Poland—Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (Poland REFF)

Poland is one of the most energy-intensive economies in Europe and the Polish government identified increased energy efficiency as one of its top priorities when developing the country’s long-term energy policy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) Polish Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (Poland REFF) addressed this goal through a program of targeted loans to incentivize borrowing for household improvements that increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Over the course of the project, the ERBD will disperse €200 million through local banks in Poland to borrowers ranging from single family households to commercial residential developers and property owners. DAI, as a subcontractor to the Polish Foundation for Energy Efficiency, provided technical assistance to support the implementation of the facility.

Poland REFF built on the success of the DAI-led Polish Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (PolSEFF), which provided similar energy efficiency financing to small and medium enterprises.

Sample Activities

• Promote the facility and support participating banks in their marketing efforts.
• Develop tools to help prospective borrowers choose appropriate equipment and materials to purchase, such as a List of Recommended Sustainable Energy Technologies and an energy savings calculator.
• Maintain an advisory helpline for borrowers.
• Provide capacity building on energy-efficiency financing to participating banks.

Select Results

• Created a €200 million credit facility to build the market for investments in sustainable energy in the residential sector in Poland.
• Ensured that financial institutions became familiar with appraising and financing energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in the sector.
• Increased awareness of potential borrowers of energy and resource saving benefits.
• Developed innovative List of Eligible Materials and Equipment to easily find energy-efficient products and materials, and giving materials suppliers the opportunity to register, bolstering demand for their businesses.
• Won “Deal of the Year” at the Central and Eastern European Clean Energy Awards.