Survey: Czechs want to invest in energy savings, but some cannot afford it

With energy prices high, Czechs are increasingly keen to invest in energy-saving measures, but some cannot afford to do so. According to a survey by energy group UCED, conducted by Ipsos, a third of consumers have already invested in such measures. A further fifth are interested but cannot currently afford them. UCED told the Czech News Agency today.

According to the survey, which involved 500 people, Czechs most often opt for smaller measures, such as replacing an appliance with a more energy-efficient model. A total of 27 percent of respondents have done this or plan to. So far, fewer people have been willing to make larger investments. Around six percent of those surveyed have invested in energy savings in their house or apartment, for example by improving insulation or replacing water-heating equipment. The same proportion of respondents have invested in new energy sources, particularly solar panels, a heat pump, or a wood-burning boiler or stove.

According to the survey, around a fifth of people would be interested in investing in energy-saving measures but cannot afford them. Nearly a third would consider investing in solar panels to generate electricity, heat their home or heat water if they had sufficient funds. One in ten would consider replacing a gas boiler with a higher-quality condensing model, while 13 percent would consider investing in a heat pump. One in five, meanwhile, would choose to insulate their apartment or house, or spend money on replacing the windows.

According to UCED energy group director Václav Skoblík, this shows that people in Czechia are interested in renewable energy sources. „The obstacles are money and, in the European context, subsidies. However, any investment must always be based on a sound calculation. I would certainly combine investment in renewable energy sources with spending on high-quality, effective insulation for a family house or apartment building. This must always come first: it minimizes heat loss and thus reduces energy costs,” Skoblík noted.

According to statistics, last year solar and wind power plants accounted for just under four percent of total electricity generation in the Czech Republic. Across the EU, the figure was 22 percent. „However, we must assess these two figures in the context of local climate conditions. We cannot compare ourselves with Nordic countries and Austria, with their hydropower plants, or with countries where wind farms can be built on the coast,“ Skoblík pointed out. He also noted that over the past five years, the volume of electricity generated by solar and wind power plants in the country has increased by more than 13 percent.