12-03-2012 Save Energy for (almost) everyone
The Ministry of Environment is implementing radical changes to the “Saving at Home” program for the energy upgrading of residences, including all residences regardless of when they were built and whether they are primary or secondary residences.
The Ministry of Environment, albeit belatedly, is aligning itself with the changes that the market has been urgently demanding from the outset, as the number of applications for the program is much lower than expected.
The changes to the program are:
Creation of a new income category of incentives for beneficiaries whose individual income does not exceed €12,000 or whose family income does not exceed €20,000, with a 70% grant and an interest-free loan of 30% of the budget. a1>Lifting of restrictions on a) buildings constructed before 1990, b) primary or secondary residences, and c) one application per citizen
Possibility of including vacant residences, provided they have been used as residences at some point in the last three years.
Possibility of a 5/6-year loan instead of a 4-year loan in order to increase loan eligibility
Increase in down payment from 30% to 40% of the budget for each application
Provision for project consultant fees of up to €250 (excluding VAT) per apartment and up to €800 (excluding VAT) for apartment buildings
The new- Save Energy
Thus, after two revisions of the program, eligible residences are all single-family homes, apartment buildings, and individual apartments (without additional conditions) that meet the following criteria exclusively:
They are located in areas with a zone price lower than or equal to €2,100/sq.m.
They have been classified on the basis of their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in a category lower than or equal to D.
It should be noted that there is no longer a limit on the number of properties per citizen, while in apartment buildings, owners who do not wish to join the program can participate with their own funds. Vacant apartments that have been occupied within the last three years are also included.
Who can join the Program – What are the incentives?
Category A1
Those who join the program and have an individual income of up to €12,000 or a family income of up to €20,000 are subsidized 70% of the budget and receive an interest-free loan of 30% (the 100% interest subsidy is valid until December 31, 2015).
Category A2
To those who join the program and have an individual income of between €12,000 and €40,000 or a family income from €20,000 to €60,000 is subsidized by 35% of the budget while receiving an interest-free loan of 65% (the subsidy interest rate 100% applies until 31.12.2015)
Category B
To those who join the program and have an individual income of between €40,000 and €60,000 or a family income from €60,000 to €80,000 is subsidized by 15% of the budget while receiving an interest-free loan of 85% (the subsidy interest rate 100% applies until 31.12.2015).
Eligible interventions
The savings achieved by the program’s interventions must correspond to an upgrade of one energy class or 30% of the energy consumption of the reference building.
Eligible interventions concern:
1. Installation of thermal insulation on the building envelope, including the roof and pilotis (additional work such as demolition and removal, roof repairs, e.g., tile replacement, etc., is included).
2. Replacement of window frames and installation of shading systems (including building entrance door, stairwell window frames, shutters, roller blinds, awnings, etc.).
3. Upgrading the heating and hot water supply system (including replacement of boiler room equipment and distribution network, installation of solar water heater, heating control and autonomy systems, etc.).
It should be noted that no permit is required for the implementation of the interventions, nor even approval for small-scale construction works, except in very specific cases.
The maximum eligible budget for interventions, including VAT (which is an eligible expense for the Program), cannot exceed €15,000 per property.