Window systems
Changes that reduce heat loss and improve airtightness.
Bathroom Renovation & the Exoikonomo Program: What Can Be Included in the Subsidy and What Is Excluded
Many owners planning a bathroom renovation wonder whether they can combine the work with a subsidy scheme such as Exoikonomo.
The answer requires attention.
Exoikonomo is not a decorative or functional bathroom renovation program. It does not generally subsidize tiles, toilets, bathroom furniture, cabinets, taps, or cosmetic changes. It is a home energy-upgrade program.
This means that certain works that can be done in parallel with a bathroom renovation can be related to the program, as long as they contribute to the energy upgrade of the residence and are foreseen by the respective guide.
Simply put: the bathroom as a space is not subsidized just because it is being renovated. However, specific energy-related interventions connected to the bathroom or to the home's overall operation may be eligible.
1. What Exoikonomo Is and What It Is Meant to Do
The Exoikonomo program is primarily designed to reduce a home's energy consumption. It does not look at whether the bathroom becomes more beautiful or more modern. It examines whether the property becomes more energy efficient.
Usually, in order for a residence to be included, there must be an energy audit, a proposal for interventions and a final improvement of the energy category.
So when the bathroom enters the discussion, the right question is not whether the whole renovation is subsidized. The real question is which individual works have an actual energy-upgrade role.
Thermal insulation
Envelope upgrades, not purely decorative bathroom work.
Heating and cooling
Assessed as part of the dwelling's overall energy system.
Domestic hot water
This is where the bathroom most directly overlaps with energy upgrading.
Energy systems
Solar water heating, heat pumps, and similar technical systems may be eligible.
Automations
Only when they genuinely support energy savings and are correctly declared.
2. What Can Be Bathroom Related and Eligible
There are certain tasks that can be done on the occasion of a bathroom renovation, but in reality they belong to energy interventions.
These are the most common cases.
3. Change of Bathroom Window with Energy Frame
If the bathroom has an external window, replacing it with a new energy-rated frame can fall under Exoikonomo, as long as it meets the program's specifications.
This may involve:
- new aluminum frame with energy glass,
- new PVC frame with energy glass,
- new wooden frame with energy glass,
- in special cases, glass pane only replacement.
Changing a window in the bathroom can help reduce heat loss, especially in old flats with single glazing, old metal frames or poor airtightness.
Also, if the bathroom window is too small, its energy contribution may be limited. This does not mean that it is not worth changing, but the final inclusion and its importance in the energy upgrade is judged by the engineer or energy inspector.
What you should watch out for
It is not enough simply to change the window. The new frame must meet the program requirements and be correctly declared in the intervention proposal.
4. Solar Water Heater and Domestic Hot Water
One of the interventions most directly connected to the bathroom is the solar water heater or, more generally, the domestic hot water production system.
The bathroom consumes a large part of a house's hot water. Shower, sink and daily use add to the electricity consumption when there is a simple electric water heater.
Installing a solar water heater can significantly reduce the cost of hot water production, especially in Greece where sunshine is high.
Within Exoikonomo, a domestic hot water system may be eligible, such as:
Solar water heater
The most recognizable domestic hot water upgrade.
Solar thermal system
A direct energy-related intervention rather than a decorative bathroom change.
Heat pump for DHW
Evaluated as a technical hot-water production solution.
Insulated pipe network
Where covered, it supports overall energy efficiency.
The following still need to be checked:
Installation feasibility
Not every property can accept the system without technical constraints.
Roof or terrace space
Available space is a basic practical requirement.
Building rules
Apartment-building regulations may limit or control installation.
Pipe routing
Poor routing can complicate both execution and cost.
Technical compliance
The system must satisfy the specifications of the active program guide.
Correct declaration
If it is not documented properly in the proposal, eligibility can be lost.
In some cases, when there is not already a hot water system from a renewable source, the installation of a solar system can be particularly important for the energy upgrade of the residence.
What you should watch out for
The solar water heater is not just a "bathroom accessory". It is an energy system. That is why it is considered as an energy saving intervention.
5. Bathroom Heating and Heating/Cooling Systems
Bathroom heating alone is not usually considered a separate "bathroom renovation". But the program may concern the overall upgrade of the heating or cooling system of the residence.
