Análisis comparativo de barreras y facilitadores para la implementación de eficiencia energética en Universidades Latinoamericanas

Luis Felipe Contreras Vásquez; Jorge  Guevara-Robalino; Alberto  Ríos-Villacorta

doi:10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i5.1661

Authors

Luis Felipe Contreras Vásquez Dirección de Investigación y Desarrollo, Universidad Tecnica de Ambato
Jorge Guevara-Robalino Universidad Técnica de Ambato https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8314-6712
Alberto Ríos-Villacorta Universidad Técnica de Ambato https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7334-5681

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i5.1661

Keywords:

energy efficiency; universities; institutional barriers; Latin America; sustainability

Abstract

This study compared barriers and enablers for implementing energy efficiency measures in five higher education institutions from Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador through a multiple case study design. The methodology employed qualitative and quantitative analysis categorizing factors into four domains: technical, financial, institutional, and behavioral. Data were collected through historical energy consumption analysis, and documentary review of institutional policies during the 2019-2024 period. Results revealed that primary barriers included infrastructure limitations, funding scarcity, rigid organizational structures, and resistance to change. Identified enablers comprised ISO 50001 standards adoption, monitoring technologies, institutional leadership, and awareness campaigns. Distinctive regional patterns emerged, with Brazil emphasizing structured government programs, Colombia prioritizing international certifications, and Ecuador highlighting specific funding mechanisms. Institutions implementing comprehensive programs achieved energy consumption reductions between fifteen and thirty percent. This analysis provides empirical evidence for developing contextualized strategies that promote energy sustainability in the Latin American university sector.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ankareddy, S., Dorfleitner, G., Zhang, L., & Ok, Y. S. (2025). Embedding sustainability in higher education institutions: A review of practices and challenges. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 17, 100279. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CESYS.2025.100279

Antonio, J., Gomes, S., Nunes Belchior, F., César, J., Soares, V., Neira Villena, J. E., & Fonseca, M. N. (2025). Energy Efficiency Actions in the Classroom/Administrative Center of the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of the Universidade Federal de Goiás. Revista de Gestão - RGSA, 19(3), e011589. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v19n3-035

Avila, L. V., da Silveira, J. S. T., Neto, E. da R., & Baggio, D. K. (2019). Barriers, potentialities, and actions for implementation of sustainable energy procedures in Brazilian federal universities. Environmental Quality Management, 29(2), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1002/TQEM.21665

Cristino, T. M., Faria Neto, A., Wurtz, F., & Delinchant, B. (2021). Barriers to the adoption of energy-efficient technologies in the building sector: A survey of Brazil. Energy and Buildings, 252, 111452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111452

Diaz, M. C., Mira, M. V., Quispe, E. C., Castrillón, R., Lasso, A., & Vidal, J. R. (2023). A Methodology to Analyze Significant Energy Uses and Energy Consumption for Improving Energy Performance in Higher Education Buildings. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 13(6), 636–649. https://doi.org/10.32479/IJEEP.14974

ECLAC. (2025). 7. Affordable and clean energy | 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean. https://agenda2030lac.org/en/sdg/7-affordable-and-clean-energy

Gallego-Schmid, A., López-Eccher, C., Muñoz, E., Salvador, R., Cano-Londoño, N. A., Barros, M. V., Bernal, D. C., Mendoza, J. M. F., Nadal, A., & Guerrero, A. B. (2024). Circular economy in Latin America and the Caribbean: Drivers, opportunities, barriers and strategies. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 51, 118–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SPC.2024.09.006

International Energy Agency (IEA). (2022). National Program of Electricity Conservation - PROCEL – Policies - IEA. https://www.iea.org/policies/14048-national-program-of-electricity-conservation-procel

IEA. (2023, November 8). Latin America to play an essential role in the global transition to a more secure and sustainable energy system - News - IEA. https://www.iea.org/news/latin-america-to-play-an-essential-role-in-the-global-transition-to-a-more-secure-and-sustainable-energy-system

Laporte, J. P., & Cansino, J. M. (2024). Energy Consumption in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Analysis Focused on Scientific Trends. Buildings 2024, Vol. 14, Page 323, 14(2), 323. https://doi.org/10.3390/BUILDINGS14020323

Matana Júnior, S., Antonio Leite Frandoloso, M., & Brião, V. (2023). The role of HEIs to achieve SDG7 goals from Netzero campuses: case studies and possibilities in Brazil. 24(2), 462–480. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2021-0282

Ocampo Batlle, E. A., Escobar Palacio, J. C., Silva Lora, E. E., Martínez Reyes, A. M., Melian Moreno, M., & Morejón, M. B. (2020). A methodology to estimate baseline energy use and quantify savings in electrical energy consumption in higher education institution buildings: Case study, Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI). Journal of Cleaner Production, 244. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2019.118551

Oliveira Da Costa, A., Da Costa, C., Achão, L., Naciff De Andrade, G., Castello, M., Cavalcanti, B., Advisors, T., Dos, A., Junior, S., Feitosa, P., Stelling, B., Martins, R., Rafael, H., Araújo, B., Vinícius, G., Faria, R., Guilherme, T., Prado, F., Da, R., … Da, A. (2024). Atlas of Energy Efficiency Brazil.

Quevedo, T. C., Geraldi, M. S., Melo, A. P., & Lamberts, R. (2024). Benchmarking energy consumption in universities: A review. Journal of Building Engineering, 82, 108185. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2023.108185

Quispe, E. C., Viveros Mira, M., Chamorro Díaz, M., Castrillón Mendoza, R., & Vidal Medina, J. R. (2025). Energy Management Systems in Higher Education Institutions’ Buildings. Energies 2025, Vol. 18, Page 1810, 18(7), 1810. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN18071810

Rebelatto, B. G., Lange Salvia, A., Reginatto, G., Daneli, R. C., & Brandli, L. L. (2019). Energy efficiency actions at a Brazilian university and their contribution to sustainable development Goal 7. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(5), 842–855. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0023

UNEP. (2017, March). Latin American universities prioritize sustainability. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/latin-american-universities-prioritize-sustainability

UNEP. (2023). Global Methane Assessment 2030: Baseline Report | UNEP - UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-methane-assessment-2030-baseline-report

Valencia, M., Villacreses, S., Benitez, D. S., Velasco, A., & Ochoa-Herrera, V. (2018). Towards a Sustainable Energy-Efficient Future at Universities, Universidad San Francisco de Quito Case Study, Phase i. 2018 IEEE ANDESCON, ANDESCON 2018 - Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1109/ANDESCON.2018.8564629