Energy conservation and implementation of effective energy efficiency policies have become imperative to curbing the escalating consumption of energy. The imbalance in the supply and demand of a country's energy has increased the importance of implementing energy efficiency policies. Proper replication of strategic energy efficiency policies that are known to be successful in one country, along with development of new approaches, can be helpful in developing the energy policy portfolio of another country. Some OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) countries like Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States have benefited from their energy policies during the most recent energy crisis. The motivation of this research is to provide a tool for developing countries, which are still in the stage of formulating their energy efficiency policies, to compare energy efficiency policy portfolios across countries. These countries can improve their energy efficiency policy portfolios based on lessons learned from the developed countries. The research develops a framework to compare energy efficiency policy portfolios across countries / states. Although this framework can be adopted for any type of energy policy, targeting any sector with few modifications, the current focus is on policies that target the residential building sector to reduce energy consumption. The research begins with identification of the functional domains that influence human behavior–people, economy, environment and technology–followed by identification of the factors affecting household energy consumption. It uses the four functional domains as the evaluation framework's four axes. The various factors affecting household energy consumption are positioned in the framework based on association with the functional domains. The energy efficiency policies implemented in a country are positioned in the same framework based on the pattern of diffusion of each type of policy. In addition, a prototype method is developed to identify the factors targeted by each energy efficiency policy implemented in a country. This evaluation method allows for a uniform assessment process of how energy efficiency policies target specific socio-economic factors that are known to affect energy consumption. The proposed framework will facilitate the work of policy makers and other decision makers with a powerful tool for evaluating and comparing their individual policies, or their complete portfolio of energy efficiency policies, to those from other states or countries, and to benefit from the lessons learned. / Ph. D.

[pt] A eficiência energética (EE) pode ser vista como uma das melhores políticas a serem adotadas pelos países para a redução da emissão de gases de efeito estufa e para a contribuição da economia. O Brasil, apesar de fazer alguns esforços visando o uso racional de energia, ainda está longe de ser um protagonista nessa área. Por outro lado, países como Alemanha, Japão e Estados Unidos vêm adotando políticas que visam melhorar o uso da energia e, assim, mitigar suas emissões de gases de efeito estufa, além de ampliar o escopo dos negócios nessa área. A fim de alcançar um maior destaque no campo da eficiência energética, o objetivo desta dissertação é definir para o Brasil políticas de eficiência energética baseadas em experiências internacionais e medir seus impactos no consumo de energia. Para se chegar o objetivo proposto, são estudadas as principais políticas adotadas pelos países mais eficientes energeticamente. Essas políticas são representadas por curvas de difusão tecnológicas e são avaliados seus impactos na redução do consumo de eletricidade na indústria de alimentos e bebidas. Percebe-se uma redução considerável do consumo de energia e das emissões de gases de efeito estufa quando da adoção de políticas de eficiência energética nesse ramo da indústria, uma vez que políticas de eficiência energética propõem alternativas para o desenvolvimento sustentável. / [en] It is usually sought a way to understand or prove a theory, in the scientific environment. The best way to promote and develop a study, is through mathematical proof, which may be through formulas, often already known, promoting modeling in different scenarios. There are a few different ways to achieve environmental improvements aiming the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the countries. But is it enough to aim the achievement of a country s targets in a country for the Government to move toward improvements? It is through energy policies that one can achieve the biggest economic gains. The activity of energy efficiency is developed by an ESCO (Energy Saving Companies). These have in their scope to promote technical audits, in order to promote the implementation of energy efficiency measures responsible for the achievement of economic goals in energy consumption. The best way to understand the logic of the development of actions in a country is through its policies and, in this case, the focus is on industrial energy policies. In a global analysis, seeking the understanding of how countries have positioned themselves in the face of these challenges, and comparing with what has developed in Brazil s case, one can come to some conclusions as to what are the best ways, and what are the barriers. In the study developed in this dissertation, while seeking for a better understanding, it was found enough information on energy efficiency policies, understanding that it is an important vector in meeting future energy demand and energy security, reinforcing the comprehension that energy efficiency requires an integrated vision regarding the stakeholders, like the government, the private sector and society in general. Since 1984, Brazil has already been deploying mechanisms and public policies related to promotion of energy efficiency, as the PBE, Procel, Conpet, energy efficiency Law, electric motors regulations, vehicle and construction establishing labeling thresholds for incandescent bulbs and your banishment.