Survey: Nearly 40% of Czechs cut heating this winter, often by as much as three degrees

Nearly 40 percent of Czechs have lowered the temperature in their homes this winter because of high energy prices. In most cases, they turned the heating down by as much as three degrees Celsius. More than two-thirds of people currently prefer a home temperature of around 20 to 22 degrees. Nevertheless, only a fifth of Czechs are considering investing in more energy-efficient heating systems. This is according to a survey by Ipsos for Stiebel Eltron. Last year, heat consumption in Czechia fell by six percent year on year, partly due to the weather.

According to the survey's authors, high energy prices are clearly the main reason people are turning down their heating, as many households cannot afford to heat their homes as much as they used to. Most Czechs surveyed had turned down their heating by two to three degrees Celsius, according to the survey, which was conducted last January among 1036 respondents.

As a result, more than two-thirds of households now prefer a temperature of between 20 and 22 degrees in their living rooms, according to the survey. Around 23 percent of respondents heat their homes to a higher temperature. Experts say the ideal temperature in a home is around 22 degrees. However, the survey found that around 40 percent of people had to lower it.

Some households are therefore considering whether to stick with their current heating system in the face of high energy prices. Around 19 percent of respondents said in the survey that they were thinking about investing in a more energy-efficient source of heating, most commonly a heat pump, followed by a modern gas boiler. However, nearly 40 percent of people are undecided, according to the survey.

The reduction in heating also affected Czech consumption of heat from district heating plants last year. According to the Czech District Heating Association, consumption fell by six percent year on year. In addition to higher prices, unusually warm weather also played a role. Last year was 10 percent warmer than the average temperature of the previous 14 years, meaning less demand for heating. The heating season was also shorter.