Sustainable Housing in Chiapas: Habitat for Humanity Builds 11 Eco-Friendly Homes
Habitat for Humanity Mexico (HPHM) collaborated with families from the Monte Sion community in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, to construct 11 new homes. Built in partnership with the future homeowners, these houses now provide safe and stable living conditions for 42 residents—19 adults and 23 children. The initiative forms part of the Lekil’Na project, a name chosen by the community in Tzotzil that translates to “sustainable housing,” symbolizing their collective commitment to healthier, more resilient homes.
Designed to be sustainable, affordable, and secure, the homes guarantee legal ownership for the families and incorporate green technologies such as solar panels and energy-efficient wood-burning stoves. Construction made use of eco-friendly materials, including concrete blocks created with RESIN8™, an innovation that repurposes non-recyclable plastic waste into durable building blocks and flooring, ensuring stronger and more reliable structures.
The houses are also being certified under the EDGE standard, a program developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, with support from 3Lotus Consulting and GBCI Mexico. This certification confirms that social housing can achieve global benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency, and quality of life.
The project came to life through the collaboration of Habitat for Humanity Mexico and CRDC Mexico, with funding from Wesco International and Dow. Together, they established a scalable model of sustainable housing that encourages public, private, and social sectors to reimagine construction practices and prioritize those in need. The hope is that more organizations will adopt similar initiatives, ensuring access to dignified living without jeopardizing the planet’s future.
Designed to be sustainable, affordable, and secure, the homes guarantee legal ownership for the families and incorporate green technologies such as solar panels and energy-efficient wood-burning stoves. Construction made use of eco-friendly materials, including concrete blocks created with RESIN8™, an innovation that repurposes non-recyclable plastic waste into durable building blocks and flooring, ensuring stronger and more reliable structures.
The houses are also being certified under the EDGE standard, a program developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, with support from 3Lotus Consulting and GBCI Mexico. This certification confirms that social housing can achieve global benchmarks for sustainability, efficiency, and quality of life.
The project came to life through the collaboration of Habitat for Humanity Mexico and CRDC Mexico, with funding from Wesco International and Dow. Together, they established a scalable model of sustainable housing that encourages public, private, and social sectors to reimagine construction practices and prioritize those in need. The hope is that more organizations will adopt similar initiatives, ensuring access to dignified living without jeopardizing the planet’s future.
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