthen the National EE Committee. \\  & Quantify the EE potential by sectors. \\  & Implement the pilot project created for a public entity. \\  & Develop an appropriate legal framework for EE in the country. \\  & Ensure the necessary funding sources. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Cultural barriers detected in the country to improve EE [43]} & Lack of consumer awareness about advantages of rational and efficient use of energy. \\  & Bad habits of the citizenship that produce a great waste of energy due to the abundant availability. \\  & The low costs of inefficient electrical appliances. \\  & Identify sectors with greater EE potential in the country’s energy matrix. \\  & Lack of interest, by state and private sector, about investing in EE projects. \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Some goals and deadlines for the EE action plan in the Energy Policy Paraguay 2040 [39]} & Promote plans for public and private financing of EE projects and technologies (short term). \\  & (short term). \\ \cline{1-1}  & Pruning of professionals working in energy management institutions (short term). \\ \cline{1-1}  & Identify international cooperation organizations and prioritise their areas of interest (short term). \\ \cline{1-1}  & Carry out programs for the dissemination of EE through awareness-raising campaigns (short term). \\ \cline{1-1}  & Improve EE in the building sector through the creation of certification projects and energy labelling (short term). \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} Note: CNEE—National Energy Efficiency Committee; PNEE—National Energy Efficiency Plan (published by CNEE).  
\end{table} 
Table 1: Overview of energy efficiency situation in Paraguay.