The Greek government has announced that over 340,000 households will be included in new energy-saving and appliance upgrade programs named "Exoikonomo" and "Change Device", to be funded by the Social Climate Fund. This initiative marks nearly a 50% increase compared to the previous round of similar programs under the Recovery Fund, which supported 232,000 households. The new programs are expected to be announced in the coming months, following necessary approvals from the EU.

Key government figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, detailed the planned actions of the Social Climate Fund last week. They indicated that the funding from the Recovery Fund has already enabled 102,000 homes to undergo significant upgrades, with €1.35 billion allocated for grants. The upcoming programs aim to further enhance energy efficiency in Greek households, addressing social inequality by making energy-saving measures accessible to more citizens.

The anticipated impact of these programs is substantial, not only for the environment, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, but also for the economy, as increased energy efficiency can lead to lower electricity bills for households. With the focus set on environmentally friendly practices, the government hopes to stimulate the green economy while providing necessary support to vulnerable populations in the face of rising energy costs.