The Greek government in an effort to increase energy savings through improved energy efficiency in the building sector has just announced a major programme for subsidizing up to 85% of the cost of investments for energy savings for houses and up to 50,000 euros per household.
The newly announced "Saving – Autonomous”program with a total budget of 850 million euros, in which detached houses and apartment buildings can be included, incorporatesa simplified application procedure in order to encourage applicants. For the first time, in addition to interventions for insulation,the upgrade of heating-cooling systems, etc., the program will also support investments for energy autonomy of buildings(RES systems, energy storage), charging infrastructure of electric vehicles, intelligent lighting systems and remote control of heating / cooling systems, elevator upgrade etc. The program management system is also changing as the application platform will remain open seven days a weekend throughout 2021 in order to avoid "crowding” phenomena.
The name of the new program "Save-Autonomous for a Smart Home”, indicates its goal. In addition to energy saving and energy autonomy of households, additional incentives are provided that encourage -among others- the production and storage of energy from RES (eg with the installation of photovoltaics), and the installation of "smart” energy management systems".
"This program is just the beginning. But we want it to be a good start and to signal the increased emphasis on energy saving actions that are now being given a boost at European level”, Greece’s Energy Minister Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis stated, "Saving-Autonomousand the other programs that will follow (for public buildings, tourism, industry, businesses, etc.) are market activation levers for the implementation of significant investments. In this way we believe that the construction industry and other sectors of domestic production will be supported, creating new jobs and added value to the Greek economy", he added.
Mr. Hatzidakis also noted that the European Recovery Fund will focus on building renovations, which means on the one hand that mammoth programs will be announced next year and on the other hand that there is no question of covering those who are left out of a phase of the program, because they can join in the next phases. The certification of energy inspectors will also be upgraded so that maximum support can be achieved in the processing of applications and in the certification process.
ΙΕΝΕ Conference on Energy Efficiency
In view of EU’ s new higher targets for Energy Efficiency for 2030, and the latest revision of its Energy Efficiency Directive, and given the priority placed by the Greek government on energy efficiency, IENE will be organizing a major conference in Athens in the second half of November in order to provide a comprehensive overview and assessment of the situation. With a special focus on public buildings, industry and business, and with the involvement of senior officers from international organizations, experienced market executives and industry representatives, the conference will seek to map the latest developments as well as to anticipate upcoming changes at a technical and investment level.
Among others, the conference will address the issue of energy poverty, and energy efficiency as a tool to tackle Climate Change within the European and Greek institutional framework. The conference will also examine the financing tools for energy efficiency and energy saving as well as on the energy upgrading of buildings and the role of the public sector, industry and business. The role of Local Authorities, Public Organisations, Banks and professional institutions will also be discussed in relation to achieving the strict energy efficiency targets to which Greece and other EU countries are committed.
The conference, which was originally scheduled for March 20, but was cancelled as a result of the Coronavirus endemic, is being supported by a number of major companies and banks. The exact date will be announced early in September when IENE plans to announce its events programme for the last quarter of 2020 and the first half of 2021.
