La Banque Postale and the EIB join forces to accelerate the energy renovation of social housing and public buildings in France

This partnership aims to support the energy transition and respond to the major climate and social challenges of the sector.

La Banque Postale and the EIB are strengthening their cooperation with the aim of accelerating the energy transition in France by actively combating thermal sieves and reducing the energy bills of buildings.

The €300 million funding envelope will, over the next four years, support social landlords, local public companies, associations, and healthcare stakeholders in the energy renovation of their real estate portfolio, with loans at preferential rates. Projects eligible for the scheme concern the renovation of social housing and public buildings, for amounts of up to €40 million and over periods of up to 25 years.

Responding to regulatory and social challenges

The renovation of thermal sieves in the social housing stock is one of the major challenges of the Climate and Resilience Act: nearly 1,8 million[1] social housing units classified G, F and E must be renovated by 2034, otherwise they will be prohibited from being rented. Furthermore, the RE2020 environmental regulations will gradually apply from 2026 to new and renovated public buildings, in particular media libraries, libraries, universities, nurseries, hospitals, sports facilities, etc.

Faced with these major requirements set by the State and the European Union, and true to its commitment to a just transition, La Banque Postale is fully committed to supporting its customers in their energy transition projects. It is now the partner of 8 out of 10 social landlords and the leader in financing the Public Sector and the Social Economy in France.

The EIB's lending policy in the energy sector addresses four themes crucial to the ecological transition: energy efficiency, renewable energy, innovation, and energy infrastructure. In 2024, the bank financed energy efficiency projects worth €7,5 billion, out of more than €28 billion allocated to the energy sector.

A long-term partnership serving the regions

This agreement is a continuation of the cooperation initiated in 2015 between La Banque Postale and the European Investment Bank, which have already mobilized more than one billion euros to support major regional projects in favor of the energy transition, infrastructure, renewable energies and sustainable mobility.

For Stéphane Dedeyan, Chairman of the Board of La Banque Postale: "This new agreement with the European Investment Bank marks a decisive step in our commitment to a fair and inclusive energy transition. By supporting the renovation of social housing and the most energy-intensive public buildings, La Banque Postale is taking concrete action to improve the daily lives of millions of French people, reduce the carbon footprint of our regions, and strengthen social cohesion. We are proud to support our clients, social housing providers, and the local public sector in this essential transformation for a more sustainable society."

For Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank: “The modernization of social infrastructure, including housing, schools, and hospitals, is one of the EIB Group’s top priorities. It is important to build, but also to renovate existing buildings, to promote the ecological transition. Between 2020 and 2024, the EIB contributed, among other things, to the renovation of 400.000 homes in Europe through energy-efficient improvements. This new agreement with La Banque Postale allows us to once again support the housing and public building renovation program in France.”

[1] According to the Social Housing Union