The main axes of the new programme "Savings at Home", which will be announced in the autumn presented the Minister Environment and Energy Kostis Hatzidakis during his speech at the conference "Overcoming the pandemic - energy & economy - investments in health".

Saving at Home - activation of a large energy upgrade program

More specifically on the Home Savings programme, Mr. Hatzidakis stressed that a mammoth programme will be activated energy upgrading of buildings in our country and in the European Union countries as a whole, with resources from the Recovery Fund. The programme in its current form will be very small compared to what will be put in place, he said. Community funds will be combined with tax incentives and bank loans where necessary, while the so-called energy service companies which undertake the implementation of the investments and are repaid by receiving part of the cost savings for the consumer from the reduction in energy consumption. In addition to energy saving investments, the new problem will also subsidize projects related to the energy autonomy of buildings and the installation of renewable energy production units.

As Mentioned by Mr. Hatzidakis, discussions are ongoing with the ministries of development and finance to finalise the size of the programme's budget and tax exemptions, followed by discussions with the banks on their own participation in the programme.

Other projects related to the energy autonomy of buildings and the installation of RES power plants

Mr Hatzidakis also stated that:

• In July, the law on electromobility will have been passed, which also provides strong incentives for investments in lignite areas in units that will produce batteries and chargers
• The new Home Savings programme will have a much larger budget than the current programme, will be funded by the Recovery Fund and will be an opportunity for the environment, households and the construction sector alike.
• With electrical interfaces We will save a total of EUR 800 million. euros annually from the Public Utilities while only for the large interconnection of Crete the investment will reach 1 billion. euros
• Lignite phase-out will completely change the picture in lignite regions and will be an opportunity for investment. The EU estimates that EU and national resources amounting to EUR 6.2 billion will be mobilised in our country. euros
• In 2020, the auctioning of 17 waste management units is promoted, compared to 6 currently in operation

"Green policy enables new jobs. The transition to the new era, with more concern for the environment, will be linked to new jobs and economic prospects for the country," the minister concluded.

Saving at Home - Detailed data to enhance energy upgrading

The new Home Savings programme was also mentioned by the Deputy Minister of Energy Gerasimos Thomas in an interview he gave. As he said it is a modern and much more friendly framework for the supporting the energy upgrade of 60,000 homes per year, with a budget of around €8 billion. euro by 2030.

Due to the requirements created in the context of recent macroeconomic conditions and forecasts, the Ministry is working on a modern and much more ambitious framework to enhance the energy upgrade of homes for the transition to a support scheme for energy saving as well as autonomy.

The new program is a measure of immediate response of the government in the post-pandemic era, with the aim of stimulating economic activity in domestic value-added sectors (construction, production of building materials and thermal solar systems) and to strengthen households through the reduction of energy costs," mr. Thomas.

Describing its differences in relation to previous corresponding programmes, pointed out that: "The design of the new programme whose name will be Exoikonomo - Autonomo and hopefully announced in July to run in the fall includes in addition to the classic interventions (thermal insulation, frames, etc.) and the addition of a "smart" component with the introduction of new technologies that characterize a "Smart Home" marking the transition to the new digital era.

Such technologies are smart management systems (lighting, heating and cooling, remote control and monitoring), the production and storage of energy from RES (photovoltaics and batteries) and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

In addition, independent interventions related to energy-saving common areas (e.g. heating, lighting, elevators) will be supported."

Aid incentives

Increased support for these interventions is planned through integrated financial instruments that are also adequately targeted at middle-income earners. In fact, an increase in the subsidy is foreseen if a predetermined energy target is achieved (e.g. upgrade by 4 energy categories) on the basis of an enhanced system of energy inspections and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).

Finally, a special incentive is provided for lignite regions with the introduction of a "just transition clause", as has begun to be done in all the actions of the Ministry, starting with the bill on electromobility. It should be noted that last week 130 000 buildings were upgraded and EUR 1.3 billion was spent on this. euro.

Thanks to increased funds claiming from the Recovery Fund aim to move even faster than the NECP's objectives for upgrade of 60,000 buildings annually over the next decade a key difference from the existing "Saving at Home" program is the fact that The new programme will be open-ended by 2030.

They are therefore in close cooperation with the Ministry of Development in order to ensure the necessary resources for the financing of the program and at the same time they are preparing new energy saving programs for tourism, public buildings and businesses.

This issue is also high on the European political agenda. Next September, the Commission's proposal for the Green Deal Renovation Wave will be presented, outlining the profile of interventions in the building sector in order to achieve the EU's climate and development goals," he adds.