Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings: A Step toward the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Nora Munguia, Javier Esquer, Hector Guzman, Janim Herrera, Jesus Gutierrez-Ruelas and Luis Velazquez
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Nora Munguia: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
Javier Esquer: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
Hector Guzman: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
Janim Herrera: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
Jesus Gutierrez-Ruelas: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico
Luis Velazquez: Sustainability Graduate Program, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: Within the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the Agenda 2030, this article aims to explain and understand the usefulness of energy audits and their potential to reveal energy efficiency opportunities in a small public building located in northwestern Mexico. The methodological structure was adopted from the Cleaner Production–Energy Efficiency Manual published by the United Nations Program for the Environment. A case study approach was employed to examine how energy audits might potentially increase energy efficiency opportunities in the participating building. Amongst the findings, the primary source of energy wastage was occupants’ behaviors. Furthermore, this study showed that energy audits could be useful to establish a baseline in situations where previous data were not available, to allow comparisons as well as to identify opportunities in old buildings for the purpose of increasing their energy efficiency performance. As a practical implication of this research, the Sonora government can be in a better position to assist the Mexico federal government in reaching some of the country’s General Law on Climate Change objectives, particularly the one related on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2020, and 50% by the year 2050, compared to those registered in 2000.

Keywords: energy audits; energy efficiency; public old buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1212-:d:317984

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