The BUILD_ME project, developed by Guidehouse Germany, is proud to announce the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s recognition of the BUILD_ME Project as a tool for evaluating the energy performance and qualification of green building ventures. This approval includes the upcoming integration of BUILD_ME’s Building Energy Performance (BEP) Tool and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scheme into the EBRD’s Technical Guide for the Green Economy Transition. As an approved certification scheme, this will facilitate the assessment of projects for direct lending by the EBRD, and intermediated financing through the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) and similar green credit lines in Egypt and Jordan. This development will catalyze the adoption of energy-efficient buildings, expand access to green finance, and promote the implementation of energy-conserving construction practices – driving a substantial reduction in building-related emissions across both countries.

The newly developed EPC scheme quantifies both primary and final energy consumption, as well as the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions achieved through efficiency measures and the generation and use of renewable energy. This advancement enhances EBRD’s endeavors to assess and verify the eligibility of low-energy buildings that surpass the established savings threshold, relative to the baseline of the existing building stock.

To enhance national awareness and increase the usability of the tool, Guidehouse’s BUILD_ME experts will conduct comprehensive training sessions for EBRD’s technical consultants, as well as for external engineers, architects, and other building sector professionals. These sessions will cover the functionalities of the BEP Tool and the EPC scheme process. As a result, certified experts will be equipped to utilize the tool to qualify energy-efficient building projects for financing under EBRD’s green credit lines.

EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facilities (GEFF) support businesses and homeowners investing in green technologies. Through GEFFs, the EBRD has channelled over EUR 6.6 billion via 206 financial institutions across 29 countries. This has enabled over 236,000 green investments which, in combination with funding from co-financing partners, have collectively led to the reduction of approximately 11 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The BUILD_ME project is financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It is led by Guidehouse Germany in collaboration with the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), Housing and Building National Research Center (HBRC), Integrated Development Group (IDG), Royal Scientific Society in Jordan (RSS), and the Intergovernmental Partner (RCREEE). The project is a promising step towards achieving highly efficient buildings in the MENA region.