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Establishment of a portfolio framework to increase lending towards energy performance renovations

Energy

According to Article 17 of the EPBD recast (Directive (EU) 2024/1275), the European Commission shall adopt a delegated act to establish a comprehensive portfolio framework for voluntary use by financial institutions. Its objective is to increase lending volumes for energy renovations in line with the European Union’s decarbonisation targets, protect vulnerable households and describe best practices to encourage lenders to prioritise worst-performing buildings.

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Public consultation

ID: 14396

Lobbying Activity

23 responses

WWF Urges EU to Boost Green Renovation Loans

WWF European Policy Programme, 5 Nov 2024

WWF calls for science-based methodologies for banks to set targets aligned with climate goals. They prioritize renovating the worst-performing buildings and creating harmonized definitions for green loans.
Standardized targets and definitions allow the organization to achieve a zero-emission building stock.
Banks may face higher costs for extensive staff training and energy performance data collection.

BEUC urges banks to offer fair energy renovation loans

Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs, 4 Nov 2024

The group demands banks prominently offer public subsidies and provide transparent mortgage conditions for energy-inefficient homes. They also advocate for upfront grants and guarantee funds to support vulnerable borrowers.
Consumers would benefit from lower utility bills and more accessible credit for home improvements.
Low-income buyers face exclusion if lenders only finance high-rated, expensive green properties.

Airbus Proposes Simplified EU Energy Renovation Financing Rules

Airbus, 5 Nov 2024

Airbus recommends clarifying green bond applicability for building renovations. They seek a harmonised application process to simplify financing across various industrial geographies.
Streamlined procedures would allow a single entity to fund multiple international renovation projects.

Euroheat and Power urges technology-neutral green lending for heating

Euroheat and Power, 5 Nov 2024

EHP demands a level playing field between individual and collective heating systems. They urge lenders to offer innovative financing to reduce upfront household connection costs.
Neutral lending frameworks would improve the market competitiveness of district heating networks.
Individual heat pump providers lose their current advantage in green loan energy classifications.

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti supports EU energy renovation framework

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti s.p.a., 4 Nov 2024

CDP recommends a framework featuring tailored products like green mortgages and energy efficiency loans. It calls for project selection based on energy savings and cost-effectiveness to ensure financial viability.
The framework helps CDP align its large-scale investments with EU sustainability and energy targets.

ING Group Urges Harmonized Standards for Green Mortgage Portfolios

ING Group, 5 Nov 2024

ING requests a harmonized approach to ensure a level playing field across the European banking sector. They also advocate for government mandates on renovations and simplified "refill loans" for existing mortgage customers.
Harmonized standards would protect ING's competitiveness against banks with lower climate ambitions.
Vulnerable households may lose access to affordable financing if strict energy requirements are imposed.

Wiener Stadtwerke urges renovation lending support for transport infrastructure

WIENER STADTWERKE GmbH, 5 Nov 2024

The organization supports measures that strengthen renovation lending to achieve climate targets. They propose expanding support to include transport companies with large, diverse building portfolios.
Broadening the scope helps the utility renovate its specialized transport buildings efficiently.

Co-operative banks urge simplified voluntary rules for renovation lending

European Association of Co-operative Banks, 5 Nov 2024

The EACB supports a voluntary framework that simplifies regulatory hurdles and relies on existing reporting. They propose a European guarantee fund and 'refill loans' to provide unbureaucratic credit decisions for existing customers.
This would reduce credit risk and lower capital costs for cooperative banks.
Social and environmental safeguards are weakened if 'do no significant harm' requirements are removed.

Bpifrance urges EU to distinguish climate debt in reporting

Bpifrance, 5 Nov 2024

Bpifrance recommends providing technical advice and separating 'climate debt' from 'productive debt' in reports. They also advocate for regulatory adjustments and offering cheaper interest rates.
This would allow the bank to increase lending while protecting borrowers' credit ratings.

Consultation response

Efficient Buildings Europe, 5 Nov 2024

Efficient Buildings Europe (EBE) appreciates the opportunity to participate in the European Commissions first public consultation on a portfolio framework for increasing lending for energy renovations, proposed by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The latest I4CE report…

Consultation response

Climate Strategy, 24 Oct 2024

Climate Strategy & Partners (CS) welcomes the opportunity to take part in the European Commission (EC) call for evidence for the initiative Energy efficient buildings: portfolio framework to increase lending for energy renovations. This document responds to segments a, b, and c taking as a basis…

Austrian savings banks: finance alone cannot drive building renovations

Österreichischer Sparkassenverband, 23 Oct 2024

The association argues that banks are enablers rather than the sole drivers of the green transition. They call for better building data access and simplified taxonomy rules to make renovation lending viable. Policy must focus on real economy dynamics to create a strong business case for private investment.
Standardized building data and simplified rules would reduce administrative burdens and support product development.
Vulnerable tenants face increased financial pressure if landlords pass on renovation costs via rents.