This may include, depending on the guide and intervention proposal:
- heat pump,
- heating/cooling system,
- heating control automations,
- split units for heating/cooling where provided,
- underfloor heating only under certain conditions,
- thermostatic or smart controls.
If, during the bathroom renovation, a change in the way of heating the house is also planned, then it is important to examine the project as a whole.
The program is interested in the energy upgrade of the system, not in the aesthetics or individual replacement of a body. In many cases, simple terminal bodies or single additions are not an eligible intervention by themselves.
This is why an engineer should always check before calculating any subsidy.
What about the bathroom radiator or towel rail?
A simple bathroom radiator or an electric towel rail does not automatically mean that it is subsidized.
6. Ventilation and Mechanical Ventilation
The bathroom is a humid place, so ventilation is very important. A simple bathroom fan helps to remove water vapor, but does not necessarily mean that it is subsidized.
In the context of energy programs, more specialized mechanical ventilation systems may be considered, especially when combined with heat recovery and overall energy upgrading.
The simple fan is useful for humidity, but is usually treated as a functional element of the bathroom rather than a key energy intervention.
What you should watch out for
A simple bathroom ventilator is one thing, and a complete mechanical ventilation system with an energy function is another.
7. Smart Home and Smart Management
Some energy upgrading programs can include smart management systems, as long as they contribute to energy savings and are combined with other interventions.
In relation to the bathroom, this can include:
- smart water heater control,
- humidity sensors,
- lighting automation,
- smart switches,
- consumption monitoring,
- automations that reduce unnecessary energy use.
Security systems, cameras or room monitoring devices should not be confused with energy smart home systems.
What you should watch out for
Not every "smart" device is subsidized because it is smart. It must be related to energy saving and properly integrated into the intervention proposal.
8. What is Not Subsidized in Bathroom Renovation
The most important point is to clarify what should not be considered eligible just because it takes place in the bathroom.
The following are usually not treated as energy interventions just because they happen inside the bathroom.
Tiles and finishing materials
New tiles, adhesives, and grout for aesthetic renovation are not enough on their own.
Sanitary fixtures
Toilets, cisterns, basins, and taps are functional equipment, not energy upgrades.
Furniture and mirrors
These affect aesthetics and usability, not the energy profile of the home.
Cabins and partitions
They do not become energy interventions just because they are installed in the bathroom.
Painting and decorative work
Purely visual improvements usually remain outside the program.
Demolition unrelated to eligible work
If it is not tied to an approved intervention, it typically stays outside funding.
These works may be absolutely essential to the renovation, but are not an energy upgrade in themselves.
9. When a Bathroom Renovation Can Be Combined Smartly with Exoikonomo
The best case is when the bathroom renovation coincides with a total energy upgrade of the residence.
Apartment-wide frame replacement
The bathroom window can make sense when it is part of a broader window upgrade.
Solar water heating
The bathroom benefits directly when domestic hot water is upgraded.
Heating system upgrade
The intervention concerns the whole dwelling, but the bathroom is still affected in practice.
Insulation plus moisture handling
Energy and technical pathologies can sometimes be organized together more intelligently.
DHW upgrade with bathroom works
Changes to the hot-water system may align with pipework work inside the bathroom.
In these cases, the bathroom can benefit from the program, not because its renovation is subsidized as a whole, but because some energy interventions directly affect it.
10. Example: What Can and Can't Go In
Let's look at a simple example.
An owner is renovating an old bathroom and at the same time wants to take advantage of an energy upgrade program.
| Work | Could it be eligible for subsidy support? | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Change of bathroom window with energy frame | Yes, under conditions | If it meets the specifications and is declared correctly. |
| Installation of a solar water heater | Yes, under conditions | It concerns domestic hot water and energy savings. |
| Home heating system upgrade | Yes, under conditions | It is considered as a whole for the residence, not just for the bathroom. |
| Smart water heater or heating control | Possibly, under conditions | If it is part of an energy saving system. |
| New bathroom tiles | No | It is a work of finishing and aesthetic renovation. |
| New basin and sink | No | They are not an energy intervention. |
| Bathroom furniture and mirror | No | They are about functionality and aesthetics. |
| Shower cabin | No | It is not considered an energy upgrade. |
| Bathroom faucets | Usually not | Unless the respective driver provides something special, which must be checked. |
11. How You Should Organize the Project
If you are considering a bathroom renovation and also want to use Exoikonomo, the right order is not to start the work first and then look for the subsidy.
