Time is running out for thousands of households and businesses enrolled in Greece’s Save Energy (Exoikonomo) energy efficiency programs. The final deadline to complete all approved energy upgrade works falls this Friday, 17 July — with no further extensions planned.
No Extension Beyond 17 July
The deadline applies across multiple iterations of the program: Save Energy 2021, Save Energy 2023, Save Energy – Renovate for Young People, Save Energy 2025, and Save Energy – Business Upgrade & Appliance Replacement. The Ministry of Environment and Energy has confirmed that 17 July is the definitive cut-off date. No additional time will be granted — a decision tied to the scheduled closure of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, which finances these initiatives.
What Must Be Completed by Friday?
By 17 July, the physical scope of each project must be fully implemented — meaning all interventions listed in the approved application must have been carried out on-site. This includes measures such as window replacement, thermal insulation installation, heating and cooling system upgrades, solar water heater installation, or replacement of energy-intensive equipment.
It is not enough to have placed orders or signed contracts with contractors. The work itself must be finished and verifiable. Without documented completion, applicants risk being unable to finalize their claims and receive their grant payments.
Required Documentation
Beneficiaries and their certified energy advisors must also have gathered all necessary supporting documents before the deadline. These include official invoices matching the actual interventions and final expenditures, bank payment receipts, and any other evidence required for certification. Invoices must accurately reflect both the scope of work performed and the amounts paid.
The Second Energy Performance Certificate
Once works are complete, a second energy inspection is conducted where required — leading to the issuance of a new Energy Performance Certificate. This document verifies whether the building has met the minimum energy efficiency target set at the time of program enrollment.
If the upgrades fall short of the required standard, corrective works may be needed — but they too must be completed within the original implementation deadline. That makes timing especially critical for those who delay the second inspection until the final days: any shortfall leaves little room to act.
Special Note on Save Energy 2025
A separate provision applies to Save Energy 2025: applications submitted under this round are subject to specific rules regarding deadlines and eligibility — details of which are pending official clarification from the ministry.