You have just learned that your Exoikonomo application was approved with a 70% subsidy rate. Your joy is (understandably) immense. You go to the aluminium manufacturer, choose a top-of-the-line, heavy-duty lift-and-slide balcony door in a gorgeous wood-effect colour, and expect to pay only 30% of the invoice.
But when the manufacturer (or the energy inspector) presents the final cost breakdown, you discover that your actual out-of-pocket contribution is far higher than that 30%. What went wrong? Are they cheating you?
No, nobody is cheating you. You have simply come face to face with the most misunderstood rule of the programme: the Maximum Expenditure Limits (the Cap). Let us bust the myth and see exactly how the Exoikonomo maths work.
This is the most common misconception. The state does not subsidise a percentage of the final price you agree with your aluminium manufacturer. The reality is more complex - and simultaneously fairer.
In every cycle of Exoikonomo, the Ministry publishes a guide with a detailed table. This table defines a maximum allowable price per square metre for each window type (e.g. casement, sliding, entrance door, roller shutter). This is the famous cap.
Your subsidy percentage (e.g. 70%) is calculated ALWAYS against this cap, and never above it. If the price of your window exceeds the cap (because you chose a premium system), you pay the difference entirely out of your own pocket.
Let us assume (for simplicity) that the programme guide sets the maximum limit for a casement aluminium window at €300 per square metre and your subsidy rate is 70%.
You choose a simple, standard energy window in white. The manufacturer quotes €250/m². Since the price is below the €300 cap, the programme subsidises 70% of €250. The state pays €175/m² and you pay (Own Contribution) the remaining €75/m². Here, the 70/30 rule applies perfectly.
You choose a top-end window with concealed hinges, triple glazing and a custom colour. The manufacturer quotes €450/m². Here everything changes. The programme ignores the €450 and calculates the 70% subsidy only up to the €300 cap. The state pays €210 (70% of 300). You pay €90 (to cover the cap) PLUS €150 for the difference. Your total out-of-pocket: €240/m² - over 50% of the value!
The Ministry cap is realistic but is calculated based on absolutely standard (basic) market specifications. It does not account for luxury finishes. So which factors tend to blow the budget?
White is the cheapest. If you request a wood-effect finish (sublimation), durability coatings (Super Durable / Sablé) or metallic colours, the profile price shoots up by 20–30%. Custom colour finishes are one of the main culprits behind cap overruns.
If you have very large openings and choose a Lift & Slide system instead of a standard sliding one, the mechanism cost far exceeds the programme cap. The base price of a Lift & Slide mechanism alone will significantly overshoot the limits.
Safety glass (Triplex / Laminated) and multi-point locking mechanisms rated RC3 with mushroom cams cost considerably more. Security is a worthwhile investment, but unfortunately it is a cost not fully covered by the basic programme limits.
Electric roller shutters with remote control or Smart Home integration are not fully covered by the programme's basic limits. Automating shutters can add €200–400 per opening, an amount that falls entirely on your shoulders.
When entering Exoikonomo, you face a purely strategic decision. The right approach depends on how long you plan to stay in the home and your priorities.
Want to keep your out-of-pocket spending to the absolute minimum? Then ask your manufacturer for quotes that land right at the expenditure cap, making compromises on colours and extra mechanisms. You still get an excellent energy window - without the luxuries.
If you plan to stay in the home for the next 30 years, it may be worth treating the subsidy as a hefty discount and paying the difference out of pocket to install the premium, bullet-proof, smart windows of your dreams. The choice is yours, as long as you know the rules of the game from day one!
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