The SMARTER4EU initiative will launch green finance programs for sustainable homes, promoting healthier homes and improving energy security. Third-party green, sustainable homes certification aligned to the EU taxonomy will be used as a qualifying mechanism for green finance products.
The initiative builds on the success of the SMARTER Finance for Families program which introduced into 12 European countries comprehensive green finance products. In Ireland, AIB and HBFI created green finance products for development loans using the Home Performance Index certification, which has over 20,000 homes registered for certification.
‘Green homes’ is an often misused term for energy efficient homes, however, the EU taxonomy regulation has defined the term ‘green’ homes as more than just energy efficiency, and includes 6 climate and environmental objectives: mitigation and adaptation of climate change, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, transition to a circular economy, prevention and control of pollution and protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.