Argentina
Argentina is transforming the buildings sector from the bottom-up. The provinces of Cordoba, Entre Rios, and Santa Fe are working with PEEB Cool to make energy efficient, resilient buildings the norm. Using the PEEB approach, they are renovating buildings to meet enhanced energy consumption, safety, and comfort standards – and making these high standards the norm for the sector.
Better buildings for Argentina: facing the challenge
PEEB partners in Argentina are already taking action on energy efficiency to promote energy savings, comfortable environments, and healthier climate. In this country, the buildings sector represents 33% of energy consumption and conventional buildings are not designed for the local climate, lacking proper isolation. This increases energy demand for heating and cooling for argentinian households, governments, and business owners. The country’s reliance on natural gas as a source of energy exposes consumers to price shocks and generates GHG emissions.
However, they face common challenges for energy efficiency in the sector: lack of unified regulations, insufficient access to finance, and lack of qualified professionals. Find out how PEEB Cool is working with partners to overcome them!
Combining finance and policy in Argentina
Financing better building projects
The French Development Bank (AFD) is investing in a EUR 100 million pipeline of energy-efficient renovations of hospitals, schools, and airports in the partner provinces. Thanks to technical project support, project developers will be able to adopt high-performance energy efficiency measures that are adapted to Argentina’s diverse local climates and to infrastructure regulations. The costs of these measures will be reduced thanks to blended finance instruments funded by the PEEB Cool donor Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Making energy efficient buildings the norm
Strategies and regulations in the public and private sectors must set a clear path for energy efficiency in buildings. GIZ will work with provincial governments and other stakeholders to develop to disseminate the standards developed on the project level. Those standards, together with expertise mobilised by GIZ, will inform the development of provincial regulations, procurement rules, strategies for energy efficiency in social infrastructure, and sustainable building codes. Communities of practice will ensure that sector professionals are able to apply technical knowledge to all construction projects.
Activities
Better schools, healthier facilities, smarter airports in Santa Fe
Better schools, healthier facilities, smarter airports in Santa Fe
📍 Santa Fe, Argentina
🛠️ Concessional Loan (AFD) + Investment Grant (GCF)
In Santa Fe, summer peaks regularly exceed 40°C and public buildings are struggling to cope. Schools, healthcare facilities and airport infrastructure are being modernised through PEEB Cool to address this head-on. Early pilots have shown striking results: students now enjoy thermal comfort 95% of the time without air conditioning, compared to just 30% before. A €50M investment structured as a €35M AFD concessional loan and a €15M Green Climate Fund contribution through PEEB Cool.
The project targets a 40% reduction in energy consumption and over 60% in GHG emissions, equivalent to avoiding 1,621 tCO₂eq every year.
Cooler hospitals for Argentina’s most vulnerable
Cooler hospitals for Argentina’s most vulnerable
📍 Córdoba, Argentina
🛠️ Concessional Loan (AFD) + Investment Grant (GCF)
In Córdoba, summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and public hospitals are feeling it. Four high-complexity hospitals serving thousands of patients every year, including pregnant women, newborns and low-income populations, are set for a full energy renovation. A €50M investment structured as a €35M AFD concessional loan and a €15M Green Climate Fund contribution through PEEB Cool.
Thermal insulation, upgraded ventilation and LED lighting will cut energy consumption and GHG emissions by at least 40%.
Heritage meets sustainability in Laos
Heritage meets sustainability in Laos
📍 Savannakhet Museum, Laos
🛠️ Investment Grant + Technical Assistance
In Laos, PEEB ASEAN is supporting the renovation of the Savannakhet Museum, a heritage building being reimagined with bioclimatic design and resilience to extreme climate events. The project, named CHAMPA, demonstrates that preserving cultural heritage and cutting energy use are not competing goals. For a country with limited public resources, reducing the energy bill of a landmark building also frees up funds for its long-term maintenance. A win for culture, comfort and climate.
A model hospital for health and climate
A model hospital for health and climate
📍 Saint Joseph, Palestinian Territories
🛠️ Investment Grant
In the Palestinian Territories, PEEB is supporting the renovation of St. Joseph Hospital. Hospitals are intensive energy consumers due to their high activity levels, large staff, patient and visitor numbers, and the energy demands of specialized equipment. PEEB Med is supporting this project with a €1 million grant to ensure energy-efficient upgrades aligned with climate resilience goals.
The hospital’s energy consumption is expected to drop by 57%—equivalent to the annual consumption of roughly 405 Palestinian households!
Sustainable tourism and hospitality centers
Sustainable tourism and hospitality centers
📍 Tunisia
🛠️ Technical assistance
In Tunisia, PEEB supports the renovation of four tourism and hospitality training centers in Sousse Nord, Monastir, Tozeur, and Ain Draham.
PEEB Med supports the renovation of these schools by providing a technical assistance that will focus on energy efficiency. More specifically, it has conducted an energy audit and has provided recommendations for energy-efficient equipment and renovations, proposals for autonomous energy production systems, and best practices to optimize equipment use, particularly in the cold chain.
Knowledge
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