Improving existing energy performance in Mexican social housing

The programme aimed to enhance the sustainability of Mexico's energy system, with a specific focus within the programme to provide actionable recommendations to harness the full potential of energy efficiency and renewable energy in existing social housing, promoting informed and impactful decision-making.

The first goal of the project was equipping state development institutions and policymakers with recommendations for the design, implementation, and dissemination of effective financing programs tailored for existing social housing. With this focus, decision-makers were well-informed and capable of fostering sustainable housing initiatives.

The second goal was facilitating access to vital information regarding the suitability of selected technical solutions and their potential for energy savings, for key actors in both the energy and building sectors. 

The third goal was establishing a national qualification offer to enhance the competencies of specialised personnel and executives within the construction and services sector. This initiative aims to empower key Mexican actors with the skills and knowledge needed to exploit the potential of energy efficiency and renewable energy in existing social housing, driving sustainable development and energy efficiency across the nation.

Main Activities

• Development of State-promotion financial models for financing institutions, such as SHF bank (Sociedad Hipotecaria Federal), Infonavit (Instituto del Fondo Nacional de Vivienda de los Trabajadores), Fipaterm (Fideicomiso de Ahorro de Energía Eléctrica de la Comisión Federal de Electricidad) and Conavi (Comisión Nacional de Vivienda), on instruments aimed at existing social housing, based on the technical design of the supported NAMA for Existing Housing (for CO2 mitigation), and suitable for international climate financing (such as green mortgages, state-own funds coupled with international climate funds, and green bonds).
• Development and implementation of a pilot project with Fipaterm Trust to demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility of step-by-step energy retrofit in a sample of 30 existing social housing in Mexico (in hot-dry climate, with a high energy demand).
• Development of capacity building strategies for energy advisors (with gender focus) and national/local authorities (such as Infonavit, Conavi, Fipaterm Trust and Mexico City’s Housing Institute) implementing financing to existing social housing beneficiaries (both commercial and self-production sectors

Select Results

• Over 6,962 energy retrofitted houses through ASI Programme (Fipaterm Trust)
• Mitigation of 8,820 tCO2eq/year from ASI Programme
• More than 1,067 persons trained (technical advisors, state officials, building sector tradesmen)