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As far as households are concerned, the National Plan for Energy and Climate (ESEK) envisages the renovation of at least 600,000 residences by 2030.
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The green environmental policy set by the government and reflected in the National Plan for Energy and Climate (ESEK) aims at an energy transition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), increase the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), the de-lignified production of electricity, the improvement of energy efficiency with the aim of greater energy savings, as well as in tackling energy poverty.
The European building sector is responsible for consuming 40% of the total energy in the European Union and for 36% of carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, 35% of EU buildings are older than 50 years and 75% of them are considered non-energy efficient.
According to the energy trial balance of 2017, the energy consumption related to buildings in Greece corresponds to 42% of the total energy consumption in the country, while homes are one of the most important energy consumers in the country, as they represent the largest of the stock market (79.1%). 83.82% of the buildings constructed before 1980 have very low energy efficiency (category H buildings), with the most energy-intensive residential buildings being detached houses.
Regarding the energy category of residential buildings, it is observed that the largest percentage (66.83%) of them is classified in E-H, 26.81% in C-D and only 6.36% in A-B. Therefore, the Greek building stock of houses presents a particularly large potential for energy savings.
Although households in Greece have low energy consumption compared to other European Union countries (6th place in the EU), when this energy consumption is compared to the climatic conditions of other European Union countries, Greece falls to 17th place in the respective energy sector ranking.
The need for renovation of the building sector in Greece is undeniable, as it achieves at the same time significant percentages of energy savings, cost savings for citizens, improvement of daily living and comfort conditions and the safety and health of citizens when using these buildings.
As far as households are concerned, the National Plan for Energy and Climate (ESEK) envisages the renovation of at least 600,000 residences by 2030.
Achieving this goal contributes significantly to the radical upgrade of the country's aging building stock, while giving a boost to the construction sector, which has declined over the past decade. With the 3 EXOIKONOMO programs of the programming periods 2007-2013, 2014–2020, energy interventions were implemented in more than 140,000 houses / buildings. The new program "EXOIKONOMO 2021" adapts to the new conditions formed by the country's climate data and the directives of the European Union, while following the requirements of the times: citizens' needs, climate change, digitization, new technologies, etc.
The program, following the basic principles of energy saving, subsidizes the installation of smart home management systems (smart home), which contribute in this direction. The new "EXOIKONOMO 2021" is part of the flagship projects subsidized by the Fund for Recovery and Sustainability, improving the energy class of households, achieving primary energy savings of over 30% for each beneficiary / residential building, through energy upgrades by at least 3 categories. The total investment financed by the resources of the Recovery and Sustainability Fund for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 will contribute to energy savings of at least 213 ktoe per year and energy renovation of at least 105,000 homes by 2025. The investment includes separate incentives for the support of poor and vulnerable households in the form of an increased percentage of grants and a separate budget of 100 million Euros.
Contributing, therefore, to the implementation of ESEK, the new Exoikonomo 2021 is implemented by adapting and improving the existing financial model, aiming to maximize the benefits for citizens by increasing the number of citizens who can participate in the program, simplifying the certification of interventions and market activation by mobilizing private capital to finance the required interventions. Thus, the new program will offer high financial and operational benefits to Greek households while meeting their energy needs.
The Program consists of providing incentives for energy saving interventions in the residential building sector, with the aim of reducing energy needs and the consumption of conventional fuels, in the context of the transition to an "Energy Efficient Home". The Program concerns buildings that exist legally, are used as main residence and whose owners meet specific income criteria. In particular, the Program includes five (5) categories of grants, in which the Beneficiaries are included according to their income as described in more detail in section 2.2. Incentives are also provided for energy upgrading interventions in apartment buildings with individual applications for individual apartments that include shared and non-shared upgrading interventions.
Every individual person wishing to participate in the Program examines whether he meets the criteria mentioned in Chapter 2, gathers the required documents and addresses an Energy Inspector, in order to carry out the first energy inspection of his property and to issue the Energy Performance Certificate (A’ EPC). Then, during the application period, he completes the application in the information system of the official web portal of the Program.
