Greece

Located on the eastern edge of Central Greece, the region of Attica covers about 3,808 km² and is home to approximately 3,800,000 inhabitants, 95% of whom live in the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA). Athens already faces a relatively high level of heat stress, which is exacerbated by its high population density and is expected to increase with climate change. Within this framework, buildings in the residential and tertiary sectors (including public sector buildings) – 75% of which are inefficient and built before the Thermal Insulation Regulation of 1979 – are responsible for 61% of the city's emissions. These emissions are directly related to the consumption of fossil fuels and electricity for heating, cooling, lighting, and operating electrical equipment.

Showcasing strong determination for energy efficiency interventions, Athens is one of the 100 cities participating in the EU Mission for Climate-neutral, Smart Cities by 2030. As part of Athens’ Plan for Climate Change, the city aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its building stock by 90% by 2050. To achieve this, 45% of the tertiary sector's buildings, including public sector buildings, need to be energy retrofitted by 2050.

One of the major challenges in improving energy efficiency in Athens is the lack of an open-source data collection tool to guide the renovation process. Currently, data collection, analysis, and retrofitting suggestions are conducted manually for individual buildings or small batches of buildings. Moreover, one-stop shops for these energy efficiency upgrades are at a very elementary stage, highlighting a critical gap in large-scale retrofitting efforts.

OCR BRP will provide several significant improvements to the renovation process in Greece:

1. Acceleration of Renovation Processes: OCR will accelerate outdated renovation processes by offering information access to relevant stakeholders. This includes providing significant added value to the national renovation strategy through integration with platforms like the Hellenic Cadastre, ESCO registry, Energy Performance Certificates, Construction Inspection Certificates, and Energy Performance Regulations.

2. Guidance for Authorities: OCR will assist regional and municipal authorities in prioritizing renovation investments. This guidance will help ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to maximize energy savings and improve building performance.

3. Activation of the Greek "Listener" Case: OCR will activate the Greek "listener" case to foster the replicability of OCR solutions in new markets. By demonstrating the effectiveness of OCR BRP in Greece, the project aims to encourage adoption and implementation in other regions and countries.