Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis

Achieving the European Union’s (EU) energy efficiency targets is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security, and ensuring sustainable investments in the building and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sectors. However, stagnant investments hinder progress towar...

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Main Authors: Charikleia Karakosta, Alice Corovessi, Isaak Vryzidis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1107
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author Charikleia Karakosta
Alice Corovessi
Isaak Vryzidis
author_facet Charikleia Karakosta
Alice Corovessi
Isaak Vryzidis
author_sort Charikleia Karakosta
collection DOAJ
description Achieving the European Union’s (EU) energy efficiency targets is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security, and ensuring sustainable investments in the building and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sectors. However, stagnant investments hinder progress towards these goals. This study examines successful sustainable financing practices for energy efficiency projects, with a focus on replicable financing schemes and models across EU countries. By examining long-term, replicable initiatives, the paper identifies best practices that can be adapted across various EU Member States, despite differing regulatory frameworks. Key selection criteria include project scale, duration, results, and private financing attraction. The study also provides market updates, evaluates financial schemes and models, assesses barriers to private fund leveraging, and shares lessons learned in overcoming these challenges. This research contributes to understanding effective strategies for encouraging investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy across the EU by promoting large-scale communication campaigns and fostering greater public-private cooperation.
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spelling doaj-art-eef5827b537f4233aa6eca59354403bd2025-08-20T02:05:18ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-01185110710.3390/en18051107Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country AnalysisCharikleia Karakosta0Alice Corovessi1Isaak Vryzidis2Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou, 15780 Athens, GreeceINZEB—Initialising Energy Balance Towards Zero, 507, Mesogion Av., 15343 Agia Paraskevi, GreeceDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of West Attica, Petrou Ralli & Thivon 250, 12244 Egaleo, GreeceAchieving the European Union’s (EU) energy efficiency targets is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security, and ensuring sustainable investments in the building and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sectors. However, stagnant investments hinder progress towards these goals. This study examines successful sustainable financing practices for energy efficiency projects, with a focus on replicable financing schemes and models across EU countries. By examining long-term, replicable initiatives, the paper identifies best practices that can be adapted across various EU Member States, despite differing regulatory frameworks. Key selection criteria include project scale, duration, results, and private financing attraction. The study also provides market updates, evaluates financial schemes and models, assesses barriers to private fund leveraging, and shares lessons learned in overcoming these challenges. This research contributes to understanding effective strategies for encouraging investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy across the EU by promoting large-scale communication campaigns and fostering greater public-private cooperation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1107sustainable developmentenergy transitiongreen transitionenergy policysustainable investmentssustainable financing
spellingShingle Charikleia Karakosta
Alice Corovessi
Isaak Vryzidis
Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
Energies
sustainable development
energy transition
green transition
energy policy
sustainable investments
sustainable financing
title Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
title_full Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
title_fullStr Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
title_short Unlocking Sustainable Financing Practices for Energy Efficiency Projects: A Multi-Country Analysis
title_sort unlocking sustainable financing practices for energy efficiency projects a multi country analysis
topic sustainable development
energy transition
green transition
energy policy
sustainable investments
sustainable financing
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1107
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AT alicecorovessi unlockingsustainablefinancingpracticesforenergyefficiencyprojectsamulticountryanalysis
AT isaakvryzidis unlockingsustainablefinancingpracticesforenergyefficiencyprojectsamulticountryanalysis