Net Zero Energy Homes Initiative

About

Vinte homes built according to the NZEH Initative partnership’s guidelines showed a 34% energy efficiency improvement through thermal insulation and 7% through solar protection on windows. These measures resulted in utility savings of 77%, a 2.4 tons greenhouse gas emissions reduction and annual economic savings of US $253 per home.

Given the results of the NZEH Initiative, Vinte was the first homebuilder to certify EDGE homes (World Bank’s construction certificate for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). Most remarkably, Vinte recently certified 3,916 EDGE homes built in 2019 that every year will reduce CO2 gas emissions by 2,408 tons, reduce water consumption by 212,760 m3, have 32% in energy savings and embodied energy savings of 817,085 GJ in materials, making it the largest EDGE certified homebuilder worldwide. Infonavit was the mortgage provider that financed most of the low-income homes out of these 3,916 EDGE houses. 

In 2019, Vinte also developed the first 56 Net Zero Gas Homes (“NZGH”), of which 75% were financed by Infonavit to homebuyers. In 2012, through a US $77 million bridge loan facility by SHF (Mexican Government development financial institution), Vinte built the first 81 EcoCasa homes in Mexico. Vinte is currently supported by IFC, IDB Invest and DEG to replicate the business model, including an interest rate reduction based on targeted EDGE homes built. The Green Mortgage program by Infonavit has now reached almost 311,000 loans in 2019 nationwide, supporting access to energy and water efficient appliances for low- and mid-income homeowners, therefore simultaneously decreasing utility costs.

The Net Zero Energy Homes (“NZEH”) Initiative set the foundations towards, in a replicable manner, building inclusive and affordable net zero residences that complement and build upon their environmental surroundings, apply energy efficient materials, use the most energy efficient and affordable appliances and foster an energy and water efficient culture among residents.

The initiative focused on developing avenues to make energy and water efficient homes a fully-viable and available solution to low- and mid-income homeowners. It has paved the way for other similar initiatives and is exploring offshoots that can replace home gas usage with electricity and solar panels.

Partners

Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers, National Housing Commission – Government of Mexico, Vinte Viviendas Integrales, S.A.B. de C.V., The Alliance for Energy Efficiency.