Village la Fontaine
Developed by Chabuma S.A./Central Home Consortium, a local Haitian developer, Village la Fontaine is a residential estate offering affordable housing to low-income communities on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
The Consortium received technical assistance from USAID’s Haiti HOME program to incorporate key elements of affordability and resource efficiency in Village la Fontaine’s design. Haiti HOME is led by the World Council of Credit Unions in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Affordable Housing Institute. To make the homes accessible to informally employed households, affordable loans are available to homeowners from one of Haiti’s largest credit unions.
Village la Fontaine incorporates a rain water harvesting system and energy-saving lighting, along with solar panels that provide 80 percent of each household’s energy needs. Each unit’s design adheres to high seismic standards to provide resilience in the event of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Because of Village La Fontaine’s green design, each household is expected to realize estimated utility cost savings of US$180 per year.
Village la Fontaine has received final EDGE certification from GBCI.
Predicted Savings of EDGE Certification
56%
Energy Savings*
48%
Water Savings
52%
Less Embodied Energy in Materials
Technical Solutions
Energy
Reduced window to wall ratio, energy-saving lighting system for internal spaces, and solar photovoltaics.
Water
Low-flow showerheads, low-flow faucets in kitchens and bathrooms, single-flush water efficient water closets, and a rainwater harvesting system.
Materials
Controlled use of concrete for floor slabs, aluminium sheets on steel rafters for roof construction, solid dense concrete blocks for internal and external walls, finished concrete flooring and aluminum window frames.
*Part of the energy efficiency percentage may be associated with virtual energy for comfort depending on the presence of heating and cooling systems. Note that virtual energy does not contribute savings to utility bills.
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EDGE is currently funded by the UK Government with original funding by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Additional support has been provided by Austria, Canada, Denmark, ESMAP, EU, Finland, GEF, Hungary and Japan.