If you own a home in Greece, you have probably heard of “Exoikonomo” (Εξοικονομώ, literally “I save”). It is the Greek state’s best-known programme for subsidising energy upgrades of homes, and over several rounds it has helped many households insulate walls and roofs, replace old windows and install efficient heating and cooling. Most information about it is only available in Greek. This article explains how the programme works, in English, so that foreign owners and English-speaking residents can judge whether it is relevant to them.
What is the Exoikonomo programme?
Exoikonomo is a series of subsidy programmes run by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy. Each round is published with its own guide, budget, eligibility rules and deadlines. Recent rounds have included Exoikonomo 2021, 2023 and 2025, as well as a separate scheme aimed at young people (“Exoikonomo – Renovating for the Young”). Rounds have been funded through national and European sources, including the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The aim is consistent across rounds: to reduce the energy consumption of homes, improve their energy class and cut emissions, while lowering energy bills for the households that live in them.
Is there an open call right now?
This is the most important question, and the answer changes over time. At the time of writing, there is no open call for new applications under a programme named “Exoikonomo 2026”. The 2025 round and the youth scheme are in their completion phase for applications that have already been approved, with deadlines for finishing the works extended into 2026. New home energy-upgrade actions have been announced for the coming years, with a focus on vulnerable households, but their detailed terms have not been published yet.
In other words: do not assume a subsidy rate, a budget ceiling or an opening date until the official guide for a new round is published. What you can do now is prepare, so that you are ready to apply quickly when a call opens.
Who has typically been eligible?
Every round sets its own criteria, but recent rounds have shared a number of common conditions. In the 2025 round, for example, the home had to:
- Be a legally existing building, not subject to demolition
- Be used as the owner’s or tenant’s main residence
- Have a starting energy class, according to its first Energy Performance Certificate, of C or lower
Rounds also set income criteria for the household and gave higher support to specific groups, such as families with disabled members, large families, households affected by natural disasters and vulnerable households. Applications are made online, using Greek Taxisnet credentials.
For foreign owners, the main-residence requirement is the key point. A holiday home or a property used only part of the year has generally not qualified. If you live in Greece permanently, file Greek tax returns and the property is your main home, it is worth checking the conditions of the next round carefully.
What works does the programme cover?
The eligible works have been broadly similar across recent rounds:
- Replacement of windows and external doors with energy-efficient frames and glazing, often with shading systems
- Thermal insulation of external walls, roofs, terraces and pilotis or floors
- Upgrading heating and cooling, typically with heat pumps or other efficient systems
- Hot water from renewable sources, such as solar water heaters
- Other energy-saving measures, such as smart-home controls and, in recent rounds, energy storage
Recent rounds have also required the combined works to achieve a meaningful improvement. Under Exoikonomo 2025, the upgrade had to raise the home by at least three energy classes and save more than 30% of primary energy. This is why each application starts with an energy study, which selects the combination of measures that meets the target in the most cost-effective way.
How the process works, step by step
- Eligibility check. Confirm that the property and the household meet the conditions of the current round.
- First Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An accredited energy inspector assesses the home and records its starting energy class.
- Energy study and proposal. The inspector or engineer proposes the works needed to reach the required improvement, with an estimated budget.
- Online application. The application is submitted on the programme’s platform, with the supporting documents.
- Evaluation and approval. The application goes through the programme’s evaluation stages, each with its own deadlines.
- Works. Once approved, the works are carried out by contractors, using eligible materials and keeping the required invoices and documentation.
- Second EPC and payment. A new energy certificate confirms the improvement, and the subsidy is paid according to the rules of the round.
Deadlines matter at every stage. Missing a completion deadline can put the subsidy at risk, which is why having one coordinated team for the study, the paperwork and the works is so valuable.
How to prepare before the next round
- Make sure your property’s legal status is in order, including any regularisation of unauthorised works
- Gather your title deeds, tax documents and Taxisnet credentials
- Obtain an initial Energy Performance Certificate, so you know your starting class
- Get a technical assessment of which upgrades your home needs most
- Prepare an indicative budget, so you can move quickly when a call opens
Is an energy upgrade worth it without a subsidy?
Often, yes. Insulation, efficient windows and a modern heat pump reduce heating and cooling costs every year, improve comfort in both winter and summer, and support the value of the property. Many owners combine an energy upgrade with a wider renovation, or add a solar PV system so that the remaining energy demand is covered by their own production. If a subsidy round opens later, works already completed are generally not eligible, so it is worth taking advice on timing before you start.
How S.A. Construction and Development can help
We support homeowners through the whole Exoikonomo process: the eligibility check, the site survey and technical assessment, Energy Performance Certificates, the energy upgrade study, preparing and submitting the application, and carrying out all the works with certified crews and materials. You deal with one company from the first visit to the final certificate, and we can explain each step in English.
Want to know whether your home could qualify, or which upgrades make sense? Contact us for a free assessment. We will look at your property and tell you what to prepare for the next round.