The aim of the EcoCasa Programme is to contribute to the efforts of the Mexican government in reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to the housing sector by means of:

• Upscaling the construction of houses with low carbon emissions through the provision of financial incentives for investments in energy efficiency;
• Increasing the provision of mortgage loans for low carbon emission housing.

The LAIF Component of the EcoCasa Programme consists of a package of economic incentives and technical assistance, in order to support housing developers in the planning and implementation of highly energy efficient homes that generate less greenhouse gas emissions. So as to achieve the defined goal of emission reduction, the most ambitious efficiency standard defined by the Mexican NAMA for Sustainable New Housing, the standard EcoCasa MAX/Passive House will be envisaged. The implementation of the standard comprises the systematic and properly planned application of a set of different measures, such as: bioclimatic design, improving the energy efficiency of the thermal envelope, windows of high thermal performance, ventilation units with energy recovery, solar water heaters and other technologies.

Depending on the market conditions and the final size of the houses, between 600 and 800 homes will be built within the frame of the Action. In these homes, it is expected to obtain a reduction of about 70-90% of carbon emissions in comparison to a baseline scenario.

The investment subsidies financed through the LAIF funds are designated to cover part of the cost overrun of the measures implemented in order to achieve the expected reduction of carbon emissions. The funds of the Action will be provided to the buyers of the passive houses (final beneficiaries) through the housing developers. The remaining investment cost has to be assumed by the housing developers or the homeowners.