How to heat in winter in Greece: analytics and prices

With the onset of the first cold weather, residents of Greece began frantically looking for the cheapest heating methods possible. What to choose for heating houses – fuel oil, gas, electric heaters or firewood?

Stoves and fireplaces

Not an easy decision for the consumer, considering that almost half of the Greek population lives at (or below) the poverty line. Many people choose firewood for the fireplace and stove. Firewood can either be purchased or collected from the nearest forest. Firewood prices vary depending on the type of wood:

• beech costs from 130 to 150 euros per cubic meter;
• oak – from 150 to 160 euros;
• olive wood – from 160 to 180 euros per cubic meter.

Olga Kaskalidi, a timber trader, explained in a conversation with MEGA that “wood that is consumed quickly is pine and beech, and wood that burns for a long time is olive, oak (mountain oak).”

Natural gas and autonomous heating

The recent downward trend in gas prices has led many households to install gas water heaters. Nikos Kalogeropoulos, owner of a gas heat pump shop, said: “People have started installing gas and independent heating again. Imagine that in many apartment buildings, where someone doesn’t have to pay, everyone can be self-sufficient and install gas.”

However, consumer choices also include electric stoves, heaters and air conditioners. The manager of an electric radiator store said that “a radiator is an economical solution if you know how to work with it correctly,” and emphasized that this also depends on the room: “If it is an old building, then the radiator will not cover 100%. In addition, you need to set the thermostat correctly.”

In any case, it is useful to conduct market research before making a choice.

Which heating system is most profitable?

For an apartment of 90 sq. m for 10 hours of operation of the heating system and a temperature of 20°C the consumer will pay (per month):

• Fuel oil 204 euros
• Natural gas 115 euros
• Air conditioners (3) 170 euros
• Heat pump 100 euros.

These data are based on the assumption that prices are currently at the following levels: fuel oil 1.30 €/liter, gas 0.95 €/cubic meter and electricity 0.18 €/kWh.

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