Former banker driving accessible finance for home energy renovations announced as finalist in 2024 European Sustainable Energy Awards

With almost 25 years in banking behind her, Françoise Réfabert has developed an innovative vision to provide accessible financing for home energy renovations in France.

‘I am proud to have contributed to the creation of the SERAFIN network, which brings together public operators who provide integrated solutions to homeowners and condominiums for their energy renovation projects,’ says Françoise.

Françoise spent almost 25 years at Société Générale, one of France's leading banks, where she worked on financing energy projects. In 2010, she left to set up her own specialised consultancy: ‘I wanted to develop a new energy efficiency financing offer packaged with a works brokerage service, but I saw it was impossible to achieve this from the inside,’ she recalls. ‘I realised the only organisations that were really committed to the idea were local authorities.’

Françoise went on to develop the model of third-party financing companies, umbrella operators owned by French local authorities, with the capacity to lend to their customers – and especially those who have no access to credit because they are too old, too indebted or too poor.

In 2022, these third-party financing companies joined forces to create the SERAFIN association, which has established itself as a major stakeholder in the French private housing renovation market.

‘SERAFINs help households with limited resources to take advantage of regulated zero-interest long-term loans,’ says Françoise ‘The SERAFINs pay the companies directly and do not ask for an advance. Households only start paying back once the work has been completed’.

Françoise’s approach has been and ask questions, while being demanding, precise and ambitious.

‘Listening, engaging in dialogue with homeowners, while being demanding, precise and ambitious when it comes to renovation projects, these are the values that have led to the success of these organisations’.

All along the way, Françoise has enabled the SERAFINs to join forces thanks to EU support, winning a €2 million EU grant for the ORFEE project under the Horizon 2020 programme, and benefitting from support from the European Investment Bank, which provided financing, as well as technical assistance under its ELENA programme.

‘I would not have been able to embark on these developments without the European calls for projects,’ she says.

‘Françoise’s commitment to Europe is constant, both in her convictions and her ability to articulate a dialogue between national and European bodies, but also to integrate different European models, and to share the results of her work,’ her colleague Sébastien Descours explains.

In 2023, SERAFIN members have carried out the efficient renovation of over 6,000 homes, representing an investment of €175 million. The work has resulted in energy savings of 7.2 MWh of primary energy per year on average per home (minus 46%) and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1.7 tonnes of CO₂ (minus 62%).

‘The plan is to increase the number of SERAFIN members from 5 to 20 within three years, to cover 90% of the population of France, and achieve 50 000 renovations a year,’ says Sébastien.

Françoise Réfabert is one of three finalists shortlisted for the European Sustainable Energy Awards 2024 in the Woman in Energy category. The award recognises women who lead outstanding activities that, if replicated, help to advance the clean energy transition in Europe. Particular attention is placed on efforts to drive the gender mainstreaming agenda and support equality and equal opportunities in the energy sector. The other finalists are Rita Gomes from Portugal, and Karolina Attspodina from Germany.

Rita has launched a start-up that pioneers the use of renewable energy solutions in household objects. Karolina is on a mission to bring solar energy to your balcony with lightweight DIY kits.

EUSEW Awards ​celebrate Europe’s best clean energy projects and leaders 

The ​ European Sustainable Energy Awards ​ (EUSEW Awards) recognise outstanding individuals and projects for their innovation and efforts in energy efficiency and renewables. The nine finalists have been selected by a high-level jury in three categories: Innovation, Local Energy Action, and Woman in Energy. The finalists will be submitted to an online public vote, which is open now until 2 June, and the winners will be announced during the EUSEW Awards Ceremony in June 2024. ​ 

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EUSEW 2024 

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the​ biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, takes place on 11-13 June under the theme ‘Net zero solutions for a competitive Europe’. The event will bring together public authorities, private companies, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives accelerating decarbonisation through green technologies and solutions towards a fair and just transition for people and competitive businesses.

Registrations for onsite attendance in Brussels and online participation are now open. 

For interview requests with the EUSEW Awards finalists or additional media information, please contact ​ mediaeusew [dot] eu (media[at]eusew[dot]eu)