The City of Athens has distributed vouchers for the free provision and installation of high-energy-efficiency air-conditioning units to 100 energy-vulnerable households, during a special event held on 29 July at the City of Athens Serafio Complex.
The vouchers were presented to the beneficiaries by the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, as part of the City’s ongoing initiatives to combat energy poverty and protect the city’s most vulnerable residents from increasingly frequent extreme heat events.
Mayor Haris Doukas, stated:
“Today, one hundred families in Athens gain access to meaningful support that will improve their everyday lives. With these new high-energy-efficiency air-conditioning units, we are offering better living conditions, greater protection against extreme temperatures and lower energy consumption. This is another important step in our policy to tackle energy poverty. Through the City of Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, we have already supported more than 1,000 households across the city in different ways: through municipal fee exemptions, the Energy Benefit Card, and free electricity provided via European programmes. We are making full use of every available tool to ensure that the green transition delivers real social impact and reaches those who need it most”.
Following the event, beneficiaries can contact the participating retailers to arrange the delivery and installation of their new air conditioning units. The initiative covers the full cost of the appliance, transportation, and installation by certified technicians, at no cost to the beneficiaries.
The initiative is implemented by Develop Athens S.A. and DAEM S.A., with the support of the City of Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office within the framework of the European ASCEND project.
Vangelis Marinakis, President of Develop Athens, said:
“This initiative is the result of a targeted intervention that combines social protection with the energy upgrading of homes. Through the City of Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, we have developed a comprehensive support framework enabling every citizen who reaches out to us to receive guidance on the benefits and opportunities available to them. We are transforming European funding into practical solutions that have a direct impact on people’s daily lives”.
Elissaios Sarmas, Chief Executive Officer of Develop Athens, added:
“The distribution of these 100 vouchers is exactly how we envision the City of Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office operating: identifying the real needs of households and connecting them with practical solutions. By making effective use of European funding and strategic partnerships, we continue to expand the Office’s services and build a strong support network for energy-vulnerable citizens”.
A comprehensive approach to tackling energy poverty
The distribution of the 100 air-conditioning units is part of the City of Athens’ broader strategy to combat energy poverty. Through the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, eligible households can receive information and access a range of support measures, including municipal fee exemptions and the Energy Benefit Card, which provides significant discounts on products and services related to residential energy upgrades.
Assistance is available to all Athens residents struggling with energy costs. Residents can consult specialized advisors to learn about eligibility, registration, and available schemes. For more information, visit the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office website or call the City of Athens citizen hotline at 1595.
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About ASCEND
This initiative is implemented within the framework of ASCEND (Accelerating poSitive Clean ENergy Districts), a European project coordinated by the City of Athens and implemented with the participation of DAEM S.A., supporting policies that address energy poverty while advancing a fair and inclusive energy transition.
Photos from the event are available here:
https://shared.cityofathens.gr/index.php/s/ifSKCdnL34CXwGf
