THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES OBSERVED IN THE DESIGN PROCESS OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN SOUTH-CENTRAL CHILE, FROM THE INCORPORATION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT STANDARDS. THE METHODOLOGY IS BASED ON AN INTEGRATED DESIGN, WHICH JOINS PROFESSIONALS FROM THE FONDEF PROJECT D09I1081 ?DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF PASSIVE BUILDING IN CHILE? AND THE FOUNDATION ?TECHO? TOGETHER. IT DEVELOPED A PURPOSEFUL RESEARCH BASE ON A SOCIAL HOUSING AS A CASE STUDY. DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS ARE GENERATED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE VALUES OF A HIGHLY ENERGY EFFICIENT STANDARD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE UP TO 80% OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION. THE PROCESS OF THE INTEGRATED DESIGN IS REGISTERED TO PERCEIVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE APPLICATION. FINALLY, THOSE LANDMARKS ARE TURN INTO BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE CONCLUSIONS IDENTIFY THE MAIN IMPLICATIONS OF HIGH-ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS INCORPORATION IN CHILEAN SOCIAL HOUSING.