The planning sequence should make it clear from the start what is subsidized, what is not, and what remains a private cost.
This helps to avoid confusion and prevent the owner from thinking that the entire bathroom will be subsidized.
Step 1: Home check
First, check whether the residence can enter the program and whether it meets the basic requirements.
Step 2: Energy audit
The energy inspector evaluates the existing situation and suggests interventions that can improve the energy class of the property.
Step 3: Select interventions
It is decided which interventions will be made: frames, solar, heating, thermal insulation, smart home or other eligible works.
Step 4: Combine with the bathroom renovation
If there are works related to the interventions in the bathroom, such as window replacement, domestic hot water or piping to the solar system, these are organized together with the rest of the renovation.
Step 5: Separate budget
- which items belong to eligible energy interventions,
- which items belong to the standard bathroom renovation,
- which materials and tasks are excluded from the program,
- what amount the owner will pay directly.
📊 Summary Table: What is Subsidized and What is Not
| Category | Relationship with the bathroom | Possibility of inclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Energy-rated bathroom window | Reduces thermal losses | Yes, under conditions |
| Solar water heater | Provides hot water for use | Yes, under conditions |
| Heat pump for DHW | Hot water energy production | Yes, under conditions |
| Home heating upgrade | It also affects the bathroom | Yes, under conditions |
| Mechanical ventilation with recovery | Improves energy function | Possibly, under conditions |
| Smart home for energy | Consumption control | Possibly, under conditions |
| Bathroom tiles | Aesthetics/finish | No |
| Toilet, washbasin, furniture | Functional equipment | No |
| Shower cabin | Functionality/aesthetics | No |
| Bathroom taps | Plumbing fixture | Usually not |
| Painting, decorations, accessories | Aesthetic renovation | No |
12. Common Misconceptions
"If I renovate the bathroom, it will automatically go into Exoikonomo"
Not necessarily. Bathroom renovation in itself is not an energy intervention.
"If I change the water heater, the tiles are also subsidized"
No. The solar or hot water system may be an eligible intervention, but this does not mean that all other bathroom materials are subsidized.
"The bathroom window always comes in"
Only if it meets the specifications, is declared correctly and is part of the energy upgrade proposal.
"Water-saving taps are definitely subsidized"
It should not be taken for granted. The program is mainly about energy saving, not water saving in general, unless the respective guide provides a specific category.
"I can do the renovation first and then declare it"
This is very dangerous. In subsidy programs there are specific procedures, approvals, documents and time steps. Before starting any work that you want to be connected with a subsidy, it must have been checked by the responsible engineer.
💡 The Engineer's Advice
If you want to combine a bathroom renovation with Exoikonomo, do not start with tiles and sanitary fixtures. Start with the home's energy profile.
The program may support works such as an energy-rated window, a solar water heater, a domestic hot water system, heating upgrades, or energy-saving automations. It does not cover a standard bathroom renovation as a purely aesthetic or functional project.
For that reason, the budget should be split into two clear parts: energy interventions and normal bathroom renovation work.
That structure prevents misunderstandings and makes it clear from the beginning which amount may be subsidized and which amount must be paid normally.
Conclusion
A bathroom renovation can be combined with Exoikonomo, but only in certain energy-related areas.
They may be related to a subsidy:
- the replacement of a bathroom window with an energy frame,
- the solar water heater,
- the heat pump for domestic hot water,
- the total heating/cooling upgrade,
- mechanical ventilation where provided,
- the smart home energy saving systems where eligible.
Not usually subsidized:
- tiles,
- toilets,
- washbasins,
- bathroom furniture,
- cabins,
- mirrors,
- taps,
- decorative and aesthetic works.
Exoikonomo is not a bathroom renovation program. It is a home energy-upgrade program. If that is clear from the beginning, it can be used properly, without false expectations and without budget confusion.
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