Unlike what had happened on previous occasions where applications were left pending due to depletion of funds, this time online submission platform will be closed as soon as the funds are exhausted.
The available resources from the NSRF 2014-2020 amount to around €250 million, while the total budget of the programme, including private funds, is expected to amount to EUR 500 million.
The budget of each application should not exceed €25,000 while a feature of the new programme is that no bank borrowing is required and essentially through the online application, those interested will be able to choose whether to apply for a loan or not. Then, if they meet the eligibility requirements, they will be able to choose the financial institution to which they will apply, without the need to be physically present, who will then examine their creditworthiness.
The new programme is open to single-family houses, apartment buildings and individual apartments, which have a building permit or other legal document. In particular, multi-family dwellings are eligible to join the programme, for which each one will be counted as one dwelling, as one unit.
Eligible housing is provided that:
- Used as a main residence.
- It exists legally, it is not arbitrary.
- It has been classified on the basis of the Energy Performance Certificate of the First Energy Inspection (A' EPC) in a category lower or equal to D.
The new programme now includes 7 categories:
From the above table it is clear that the new categories are added based on the social and income criteria of the beneficiaries. Priority is given to the inclusion of families with children (5% for each minor member - up to 2 children) and low-income households. The 7th category, although not eligible for a grant, may benefit from the programme through the receipt of an interest-free loan.
The major breakthrough introduced by the new "Exoikonosimi Kat' Oikon" is the decoupling of the obligation to take a loan from participation in the programme. Consequently, taking a loan from a banking institution is not compulsory.
The budget of each application will not exceed €25,000.
Interested citizens will be able to fill in their application to join the programme, through the special website and the special platform of the programme, where they will check whether they meet the above criteria. It should be noted that applications will only be made electronically and the online application will take the place of an affidavit. By simplifying the application procedure, citizens are facilitated and bureaucracy is significantly reduced.
Furthermore, through the online application, interested parties will be able to choose whether or not to apply for a loan. Then, if they meet the eligibility requirements, they will be able to choose the financial institution to which they will apply, without having to be physically present, which will then examine their creditworthiness.
A prerequisite for inclusion in the programme is the carrying out of an energy inspection by an Energy Inspector, who will issue the required Energy Performance Certificate. Subsequently, interventions will be selected according to the findings/results of the inspection, aiming at achieving maximum energy savings and maximum improvement of the energy efficiency of the dwellings.
After the implementation of the interventions, a second energy audit will be carried out in order to check whether the objectives set have been achieved, and consequently the corresponding grant.
It should be noted that the cost of the Energy Inspector will be covered by the Programme if the application has received the required approval.
The interventions that can be made by stakeholders will concern the following categories:
- Replacement of Frames.
- Installation of shading systems.
- Installation of thermal insulation in the building envelope including the roof/roof and the pitch.
- Heating system upgrade.
- Upgrade of the hot water supply system.
The above interventions should:
- meet the minimum requirements of the CCNAC
- achieve primary energy savings greater than 40% of the consumption (kWh/m2) of the reference building for categories 1 and 2 of the table
- achieve primary energy savings greater than 70% of the consumption (kWh/m2) of the reference building for the other categories
The donation of the information system through which the applications will be submitted was made (5/2/18) by the Hellenic Union of Banks, in order to facilitate citizens and ensure transparency in the service of applications based on the absolute chronological order of submission.
It is important to stress that in the new Home Savings Scheme, people will have the opportunity to apply until the projected funds of the Programme per Region are covered. In practice, this means that the online submission platform will be closed as soon as the funds are exhausted. This will avoid the major problem inherited from previous governments of pending approved applications which were not covered as the required funds were not secured.
For any assistance on the new programme, citizens will be able to get information through a special Help Desk, a telephone number that will soon be operational and the website of the Ministry of Environment & Energy www.ypeka.gr.
