Green loans

Does your company own, invest in, or build properties or other projects that contribute to environmental sustainability? If so, we can offer you a Green loan.

Green loans for a sustainable environment

We offer Green loans to companies that own environmentally certified or energy-efficient buildings, companies intending to build new environmentally friendly and climate-smart buildings, and companies implementing energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings. Buildings for which we offer financing may be multi-family dwellings, such as housing co-operative associations or rental properties, or commercial buildings, such as shopping centres or office buildings.

There are, though, more ways to contribute to a sustainable society. You can apply for a Green loan when seeking financing for solar energy projects to convert your energy system, or for forest land, forestry improvement measures and restoration of forests.

Buildings

To minimise the long-term negative impact from the construction sector, it is vital that both old and new buildings consume less energy. It’s also important that new buildings and major renovations take into account environmental and climate factors through a sound choice of materials, and proper maintenance over time. This is why we offer Green loans for environmentally friendly buildings.

The financing of Green loans is linked to certain technical criteria to ensure that the environment and the climate are taken into consideration. Handelsbanken also continuously monitors each project financed with a Green loan.

Multi-family dwellings

The building has an energy declaration, a certificate, or will be certified with one of the following systems in accordance with, at the minimum, the stated levels. Financing in conjunction with a new building always requires an environmental certification.

Energy declaration A or B according to the energy classification system presented by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket) on 1 January 2014
Nordic Swan Ecolabel: Approved
Sweden Green Building: Silver
BREEAM: Very Good
LEED: Gold

Green financing may also be approved for the renovation of an existing building if this leads to 30 per cent less energy consumption than before the refurbishment.

Commercial buildings

The building has been, or will be, certified with one of the following systems in accordance with, at the minimum, the stated levels.

Nordic Swan Ecolabel: Approved
Sweden Green Building: Silver
BREEAM: Very Good
LEED: Gold

The energy consumption of buildings must also be at least 15 per cent lower per square metre per year than required by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s building regulations, or, alternatively, the renovation of an existing building must lead to at least 30 per cent less energy consumption than before the refurbishment.

Handelsbanken continuously monitors each project financed with a Green loan and the borrower commits to annually report the building’s energy and water consumption, as well as a breakdown of the different types of energy.

Green loans for buildings – criteria

Solar energy projects

You can also raise a green loan to finance solar energy projects. These types of projects are deemed important and necessary in order to convert the energy system and make a positive contribution to a greener, more sustainable, and less greenhouse gas-intense society.

Green loans for solar energy are exclusively intended for financing the facility, the installation and the infrastructure needed to commission the solar energy facility.

Solar energy projects qualify for green loans at Handelsbanken. This is because these projects, along with other renewable energy sources, bring about a transition to greenhouse gas-free and renewable energy sources.

Green loan for solar energy projects – criteria (pdf)

Forest

Long-term sustainable forestry creates the conditions for biodiversity, a stable climate, and sustainable economic development. By sequestering carbon and replacing fossil fuel based products, the forest contributes to the transition towards a greenhouse gas-neutral society. A green loan for forest is linked to technical criteria and will exclusively finance forest land, forest promotion measures and restoration of forest land.

Green loans for forest – criteria (pdf)

This is how it works

Apply for a green loan

Contact your local branch office. You can apply for a green loan after you have met with your branch office and our sustainable financing specialists.

The loan is granted

The Bank assesses and approves your project based on the green loan criteria. A customary credit assessment is then carried out.

Reporting

You provide an annual report to the Bank on how the project is fulfilling the terms and conditions, such as mandatory energy requirements.

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