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Chile

Current Codes

Residential
Chile Residential Building Code Article 4.1.10
Country Specific Mandatory
Monday, January 1, 2007
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Additional Code Information

Code Adoption & Change Process
Current Plans and Strategies: 

Next Steps: (draft)

Policies - drafts to reduce energy demand; improved energy perfomance through construction protocal; promote energy managment; promote exisiting building retrofit

2) promote higher standards

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Construction is less than 2% of building market;

Have retrofitted 20,000 hourses and are now beginning to monitor the results of those houses.

In 2011, will be retrofitting another 10,000. Measure temperature, air humidity, and air changes - before and after the program.  Chile spends $40M USD per year on retrofit program.  The Ministry of Housing has a list of private companies that can participate in the program, but the ministry follows up and provides technical assistance.  Companies compete to be listed.

Incentives for each household is around $4,000 USD - about 99% of project (social housing/low-income focus); strategy to focus on labeling and certification program and for this to move the market. 
This program does not deliver great energy savings- the focus is to bring the comfort of these homes up to the minimum standard.  The proram design took into account the New Zealand program - interest in how that program measured social impact besides the energy indicators... but some complications in applying that to Chile because it requires lots of effort and money.

 

Code Implementation Requirements: 

LBNL has recommended a 3-5 year cycle.

Challenges & Barriers: 

The next scheduled update is for 2015.

Challenge with different priorities at other ministries

Hot water accounts for one-third of energy use in the residentail sector. Chile has a law for solar water heating and minimum energy standards for hot water tanks and other appliances. The Ministry of Housing has a pilot program to replace existing systems with solar panel  systems; however, they are very expensive.

3 largest challenges:

1 - to create a program for middle and upper class residential sector

2 - create a program for existing buildings

3 - make the labeling program mandatory

History: 

According to Chile, their residential code that went into effect was the first building energy code in South America.  The code only addresses building envelope elements.  Along with other specific recommendations, LBNL recommended to Chile that they establish a commercial code, and that they update their codes on a 3 or 5 year cycle, as other countires have done.  They also suggested that the minister of energy create an energy efficiency data and monitoring team, within an appropriate agency.

Code is expected to be expande to commercial buildings in the near future - this is the fastest growing building sector in terms of construction.

There are two schemes for the residential sector. They have completed a comparison of Chile's requirements to other international codes - they measured the thermal behavior of the walls and found they could make improvements in this area.  Also, different zones have different behaviors.  The southern zone has the best energy efficiency behavior in comparison to the central and northern zones - there is a need to push more improvement in these zones.

Recommendation to focus on thermal properties of window, in addition to walls - since there is a wide variation in the typical window to wall areas.  The code also allows for increasing the ratio if thermal conditions of the walls are better.

Economic Indicators
Government Type: 

republic

Climate Zone: 

temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

Population: 

16,601,707 (July 2009 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 

7.8% (August-October 2008)

GDP Per Capita: 

$14,900 (2008 est.)

Projected GDP Growth: 

3.2% (2008 est.)

Industrial Production Growth: 

0.7% (2008 est.)

Primary Exports: 

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Primary Imports: 

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas

Local Resources: 

copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Energy Data
Primary Energy Source: 

Petroleum: 41% (2007)

Energy Consumption: 

1.25 Quadrillion BTU (2006)

Renewable Trends: 

Development of Renewable Energy Center to explore options in non-conventional renewable energy.  Develop network of agreements and manage renewable energy technology implemented.

Estimates 10% of energy will be from renewable sources by 2020.

Climate Concerns
CO2 Emissions: 

64.8 MMT CO2 (2006)

Green Building Initiatives

Local Revision and Green Codes:
Chile Green Building Council - In Progress

National Environmental Milestones and Strategies:
National Climate Change Action Plan 2008-2012

Strengthening National Policies:
National Climate Change Action Plan 2008-2012
Chile's National Climate Change Action Plan sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions goals for the period of 2008 to 2012.  This will set the stage for energy efficiency policy and plans, and is a step in the right direction toward improving energy codes.

Based on the current status of building energy codes and policies, as well as potential for energy efficiency, BCAP recommends the following actions.  Also noted are states or countries that successfully employ the suggested action, and may be used as a model.  These suggestions are meant only to show opportunities for energy efficiency.  Please contact BCAP for more information or assistance.

Establish a Complete Residential and Commercial Code
Chile currently has only a residential building energy code in force, and it covers only building envelope.  If Chile updates this code to cover a more complete set of building elements, as well as establish a commercial code, it will help achieve their goals set in their National Climate Change Action Plan.

Model Country:
Canada
Although somewhat old, Canada's MNECB and MNECH can serve as good models for the establishment of Chilean building energy codes.  They cover a comprehensive list of building elements, and outline realistic strategies for energy efficiency and compliance with the codes.

Development of a National Energy Efficiency Plan
The Chile National Climate Change Action Plan calls for increased policy for energy efficiency, and a energy efficiency plan would accompany the plan well.  This would help Chile and its consumers realize the potential and benefits of energy efficiency, and raise support for additional building energy codes.

Model Country:
Australia
The Australia National Framework for Energy Efficiency is a good example of a plan which identifies the possibilites of energy efficiency and sets realistic, attainable goals.  The plan calls for the creation and implementation of codes, standards, and programs to attain these goals, and thus activates their adoption.

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