Additional solutions

Additional Residential Green Finance Market Development Solutions for Essential Stakeholders

During the SMARTER4EU project and now through the established S4EU-ECoE it has proven
essential to provide hands on assistance to help all Essential Stakeholders quickly identify the
available and relevant resources to answer questions, resolve issues, and facilitate the necessary
partnerships to be signed.

The S4EU-ECoE Help Desk

Interested persons can either contact their national Implementing Partner or the S4EU-ECoE directly. Either route results in a quick determination which of the 60 + experts available across the SMARTER4EU network can assist to provide the wide variety of specialized expertise required to understand and take decisions to implement Green Homes & Green Mortgage programmes.

Just email info@SmarterFinance4.EU

Additional tools and research

In addition to the tools and research listed above and in the sections below, the SMARTER4EU
project has produced useful assets for both Essential Stakeholders and new country partners
interested to join as Implementing Partners.

These include:

The Green Homes & Green Mortgage Implementation Onboarding Programme to motivate and support future aspiring countries’ Implementing Partners to join and launch high quality programmes.
Report on Feasibility of Options Available for Pathway to Digitization that examines steps a certifying body may take when considering digitizing their certification process and creating a digital platform. A roadmap for this pathway is provided.
Policy improvements for National and Local governments on to increase of Institutional Investment into Green Finance initiatives. This report provides comprehensive recommendations regarding policy improvements with the scope of increasing Institutional Investment into Green Finance initiatives to leverage public sector investment.
Guidance on the establishment of Regional Aggregators produced from roundtables and working sessions and building upon the guidance papers developed through the Smarter Finance for Families project; made available to new and existing Implementing Partners.
Tools for Hybrid or “Blended” Green Finance to support municipalities and Essential Stakeholders delivering affordable housing projects to address energy poverty for low-income homebuyers (Note – these available tools and research are described in the “Blended Green Finance for Affordable Homes” section).
Research on Technologies in the Certification Process and Integration of an EU Green Building Registry which investigates and explains how technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud-based platforms, and data analytics can be integrated into the certification workflow. The research assesses the feasibility, value, and implementation of such tools across key stages of the process—from initial application and assessment, through to quality assurance, final certification, and publication on a shared registry.

Sample of technology evaluation for SMARTER4EU certification processes

Outcomes of knowledge sharing of experience provides findings from a SMARTER4EU
workshop with current, prior and potential new Implementing Partners.

Selection of questions posed in SMARTER4EU workshop gathering 30 Green Building Council representatives

National implementing partners websites

While the S4EU-ECoE provides general information, interested parties are encouraged to visit the websites of local partners. These websites contain the tools adapted for each country and steps to begin the process.

The design and creation of Capacity Building

The design and creation of Capacity Building for Banks has been and will be a critical success factor for quality implementations meeting the expectations of all Essential Stakeholders of Green Homes & Green Mortgage programmes.

The Green Homes Accredited Finance Professional™ (GHAFP) programme equips finance and real estate professionals with the knowledge and skills to use the power of green finance to provide affordable, comfortable, quality, net zero energy green homes for Europe’s citizens. This comprehensive program covers green finance solutions, policy incentives, marketing strategies, practical examples of cost and underwriting considerations and more; enabling professionals to create, administer, promote and report ongreen residential finance products and portfolios. Participants gain unmatched expertise in the evolving green finance landscape and capitalise on the sustainable housing market.
The Smarter Finance for EU project created six new courses and updated existing courses to provide and has begun delivering the ten course programme. The courses are available in a hybrid format of self-paced online and live, in person courses.
The available tools for Capacity Building for Banks also include Guidelines for Implementing Training Programmes for SMARTER4EU Partners. This work leveraged the expert trainer networks and expertise of the Green Building Councils and other SMARTER4EU consortium partners with experience developing and delivering training programmes.

List of courses offered

Communication & awareness building support

The S4EU-ECoE provides communication and awareness building assets - created through the
SMARTER4EU project - for banks, developers, citizens and green homes solution providers.
These include:

Design, Creation and Promotion of the SmarterFinance4.EU online portal to host information about the initiative and pathways for various stakeholders to get involved.
Create and Administer a social media presence on LinkedIn via the Residential Finance for Green Homes and
Materials to assist selling green homes finance products. The SMARTER4EU project conducted surveys to identify the most salient factors motivating buyers to purchase a green home. The S4EU-ECoE Help Desk, offers new partners assistance with designing their promotional material to make their green banking products, residential projects and green homes solutions appealing to buyers.

Sample of promotional materials created from surveys of relevant stakeholder groups including homebuyers

For both Implementing Partners and Essential Stakeholders, tools include Comprehensive and
Inspiring SMARTER4EU Presentations and assistance to deliver these presentations; multiplying the number of effective communicators who can explain the benefits of the Green Homes and Green Mortgage programmes.