Abstract: The industrial sector is one of the largest energy consumers worldwide and therefore, one of the most polluting. Using energy efficiency (EE) measures in this sector therefore provides broad economic and environmental benefits. In this context, the article examines the degree of implementation of EE measures in a sample of companies located in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Its main contribution is a diagnosis that could be useful for designing and implementing state EE programs and actions. The results show that large and medium-sized companies are those that most identify and implement EE measures, focusing their efforts on staff training. The main barriers faced by the companies surveyed are information and financing, particularly in the case of small companies.

Resumen: A nivel mundial, el sector industrial es uno de los principales consumidores de energía y, por tanto, uno de los más contaminantes. Así, aplicar medidas de eficiencia energética (EE) en dicho sector genera amplios beneficios económicos y ambientales. En este contexto, la investigación indaga el grado de implementación de medidas de EE en una muestra de empresas localizadas en el Área Metropolitana de Monterrey, en Nuevo León, México. La principal contribución del trabajo es la realización de un diagnóstico que podría ser útil para diseñar e implementar programas y acciones de EE por parte del Estado. Los resultados muestran que las grandes y medianas empresas son las que más identifican e implementan medidas de EE, dirigiendo sus esfuerzos principalmente a la capacitación de su personal. Las principales barreras que enfrentan las empresas encuestadas son de información y financiamiento, situación que se agrava en el caso de las pequeñas empresas.

Resumo A energia é um insumo crítico de todo sistema econômico social e um ponto central do desenvolvimento sustentável. As privações de energia em seus vários gradientes dão origem ao conceito de Pobreza Energética. Quando as privações se mantêm ao longo do tempo, dão origem a processos de exclusão, constituindo uma limitação para o desenvolvimento das economias que dela sofrem. Este artigo tem como objetivo aprofundar a discussão conceitual sobre a pobreza e exclusão energética e os antecedentes de sua medição, bem como sua vinculação com a Transição Energética Justa. Estatísticas descritivas são exploradas para avaliar a situação na região da América Latina. Conclui-se que as limitações no acesso aos serviços básicos de energia são significativas, afetando de forma mais severa a população de países com baixo nível de produção e menos favorecidos socioeconomicamente

Abstract Energy is a critical input for any socioeconomic system and it has become a central point in sustainable development worldwide. Energy deprivation in its various degrees has given rise to the term Energy Poverty. The deprivations in access and quality of energy services sustained over time are elements that generate social exclusion processes and limit the development of the countries with these characteristics. The aim of this paper is to deepen the conceptual discussion of energy poverty and exclusion and the background regarding its measurement, as well as its link with the Just Energy Transition. Descriptive statistics are explored to assess the situation in the Latin American region. It is concluded that the limitations in access to basic energy services are significant, affecting more severely the population of countries with a low level of output and less socioeconomically favored.

Resumen La energía es un insumo crítico de todo sistema económico social y un punto central del desarrollo sustentable. Las privaciones en el acceso y calidad de los servicios energéticos se denomina pobreza energética. Cuando las privaciones se sostienen en el tiempo dan lugar a procesos de exclusión, constituyendo un limitante para el desarrollo de las economías que lo padecen. El presente trabajo se propone ahondar en la discusión conceptual de la pobreza y la exclusión energética y los antecedentes de su medición, así como su vínculo con la Transición Energética Justa. Se exploran estadísticas descriptivas para evaluar la situación de la región latinoamericana. Se concluye que las limitaciones en el acceso a servicios energéticos básicos son significativas, afectando más severamente a la población de países con bajo nivel de producto y menos favorecida socioeconómicamente.

Abstract The objective of this research is to find common characteristics between hotels that apply energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in the hotel zone of Miramar beach in Tamaulipas. The data was obtained through a poll to hotels in the region studied. The analysis is conducted with the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) technique, considering different variables, such as the number of stars and the room rates. Results show that hotels with 4 or 5 stars are characterized by implementing more procedures aimed to achieve energy efficiency. Meanwhile, hotels with low stars are characterized by being very heterogeneous in adopting those policies.

Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación es encontrar características comunes entre los hoteles que aplican medidas de eficiencia energética y energía renovable en la zona hotelera de la playa Miramar en Tamaulipas. Los datos se obtuvieron a través de una encuesta a hoteles en la región estudiada. El análisis se realiza con la técnica de Análisis Cualitativo Comparativo (QCA), considerando diferentes variables, como el número de estrellas y las tarifas de las habitaciones. Los resultados muestran que los hoteles de 4 o 5 estrellas se caracterizan por implementar más procedimientos destinados a lograr la eficiencia energética. Mientras tanto, los hoteles con estrellas bajas se caracterizan por ser muy heterogéneos en la adopción de esas políticas.

ABSTRACT New and Renewable Energy Sources (NRES) have an essential role in the energy mix because the energy sector is one of the main responsible of the Greenhouse Gases. At the same time, the introduction of these energy sources has a positive impact on the national energy security because it reduces the dependence on fossil fuels. This paper examines the effectiveness of the main public policies that introduce NRES in three countries of Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, since 1970 to 2016. The results show that in this period Argentina has had a low performance in these policies in comparison to Brazil and Uruguay, due to regulatory and economic barriers regardless of the economic instruments implemented.