The interventions that take place after the issuance of the EPC of the first energy inspection (which is the starting date of eligibility of the relevant expenditures) are eligible. Part of the interventions can be carried out before the issuance of the decision of affiliation, with the sole responsibility of the beneficiary.
The submission of the application, the monitoring of the implementation of the energy saving interventions as well as the actions for the completion of the project, including the presentation of the supporting documents for the certification of completion of the project, can be assigned by the potential beneficiaries to a project consultant.
The potential beneficiaries (or the project consultants) post in the information system of the Program data related to the EPC, to the interventions that have arisen from the EPC and lead to the achievement of the energy goal, their respective costs as well as other supporting documents.
At the end of the period during which the application information system will remain open, the entered data will be checked. If their validity is checked, the applications will be graded, based on specific criteria, which are listed in detail in Chapter 5, taking the order of classification. In this way, the provisional ranking tables will be compiled per regional unit. At the end of the objection period and the finalization of the ranking tables, the decision of inclusion in the Program will be issued for the successful applications within the respective resources per R.U. The applications, which will not make a decision of inclusion, retain their position. in the rankings. In case of non-acceptance of the affiliation, the position will be filled from the next application according to the final ranking tables and within the framework of availability of the respective resources.
After the implementation of the interventions, an inspection is carried out by an Energy Inspector (different from the Energy Inspector drafted by the A‘EPC), and a new EPC is issued. (2nd EPC). Based on the 2nd EPC and after the ascertainment of the achievement of the energy goal and the required energy savings, and the control of the supporting documents, the payment of the incentives of the Program to the beneficiaries is completed.
The cost of the two energy inspections, the cost of the project consultant, the fee for the issuance of Electronic ID, as well as any other costs of studies, are covered 100% by the Program, provided that the application is included and the minimum energy goal and the required energy savings of the program are achieved.
The projects of the beneficiaries (physical and financial object) must be completed within a period of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance of the affiliation decision. Within the first six (6) months of the above period, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the eligible work under eligible budget must be completed. Otherwise, the application will be taken to a disengagement process. In addition to the above period of 12 months of completion of the project, it is possible to extend for a period of up to three (3) months, after consideration of a reasoned request. Requests for cases of force majeure are considered separately upon a reasoned request.
The budget of the Program amounts to 632 million Euros. The Program is funded by resources of the Recovery and Resilience Fund and its distribution is distributed by regional unit (RU).
Table 1.3.1 gives, by R.U. of the country, the indicative total distribution of the Program for all types of height applications, the indicative distribution exclusively for the applications related to apartment buildings and which is a subset of the total distribution. In case of non-exhaustion of resources in one RU, the available resources can be added to the resources of other RUs, following criteria of equal distribution. In the same table, it is given per R.U. the indicative distribution of the Program exclusively for the treatment of Energy Poverty (income category 1).
For the distribution by R.U. of the above tables have taken into account population and energy data as well as data of past demand of "EXOIKONOMO" programs and application of rates so that there are no major changes with budgets of previous "Exoikonomo" programs. Also in R.U. Kozani, Florina, Arcadia and Evia have been allocated an additional 5% of the total budget as they belong to lignite areas in de-lignification and an area affected by the fires of the summer of 2021.
These initial indicative distributions in each subset of Regional Units may change depending on the course of implementation of the inclusions in this Program.
Under the program, the above resources can be combined with other national resources for the implementation of energy saving interventions in eligible homes.
In addition, the available resources of the Program can be increased, in case of a large volume of applications and exhaustion of its resources.
The following definitions apply to the needs of the Program:
○ Detached house: The single building that includes a property, arranged on one or more levels, with main residential use. The definition of a detached house also includes the cases of mixed use buildings with uses other than a house on the ground floor / semi-basement / mezzanine level with independent access (eg shops, workshops, etc. with entrance from the street).
A EPC is issued a) for "Whole Building" and use "Detached house" if it is for the whole building or b) for "Building unit" and use "Detached house" if it is for the part of the building that concerns the only residence of the building.
