Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE "EXOIKONOMO" PROGRAM
What is "Exoikonomo"?
“Exoikonomo” is an energy upgrade program that provides funding of up to 90% for works on a home, business, or hotel, incentivizing owners to improve their property’s energy efficiency. Thanks to “Exoikonomo,” specific interventions help save money both on the construction costs of the works and on energy consumption after completion, while also increasing the property’s value.
Why participate in “Exoikonomo”?
Due to rising energy costs, participating in the program is even more essential. Remember, the best savings are achieved when there is minimal need for energy consumption for heating or cooling.
Cost savings: You can receive funding of up to 90% for energy upgrade works in your home. This means that the works included in the “Exoikonomo” program can ultimately be completed at just 10% of the cost!
Energy savings: After the energy upgrade, your home will consume significantly less energy for heating, cooling, hot water, and other energy-intensive processes.
Improved quality of life: Enhancing comfort translates into a higher standard of living.
Increased property value: The rental or resale value of your property rises, as it is now also determined by the energy class it belongs to (as stated on the Energy Performance Certificate).
Better thermal comfort: Energy upgrade works greatly improve indoor comfort, providing cooler conditions in the summer and warmth in the winter.
Why Aristi Plan?
We have extensive experience with the “Exoikonomo” program, achieving very high success rates in submissions and constructions across all cycles from 2011 to the present.
We handle all required processes:
Maximizing your chances of approval
Calculating and optimizing your score
Issuing the Electronic Building Identity
Regularizing any unauthorized structures
Issuing Energy Performance Certificates
Preparing necessary studies and obtaining required permits
Managing the entire program process
Assisting with renovation choices, if desired, based on our expertise
Completing all works – turnkey projects!
What works can I carry out?
- Replacement of windows and doors,
- Shading systems,
- Ventilation systems,
- Installation/upgrading of thermal insulation,
- Upgrade of heating/cooling systems,
- Domestic hot water (DHW) systems using renewable energy sources (solar, etc.),
- Other energy-saving or self-sufficiency interventions (photovoltaics, smart home),
- Advanced lighting systems,
- Power quality improvement systems and automation.
What other expenses (beyond the works) does the program cover?
The cost of conducting the two energy inspections and completing the Intervention Proposal and Intervention Recording forms (submitted electronically).
The fee for preparing the Electronic Building Identity/Divided Property document.
The fee for the project consultant (for submitting the application and managing the entire process, including providing all supporting documents until the final disbursement).
Fees for any required permits/approvals or studies (within the framework of obtaining permits/approvals) mandated by current legislation for implementing interventions (e.g., fees for approval of small-scale construction works, fees for internal natural gas installation studies).
Can I renovate tiles/kitchen/bathroom?
Until now, these expenses were not eligible under the “Exoikonomo” programs. However, the new “Exoikonomo-Anakenno” program allows for aesthetic renovations of interior spaces, with eligible works such as bathroom renovation (e.g., tiles/pipes), kitchen renovation (e.g., countertops/cabinets), and reconfiguration of interior layouts, among others.
What do I pay for?
First, you are entitled to receive the Program’s incentives only once your application is approved and included in the Program.
Before submitting your application, the only payment that can be reimbursed by the Program is for the first Energy Performance Certificate.
After submitting your application, if it is deemed eligible, the applicant must cover the cost of the Electronic Building Identity. Once included in the Program, the applicant will only need to pay their own contribution (either from personal funds or via an interest-free loan) to the suppliers, and cover the cost of the second Energy Performance Certificate.
After successful completion and verification of the application, the applicant will be reimbursed for the eligible costs of the two Energy Performance Certificates and the Electronic Building Identity, upon submission of the service payment receipts along with proof of bank payment.
Contact us for more information!
What subsidy rate do I receive?
In the programs for homeowners, the subsidy rates scale according to income and range from 40% to 90%. The lower the income, the higher the subsidy rate.
In the “Exoikonomo – Epicheiro” program, the subsidy rate ranges from 40% to 50%.
Contact us to find out the subsidy rate that applies to you!
Can I join the program using my own funds? I am low-income/on the credit blacklist/unemployed.
