The Eco-housing partnership was launched in September 2004 in response to the unchecked and resource intensive housing construction boom in India.

Implemented by the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Development Alliance (GDA), the Eco-housing initiative addresses the challenge of containing the ever-increasing demand for resources through interventions spanning policy and market development.

The program has been characterized by specific interventions, including the development of Eco-housing performance assessment tool, integration of Eco-housing policy and fiscal incentives, demonstration projects, capacity building and the development of a sustainable institutional mechanism to mainstream Eco-housing practices.

Pune was chosen as the champion city to launch Phase I (2004-2006) of the Eco-housing program as it represents one of the most rapidly expanding cities in western India. Program implementation in Pune was in partnership with stakeholders including the urban local body; Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), leading developers, architects, housing finance institutions and technology providers.

Phase II of the program (2006 onwards) has focused on capacity building and geographic expansion of the programme addressing the five climatic zones of the country. The Eco-housing Assessment Criteria Version II and the National Certification Mechanism for Eco-housing form the backbone of this program.