Mainstreaming Building Energy Efficiency Codes in Developing Countries
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of 25 to 34 percent of total electricity use could be achieved by using thermal insulation of the roof with R-15 and of R-16 for the walls and resizing of the air-conditioning units. Estimated costs for the thermal insulation ranges from US$600 to US$900, equivalent to about 5 percent of the construction cost of a low-income housing unit.17
Efforts to Promote Sustainable Building Practices Federal Housing Finance Programs Mexico has a strong housing finance program. Over 70 percent of the financing (not counting the savings of prospective owners) is generated by national agencies; see table A4.3. This includes subsidies of the federal government for low-income families. About two thirds of the Mexican population falls into the low-income category.18 Table A4.3. National Mortgage Financing Program—2009 Results Credits/Subsidies Number
Entity
Investment Million Pesos
INFONAVIT
447,481
98,297
FOVISSSTE
100,082
47,421
45,761
5,573
SHF CONAVI
159,540
4,873
FONHAPO
180,929
2,364
144,786
66,595
Private Financial Institutions Other Institutions Total
#
50,038 1,128,617
9,051 234,174 US$18,000 million*
Source: CONAVI http://www.conavi.gob.mx/vivienda_en_cifras.html. Notes: * Exchange rate: 13.01 MXN per US$1 (12/31/2009). # BANJERCITO, OREVIS, PEMEX, CFE, ISSFAM, PEFVM, FONACOT, HABITAT, L y FC, PET.
Several of these housing finance programs have incorporated CEV requirements to introduce more sustainable practices in the building sector:
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CONAVI’s low-income housing program Esta es tu casa (This is your Home). CONAVI provides subsidies for families with income of less than four times the national monthly minimum salary and for housing units that are built to the CEV sustainability criteria with costs from US$17,000 to US$21,000; see figure A4.9. In 2009, CONAVI approved 160,000 transactions (loans and subsidies), amounting to US$375 million (see box A1.3). INFONAVIT Green Mortgage. INFONAVIT, the Mexican National Fund for Workers’ Dwellings, introduced a Green Mortgage (Hipotecas Verdes19) scheme in 2007. Residential building owners can receive extra loan amounts if the properties they acquire include certified energy saving materials and/or equipment. This would increase the home value and also decrease monthly utility payments. Developers would benefit through an easier local permit process. IFC20 provided financing in 2008 to a housing finance company to enable it to provide energy-efficient housing solutions for low- and middleincome homebuyers.