Construction and renovation projects requiring a town planning permit or notification must meet a number of requirements laid out in the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), such as a maximum insulation level (K-level), maximum energy level (E-level), minimum share of renewable energy, and indoor climate quality (adequate ventilation, heating etc.).

The European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) are available to European regions and aim to bridge the gaps between European regions. Interreg programmes target cooperation between different regions. Both ERDF Flanders and ERFD Interreg programmes are centralised along several axes. Within some of those axes, specific SME investment in resource efficiency can be subsidised. For instance, within one of the axis of ERDF Flanders, there is a specific target on increasing SME energy efficiency, including company buildings and production processes.

The government of the Brussels-Capital Region helps organisations (business, non-profit and public) include circular economy principles in their activities. The programme offers several financial instruments to support the organisations: subsidies, grants, tax allowances, but also tools, good practices, training, etc.

Public tenders to support new cicular economy businesses (i.e. use waste as raw material, industrial ecology, eco-conception, etc.); funds to support circular projects; grants to launch sustainable entrepreneurship, and more.

Estonia supports investment in more resource-efficient solutions with a € 111 million fund focusing on SMEs and the manufacturing industry. Activities include raising awareness, training resource specialists/auditors, supporting resource audits and investments in resource-efficient solutions.

After conducting a detailed resource analysis and getting recommended resource-saving solutions from the experts who conducted the audit, the company can ask for funding for:

Estonia supports investment in more resource-efficient solutions with a € 111 million fund focusing on SMEs and the manufacturing industry. Activities include raising awareness, training resource specialists/auditors, supporting resource audits and investments in resource-efficient solutions.

This Operational Programme, draws on the EU's Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund for sustainable and efficient use of natural resources, ensuring environmental protection, active adaptation to climate change, and support for an energy efficient, low-carbon economy. The budget for the programme is € 3.2 billion for the period 2014-2020.

The aim of ENERG Programme is to help SMEs in Prague, Czech Republic to access funding for projects aimed at reducing the energy intensity of their activities, or using renewable energies to achieve final energy savings. It may include, for example, acquisition and reconstruction of both tangible and intangible assets leading to energy savings on final consumption.

A national programme by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. EFEKT 2017-2020 complements operational and national energy programmes in order to increase energy savings. It provides subsidies for education in energy conservation, and for implementing energy management recommendations using the EPC method. It also supports energy conservation projects and public lighting refits and reconstruction.

The Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness Operational Programme (OPPIK), operated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is for projects leading to improved resource and energy efficiency. Support is aimed primarily at SMEs, however specific activities are also suitable for large companies, groups of companies, research organisations, innovation, non-profit organisations, government bodies, local authorities, and more. 

The Environment Operational Programme is operated by the Ministry of Environment and State Environmental Fund. The programme (€ 2.6 billion for 2014-2020) is intended for the public sector; but some sub-programmes are open to private companies. Projects leading to improved resource efficiency in SMEs can be financed from sub-programmes: reduction of water pollution from industry; reduction of air emissions (VOCs, ammonia); improvement of energy source efficiency; improvement in waste management; monitoring and reduction of industrial pollution.