The Energy Efficiency Network for Latin America and the Caribbean

Mentor POVEDA, 2012

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The history and objectives of the LAC-EE Network

Europe has planned to reach 20% of its energy balance produced by renewable energies in 2020. In Latin America and the Caribbean, this contribution already reached 25% in 2010 and it is increasing with the development of hydroelectric resources, which to date are only exploited at 25%. Under these conditions, in this region, energy efficiency is the most appropriate contribution to the global effort to combat climate change.

The great potential of energy efficiency has not been exploited as much as it should be, for this reason a group of visionary professionals concerned with the development of energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean is behind this « public-private » initiative, which was prompted by two meetings held at the regional level.

The first of these meetings was held in Rio de Janeiro on 22 and 23 November 2007. Only a few countries from the region were represented at this meeting, but all present supported the implementation of such an initiative. At the second meeting, held in Mexico City on October 28 and 29, 2010 and attended by representatives of ten countries of the region and some international organizations, including OLADE, a Transitional Steering Committee was created.

This Committee first gave a name to the initiative and defined the organizational structure by setting the first rules of operation. It invited the countries to hold the first General Assembly of the Network during the IV Latin American and Caribbean Seminar of OLADE dedicated to energy efficiency. This seminar was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on August 3 and 4, 2011. 25 OLADE member countries were represented as well as international and multilateral institutions and many private companies interested in energy efficiency. On August 2, 2011, the day before the opening of the seminar, the General Council met in Assembly, bringing together representatives of each country and future sponsors of the Network. The Assembly decided the official launch of the initiative and appointed its representatives to the Management Committee. The Network is articulated around the General Council, the Management Committee and the Executive Board. The General Council is the highest body of the Network, the members are the official representatives of the countries and sponsors. The Management Committee is composed of seven members, three of whom are elected from among the representatives of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and three of whom represent the sponsors who provide the bulk of the funding needed by the Network. A final member, who coordinates the Committee, is appointed by a regional institution. The Executive Board is chaired by the Executive Director, elected by the General Council.

The first Assembly of the General Council was held on August 2 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the presence of representatives from 19 countries of the region, OLADE and 4 potential sponsors. The Management Committee met on August 3, and its members are George Alves Soares, representative of the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil, Victorio Oxilia Dávalos, Executive Secretary of OLADE, Juan Manuel Carreras, Director of the Trust for Electric Energy Savings, William Phillips, Director of the Chilean Energy Efficiency Agency, Mario Cáceres, Directorate of Energy Efficiency - National Energy Council of El Salvador; Glycon García, Representative of the International Copper Association (ICA-International Copper Association) and Eletrobras of Brazil, represented by Mr. Soares. The general objective of the Network is to contribute to the development of energy efficiency by organizing the exchange and dissemination of technical, legal and regulatory information among institutions and professionals in the region.

The specific objectives are the following :

1. To constitute a permanent forum for discussion and exchange of experiences to develop energy efficiency at the national and especially regional level.

2. To promote national policies that contribute to creating a favorable climate for energy efficiency.

3. To disseminate the conclusions of the experience gained in the implementation of national programs and/or the realization of energy efficiency measures.

4. To share, through thematic groups, experiences in the implementation of appropriate technologies, especially those that are innovative in the region.

5. To promote and encourage meetings between professionals, associations and organizations of all origins that can contribute to the objectives of the Network.

Activities carried out

The discussion group operates on the Internet, with participants exchanging experiences and information about national energy efficiency laws and programs and technology applications specific to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The discussion focused on the application of the ISO 5°.001 standard and the dissemination programs that have been implemented in several countries. Other topics that were intensely discussed : energy efficiency indicators, energy efficiency implementation and certification in buildings, technical standards and energy labeling, thermal power plant efficiency and the institutional dimension of energy efficiency.

Benefits to Network members

The Network is unique in that it integrates all those interested in energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean, and also allows specialists who do not reside in the region to take an interest in the progress of these countries in energy efficiency. These specialists range from industrialists who want to offer services and equipment to academics who want to better understand the reality of the region’s countries in this area.

The benefits for the Network members, institutions or individuals, as well as sponsors, can be summarized as follows :

1. Dissemination of the requests to all the participants of the Network.

2. Promotion of the offer of equipment.

3. Identification of experts in a specific field.

4. Preliminary advice on energy efficiency.

5. Availability of specialized publications.

6. Information about websites related to specific topics.

7. Access to the entire group of specialists living in the region and outside the region, members of the Network to carry out consultations, give opinions, share experiences and best practices, etc.

All members of the Network can acquire information spaces that are visible to all visitors to the region and, for a preferential payment, have access to all the services offered by the Network, namely the promotion of the supply and demand of energy services and equipment, the identification of experts and the preliminary advice service offered by the Network.

Sponsors have access, free of charge, to the regional dissemination spaces, the promotion of supply and demand of services and equipment, the identification of experts, the preliminary advice service and the mailing of the Network’s periodic newsletter, as well as to the publications they wish to acquire.

Any institution or person who is not a member of the Network may request its services in return for payment. At any time, anyone interested can join this group of people passionate about energy efficiency and contribute to the development of energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The network’s web page is temporarily hosted by the OLADE website. The Network website is under construction and will be operational soon.

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