There are three options for paying the private contribution in the “Exoikonomo” programs:
Through a bank deposit (own funds)
Through an interest-free loan
A combination of the above two options
All income levels (from €0 to over €50,000 per year) can participate in the program, as long as the private contribution can be covered. To obtain the loan, the bank’s standard credit assessment process will be followed. If the loan is not approved, participation can continue using personal funds.
Contact us to find out if you are eligible for an interest-free loan!
What are the steps?
Anyone interested in participating in the Program must first check whether they are an “eligible beneficiary” based on income criteria and whether the property qualifies as “eligible.”
Next, they should contact an energy inspector to issue the first Energy Performance Certificate (EPC A) and complete the Intervention Proposal Form (submitted electronically).
Once the applicant has gathered the required documents, they submit their application electronically, in collaboration with the energy inspector who issued the EPC, through the Program’s official online portal during the application submission period.
To submit an application, the applicant must:
Have access credentials for the TAXISnet system.
Resolve any pending legalization/regularization issues with the property before submitting a declaration for inclusion in the unauthorized construction regularization law, if applicable.
Have completed and settled their tax declaration for the most recent fiscal year.
Obtain consent from co-owners if multiple beneficiaries hold real rights on the property, and correctly report the electricity supply number in the property details declaration (E9).
For recently acquired properties (first acquisition of real rights after 31/12 of the last fiscal year), ensure the property details are updated in the E9 before submitting the application.
The most critical stage in submitting the application, as shown by previous programs, is proper preparation of the file. As the “Exoikonomo” programs become increasingly demanding and complex, careful guidance and thorough file verification are essential to avoid issues throughout the program.
Our company provides full guidance on all actions you must take to ensure the desired outcome, from file preparation to program completion.
Trust us with all the bureaucratic procedures to maximize your chances of approval.
What does it mean for a property to be legal?
The legality of a property is verified based on the relevant legalization documents, primarily the building permit, as well as any regularization of unauthorized constructions, etc. However, please note that if the property is selected, an Electronic Building Identity (EBI) / Divided Property document must be issued and submitted. Therefore, the property must meet the requirements for issuing the EBI.
Our team of experienced engineers handles the legality check of properties and the regularization of any unauthorized constructions!
What does "primary residence" mean?
A primary residence is declared in the tax return (Form E1). If the property is used for rental or free use and is therefore not declared as a residence by the applicant, its use as a primary residence is determined from the E1 form of the person using the property. Rental or provision is shown in the applicant’s Form E2.
Primary use must be proven over the last three (3) years, prioritizing the program’s reference year (the most recent tax year). If the property was not in use during the last tax year (vacant), the corresponding data from the applicant’s tax return for one of the two previous years is used.
Finally, for a property acquired after 31/12 of the last tax year (“recent acquisition”), the applicant commits to using it as a primary residence through a declaration, also specifying who will be using it.
How can I know if my home meets the energy threshold to enter the program (category C or below)?
The energy category will be determined by the energy inspection and recorded in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued by the energy inspector. In general, homes with insufficient insulation are highly energy-intensive and, unless a major renovation has been done, are very likely to fall into category C or lower.
We handle the assessment and issuance of Energy Performance Certificates, maximizing your chances of being accepted into the program!
I own a tourist accommodation. Can I participate in any program?
In the new “Exoikonomo–Epicheiro” program, tourist businesses with up to 100 beds are eligible to participate. The total budget ranges from €50,000 to €500,000 and covers the energy upgrade of the entire unit, with a subsidy rate of 40% for medium-sized and 50% for small and very small businesses, as well as other supporting services (consultant, energy audit, energy inspections, ISO certification, studies/research) with a 40% subsidy rate.
I pay very high amounts for electricity and heating my home, is there a solution?
As the energy crisis intensifies, the need for energy upgrades in properties becomes increasingly urgent. Utilizing programs like “Exoikonomo” offers the optimal solution to the problem of excessive costs for heating, cooling, lighting, and overall operation of a home or business space. Energy upgrading my property means reducing the need for energy consumption—for example, building envelope insulation significantly decreases heat loss, so heating doesn’t need to be constantly on. Additionally, using solar energy for hot water (solar thermal systems) or even more for electricity production for self-consumption (photovoltaics) drastically reduces or even eliminates electricity consumption.
