Czech NZÚ Light grants reopen; disability pensioners can now apply too

Applications have reopened today for grants for insulation and renovations under the New Green Savings (NZÚ) Light programme, run by the State Environmental Fund (SFŽP) and the Ministry of the Environment (MŽP). Alongside seniors, people receiving disability pensions and households receiving child benefits will now also be able to apply. Since January last year, SFŽP has received nearly 56,000 applications for grants under the programme, worth more than six billion crowns. Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) told journalists at a press conference.

„Support for seniors and lower-income households will continue, and we will make funds from the Modernisation Fund available to a wider group of applicants. We will extend the programme to families receiving child benefits. The programme’s terms, designed with applicants’ financial circumstances in mind, have made it possible for even the most vulnerable households—those hit hardest by the sudden rise in energy prices—to insulate their homes and install environmentally friendly, energy-efficient water heating systems,“ Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) said.

According to the MŽP, the aim of the New Green Savings Light programme was to provide immediate financial support for seniors and lower-income households to carry out quick and simple home insulation. Unlike the standard version of the programme, grants are paid in advance. In addition to people receiving disability pensions and low-income families, owners of flats and homeowners’ associations (SVJ) in buildings that have already had at least 75 percent of their area renovated will now be able to apply for NZÚ Light grants. Funding for the grant programme comes from the Modernisation Fund, financed by emissions allowances. The programme currently has three billion crowns available. If demand is higher, the MŽP would consider increasing the funding, Hladík said.

As of today, the fund has approved more than 54,000 applications, and nearly 52,000 successful applicants have so far received a total of 5.8 billion crowns. According to MŽP data, 35 percent of grants went towards replacing windows and 26 percent towards replacing doors. Seniors made up the majority of applicants, Hladík said, but people receiving third-degree disability pensions accounted for three percent of applicants. On average, households save 6,900 crowns a year on insulation and 5,000 crowns on solar water heating after renovations, according to the MŽP.

Grants of up to 240,000 crowns can cover up to 100 percent of eligible costs for insulating facades, roofs, ceilings and floors; replacing windows and front doors; and installing solar photovoltaic or thermal water-heating systems. Applicants will be able to receive up to 150,000 crowns for replacing windows and front doors and 90,000 crowns for installing a solar water-heating system with a storage tank. Without a storage tank, the maximum grant will be 60,000 crowns. Solar panels must have an area of at least 2.5 square metres or a capacity of at least two kilowatts.

Requirements for installing windows and doors are being tightened in the new programme period. For insulation, however, existing insulation can be taken into account, reducing the required thickness of newly installed insulating material. The binding conditions will define more precisely the requirements for installed solar water-heating systems. Both thermal and photovoltaic systems will have to include scald protection. If the solar system does not provide sufficient output, switching to a bivalent—that is, supplementary—heat source will be automatic rather than manual. A solar system can now be installed with a new storage tank or connected to an existing water heater.