○ Apartment building: The single building that includes more than one building unit - properties with main residential use, in horizontal and / or vertical layout. The definition of an apartment building also includes the cases of residential buildings that include uses other than a house on the ground floor / semi-basement / mezzanine level with independent access (eg shops, workshops, etc. with entrance from the street).
An EPC is issued for "Whole Building" and use of "Apartment Building" if it is for the whole building or its part that concerns all the dwellings of the building.
○ Apartment: building unit - property (residence) inside a building using an apartment building.
An EPC is issued for "Building unit" and use "Apartment building" and a title is written for the building unit (eg Apartment A1).
Eligible residence is the detached house, the apartment building as well as the individual apartment. Please note that in no case are the properties of the building that are not used for a house eligible (eg a shop on the ground floor of a building).
To be eligible, a home must meet the following general requirements:
The conditions are presented in more detail in the next section.
The right to participate in the Program have individual persons who have a real right to an eligible residence.
The real right (full ownership / usufruct / small ownership) of the applicant should exist during the reference year of the Program (tax year 2020) as well as at the submission of the application. In case of existence of more beneficiaries of real rights (co-owners) in an eligible residence: if the main use of the requested residence is made by one of the co-owners, only the co-owner who owns it has the right to participate in the Program. If the main use of the requested residence concerns another non-co-owner (free concession / rental), the right to participate in the Program has any of the co-owners with real right of full ownership / usufruct (not small ownership).
For the legality of the residence the applicant will have to present the relevant legal documents. Please note that Submission of the Electronic Building / Divided Property Identity will be required at a later stage (for applications eligible in principle, see section "Procedure" sub-section "Submission" paragraph "Upon Submission").
The main use of the residence is recorded in the data of the income tax return of the user within the last three (3) years, with priority in the reference year (tax year 2020). In the event that from the data of the income tax return, for the reference year it appears that the property was not in use (empty apartment, empty house) in the said tax year, for the certification of the main use of residence will be used corresponding documents of one of two previous tax years. If the residence has been acquired after 31.12.2020 (recent acquisition of property), a written commitment will be requested for the main use of the residence.
The provisions of EU Commission Regulation 1407/2013 on de minimis aid apply to rented / free concessions, where the cumulation limits (€ 200,000) are set. The Beneficiary (full owner, usufructuary) is required to declare compliance with the de minimis regulation, as it is in force from time to time, as well as to submit corresponding declarations of the other co-owners (full owner, usufructuary). In addition, in case of multiple applications of the program to the same person, the total amount of aid (grant, interest rate subsidy and gross grant equivalent - GGE) can not exceed € 80,000 including all its applications.
Homes with short-term lease use are not eligible.
The individual persons whose housing and the house to be upgraded to energy meet the above conditions, are called potential Beneficiaries of the Program if based on their income in the reference year they are classified in the following income categories:
Within the framework of the Program, the annual Individual or family "income" includes the Total Declared Income, the Exempt and Independent Taxable Income as well as the Added Objective Difference of all members of the applicant's family.
The above income arises from the Tax Assessment Act of the cleared tax return for the tax year 2020. Especially in the case that there is no obligation to submit an income tax return and this is documented with a copy of the relevant responsible return (see & section "Sub-procedure" sub-section paragraph "Special Cases"), the income is considered ZERO.
If the applicant is married or in a single-parent family, the classification in the categories of table 2.2.1 is based on the column "family income". For the calculation of family income, the data of the TAXIS system are used and the incomes of the person liable to submit the income tax return, the spouse and the children who have been declared as dependent members in that declaration and may submit a separate tax return. If in the context of a marital relationship or the existence of a cohabitation agreement, which is declared in the tax register of TAXIS, separate tax returns are submitted, the sum of the individual incomes is made and their reduction to "family income". If the application is submitted by a person who has been declared as a dependent child in a "family" tax return and declares the same income, the classification in the categories of table 2.2.1 is made taking into account the total income of the family to which he belongs, as above.
If the applicant (in the case of family / MSS, and / or spouse / MSS) is a tax resident abroad, his income will result from the sum of the "income" of Greece within the meaning of the Program and the total declared income obtained in Country of Tax Residence (for the above see & section "Procedure" sub-section "Submission" paragraph "Special Cases"), for the reference year.
