13/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on Friday 13 April that it is to provide a loan of up to €100 million to co-finance Casa Eficiente 2020, an energy- and water-efficient private housing programme promoted by the Portuguese government. The loan will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals wishing to improve the energy efficiency, water and/or waste management systems of their houses by financing investments. The facility will be channelled through financial intermediaries: Caixa Geral de Depósitos S.A, Millennium bcp and Novo Banco have signed finance contracts for the Casa Eficiente 2020 initiative worth €30 million, €25 million and €15 million respectively. The loans are part of the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Initiative, a joint EIB and European Commission programme to support energy efficiency investments in buildings. (EH)