Brussels, 10/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 7 September, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a loan of €100 million to the region of Languedoc-Roussillon for building and refurbishing secondary schools to a high energy efficiency standard, meeting EUROPE 2020 http://www.eib.org/projects/press/2012/2012-116-france-400-meur-pour-les-lycees-du-languedoc-roussillon.htm - _ftn1#_ftn1 environmental norms. This is the first installment of a €4 million plan.
The programme financed by this substantial loan is aimed at raising the environmental standards and improving the energy efficiency of the region's public and private schools. The programme comprises the construction of five new schools, including a low energy consumption pilot school, and the refurbishment of a further 43, but also the installation of wood-fired boilers. Fully in line with the goals of EUROPE 2020, the energy performance component will be enhanced with a renewable energies component consisting of the aforementioned wood-fired boilers and the installation of solar panels on the schools' roofs.
Under the conditions applying when the contract was signed, the region will be able to draw down this first installment of €100 million for thirty years at very low rates. (OL/transl.fl)