Public buildings in Argentina’s interior provinces face a growing climate challenge. In Santa Fe and Córdoba, summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and much of the public infrastructure was simply not built to cope. Inadequate insulation, poor ventilation, outdated heating and cooling systems: for hospital patients, medical staff, and schoolchildren, the consequences are felt every day.
Two loan signings – five weeks apart – mark a significant step torward energy efficiency for PEEB Cool in the country.
Santa Fe: public services built to withstand the heat
On 6 March 2026, AFD and the Province of Santa Fe signed a financing agreement to renovate two hospitals, two provincial airport terminals, and at least 19 schools. The project targets a 40% reduction in energy use (3,950 MWh/year avoided) and a 62% drop in greenhouse gas emissions (1,621 tCO₂eq/year). Beyond the numbers: improved thermal comfort for patients, students and staff, and continuity of public services during extreme heat events. The renovation also creates decent jobs in the local construction sector and addresses building vulnerabilities related to safety, accessibility and gender equality.
Córdoba: energy-efficient hospitals for vulnerable populations
On 7 April 2026, AFD and the Province of Córdoba signed a second agreement, focused on four high-complexity public hospitals. Around 34% of the province’s population relies exclusively on public healthcare, with no private insurance. The renovation is expected to cut energy consumption by 53% (5,140 MWh/year) and reduce emissions by 50% (1,644 tCO₂eq/year). A Gender Action Plan accompanies the project, as women make up 70% of hospital staff. Continuity of care in critical units will be maintained throughout construction.
A complementary approach
Both projects are structured as non-sovereign loans from AFD, complemented by concessional financing from the Green Climate Fund, and are emblematic of how PEEB Cool works in practice. AFD’s Investment Facility provided technical assistance from the outset, supporting feasibility studies, environmental and social assessments, and gender action planning, and will continue through implementation, monitoring and GCF reporting. In parallel, GIZ’s Enabling Facility works with Argentine authorities on the policy frameworks and building regulations needed for lasting sector transformation. Policy enables investment, and investment demonstrates what policy can achieve: together, the two facilities are helping reshape what public infrastructure looks like across two of Argentina’s most populated provinces.