Please note that, due to the electronic intersection of the residence data entered in the application with the corresponding data declared to the tax authority, it is necessary in the income tax return of the tenant (E1), if there is a lease / free concession of the main residence and the detailed statement for real estate rents (E2), as well as in the declaration of real estate data (E9) to fully and correctly include the electricity supply number of the real estate.
Within the Program there are two (2) distinct types of applications:
The conditions for their submission are presented in the sub-section "Conditions"
-In case where there are many co-owners and the use of the main residence is done by one of them, only the co-owner who owns and receives the corresponding graduated percentage per income category has the right to apply to the Program.
-In the case where the use of a house is made by a third person-non-co-owner (free concession / rent), the right to submit an application to the Program has any of the usufructuaries - full owners (not the small owner), and receives the corresponding graded percentage per income category.
For applications for an Apartment Building, when the total of the millimeters of the Apartment Building participates, an additional grant (bonus) + 10% is provided in the provided subsidy percentage of each participating apartment.
The grant percentage concerns the eligible intervention budget. For the remaining percentage up to 100% of the eligible intervention budget, there is the possibility of granting a loan with an interest rate subsidy, based on a relevant request of the Beneficiary.
-For an application for an Individual Apartment or a Detached House, for each natural person (for each VAT number applicant) it is possible to submit only one (1) application, according to the terms of the Program. Applications for multiple properties by the same person are allowed only if the additions of one application are part of an application / applications related to an apartment building. However, the cumulative limit on the total grant referred to in the "Eligibility" subsection applies.
-For an application for an Apartment Building, for each VAT of the management of an Apartment Building, it is possible to submit only one (1) application, according to the terms of the Program.
-For the participating apartments as part of an apartment building application, for each natural person (for each TIN applicant) it is possible to submit more applications for participating apartments, according to the terms of the Program. However, the cumulation limit applies to the total grant referred to in the "Eligibility" subsection.
Restriction of applications per house: For each eligible house (detached house, detached apartment, apartment building, or apartment as part of an apartment building application) of the current Program, only one (1) application must be submitted. Homes, in the above sense, with an active application in one of the energy upgrade programs "Saving at Home II" and "Saving-Autonomous" of the program period of co-financing of European Programs 2014-2020, are not eligible to submit to the current program. Exceptions are the cases of individual apartments with active application in one of the cycles of "Home Savings II" and "Saving-Self-financing" Programs of the program period of co-financing of European Programs 2014-2020, for which they are allowed to participate as part-application in an apartment building but only for communal interventions, as well as the cases of participating apartments of application of an apartment building "type B" of the "Save - Autonomous" Program, for which they are allowed to participate as individual apartments.
The submission to the information system of more than one application for the same eligible residence by the same person or another co-owner leads, without exception, to the rejection of all applications and in the case of an application for which an affiliation decision has been issued, the last chronological application will be withdrawn. .
The control for the observance of the above concerns all the applications that will be submitted to the program and is carried out by the Implementing Body of the Program before the issuance of the decision of inclusion of each application.
Under the program, the application for an Apartment Building, submitted by the representative of the apartment building, is linked to the individual applications of the participating apartments, which include shared and non-shared interventions to upgrade them.
To apply for an Apartment Building:
The starting date for the eligibility of expenditure is set at 01/02/2020 under Regulation (EU) 2021/241 establishing the recovery and resilience mechanism. Projects are not eligible which, based on the submitted cost documents, have been completed in terms of the physical object or have been fully executed by the date of submission of the application.
In the above context, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must have been issued from 01/02/2020 onwards.
It is clarified that, within the requirements of the Program, EPCs are accepted, which have been issued after 27.11.2017 (date of activation of the information system for the issuance of Energy Performance Certificates based on B.E.E.R. approved by decision DEPEA / oik. 178581 / 30.06.2017, Government Gazette B '2367 / 12.07.2017), and before 01/02/2020, as well as studies and Approvals of Small Scale Construction Works that have been issued before 01/02/2020, but their cost is not eligible by the Program.