UIPI Urges Flexible Loans to Support All Property Owners

Union Internationale de la Propriété Immobilière - International Union of Property Owners, 5 Nov 2024

UIPI requests a flexible, voluntary framework ensuring affordable credit for owners of low-rated buildings. They want rules aligned with existing EU sustainability laws to reduce administrative complexity. They also insist that property owners must keep the final word on renovation decisions.
This approach protects property owners from being forced into renovations or facing penalizing interest rates.
Environmental groups lose the speed of mandatory targets due to the flexible, voluntary approach.

EPRA urges broader scope for energy renovation lending framework

European Public Real Estate Association, 4 Nov 2024

EPRA requests a framework covering all buildings instead of only the worst-performing assets. They suggest introducing financial incentives and aligning the rules with existing banking and sustainability regulations.
This ensures their high-quality property portfolios remain eligible for renovation financing and incentives.

Czech business chamber warns against unrealistic renovation timelines

Hospodářská komora České republiky, 4 Nov 2024

The Chamber urges thorough evaluation of measures before implementation to ensure realistic timelines. They argue that financial incentives alone cannot overcome shortages in construction materials and labor.
Aligning timelines with market capacity would prevent excessive pressure on the construction sector.
EU climate targets might be missed due to slow permitting and labor shortages.

Pearle* urges tailored renovation loans for cultural venues

Performing Arts Employers Associations League Europe, 5 Nov 2024

The organization calls for specialized financial products with flexible terms tailored to cultural institutions. They also advocate for combining private loans with public grants to prevent debt.
Specific financial products and subsidies would help cultural venues modernize without risking financial instability.

EMF-ECBC Urges EU to Leverage Existing Green Mortgage Labels

European Mortgage Federation - European Covered Bond Council, 5 Nov 2024

EMF-ECBC recommends the framework builds on existing industry labels and aligns with current legislation. They call for better access to energy performance data and EU funding for vulnerable households. The group also suggests a 30% threshold for "best in class" to boost renovation lending.
Lenders would benefit from lower compliance costs and more favorable capital treatment for green mortgages.
National regulators and privacy groups may face pressure to reduce restrictions on building energy data.

Consultation response

MVM Energetika Ltd., 5 Nov 2024

MVM Group as the leading electricity and gas utility of Hungary, providing for more than 10 million consumers in the wider Central and Eastern European region, and also having subsidiaries promoting energy efficiency in the building sector, would like to highlight several aspects to enable…

Consultation response

Sustainable Energy Finance Association, 4 Nov 2024

SEFA is the European trade association for the sustainable energy industry in the built environment. We are accelerating the transition to a net zero carbon economy by advancing the development and financing of sustainable energy across Europes built environment. The revised Energy Performance of…

Consultation response

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE PERITI INDUSTRIALI E PERITI INDUSTRIALI LAUREATI, 5 Nov 2024

Considerazioni del Consiglio Nazionale dei Periti Industriali e dei Periti Industriali Laureati relativamente latto delegato della Commissione Europea: Edifici efficienti sotto il profilo energetico - quadro generale del portafoglio per aumentare i prestiti per le ristrutturazioni. In risposta…

U.Di.Con. Urges Energy Renovation Loans Prioritize Vulnerable Households

U.Di.Con. APS Unione per la Difesa dei Consumatori, 30 Oct 2024

The group wants loans prioritized for social housing and condominiums rather than luxury properties. They suggest allowing renters to access credit and simplifying bureaucratic procedures for minor irregularities. Additionally, they propose a registry for contractors and paying them only after client approval.
Low-income consumers would gain access to affordable credit and protection from fraudulent contractors.
Wealthy property owners and unreliable construction firms would lose priority access and upfront payments.

Consultation response

Energy Efficient Mortgages Hub - Netherlands, 4 Nov 2024

In the Netherlands, various financing options support energy-efficient renovations, especially during property transactions. Key frameworks such as the Energy-Saving Budget (EBB), Energy-Saving Measures (EBV), specialised mortgage products, and government subsidies facilitate access to financing…

Consultation response

, 3 Nov 2024

The initiative is essential to aligning financial practices with EU EE and decarbonisation goals. However, while the intent of such a portfolio framework for financial institutions is clear, existing financial institutions are not structured to meet this challenge's complexity fully. Intermediaries…