Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions, improve productivity, and move toward carbon neutrality. Globally, energy use continues to be one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, making it essential to optimize consumption in order to address the climate crisis and reduce the costs associated with the intensive use of fuels and electricity.

In Chile, energy efficiency has gained increasing relevance following the approval of Law No. 21,305 on Energy Efficiency, published in 2021, which establishes new obligations for large energy consumers, promotes energy management systems, incorporates standards for products and vehicles, and mandates the periodic development of a National Energy Efficiency Plan. The Ministry of Energy states that this law seeks to promote the rational and efficient use of energy resources, especially in large companies and consumers with energy management capacity.

This framework is directly linked to the country’s climate commitments, including the goal of achieving and maintaining carbon neutrality by 2050, established in the Framework Law on Climate Change. In turn, the National Energy Efficiency Plan 2022–2026 sets targets for reducing energy intensity and an action agenda in sectors such as industry, mining, transportation, buildings, appliances, the public sector, and households.

In this context, Fundación Chile has developed a track record that combines demonstrative initiatives, public-private coordination, technical-regulatory analysis, design of financing instruments, support for climate and energy reporting, and capacity building to accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency measures across different productive sectors.

This line of work has evolved from flagship technology replacement and citizen awareness programs toward specialized consulting aimed at strengthening energy management, emissions reduction, the energy circular economy, and the mobilization of sustainable investments in the country’s strategic sectors.

• Promote energy efficiency as an enabler of decarbonization: Promote solutions that reduce energy consumption, operating costs, and greenhouse gas emissions in companies, industries, households, and strategic productive sectors.

• Coordinate public, private, and international actors: Create spaces for collaboration among ministries, companies, multilateral organizations, technical agencies, trade associations, technology providers, and other relevant actors to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency measures.

• Strengthen technical capacities and management systems: Support public and private organizations in measuring, reporting, and managing their energy consumption and emissions, incorporating best practices, standards, reporting systems, and decision-making tools.

• Develop evidence for public policies and regulation: Prepare technical studies that contribute to the design, updating, or implementation of standards, regulatory instruments, and public policy mechanisms in energy efficiency, circular economy, and sustainability.

• Mobilize financing for energy efficiency projects: Design models, mechanisms, and investment portfolios that enable the implementation of energy efficiency measures, especially in sectors where there are gaps in financing, information, or technical capacities.

• Promote a culture of efficient energy use: Help consumers, companies, and institutions incorporate energy efficiency criteria into their investment, operation, consumption, and environmental management decisions.

Through technical studies, strategic consulting, financing models, regulatory analyses, and demonstrative initiatives, it has contributed to strengthening public and private capacities to better manage energy and reduce emissions.

Fundación Chile’s energy efficiency line has been developed through collaborative, flexible governance adapted to the objectives of each initiative or consulting project. Its approach is based on coordinating technical, institutional, and financial capacities to accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions.

This initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals: