<translate>Environmentalists describe the new version of the New Green Savings program as insufficient.</translate>

Prague - Environmentalists describe the new form of the New Green Savings Program (NZÚ) as insufficient, and the allocated amount for this year means only a temporary continuation of the program. Minister of the Environment Igor Červený (Motorists) said at a press conference today that only low-income households receiving benefits such as the super allowance will be eligible for direct subsidies under the NZÚ Light program, while interest-free loans can be accessed in the traditional form of the program. This year, the state will release four billion crowns from the Modernization Fund for the program.

"It is good that the government will release money for the continuation of the New Green Savings Program. However, the announced amount only indicates temporary functioning of the program. If (Prime Minister) Andrej Babiš (ANO) wants to fulfill his electoral promise, he must find stable financing for subsidies together with Minister Červený, especially for low-income households," stated energy expert Karel Polanecký from Hnutí Duha in a statement available to ČTK.

According to Polanecký, given the war in the Middle East and rising natural gas prices, it is essential for state support to reduce the dependence of households, municipalities, and businesses on imported fossil fuels to continue in the long term.

The head of the energy campaign at Greenpeace Czechia, Jaroslav Bican, told ČTK that the presented form of the NZÚ program is inadequate. "While it is welcome that low-income groups will at least be able to access direct contributions for insulation or photovoltaic systems, this does not change the fact that the significance and positive impact of this program will be severely limited," he added.

Bican also reminded of the looming further deepening of energy and transport poverty due to the rising oil and gas prices related to events in Iran. "If the government says it does not have enough financial resources for such a beneficial and popular program as NZÚ, it should consider acquiring them at the expense of the high profits of fossil corporations," he added.

Households currently qualifying for the super allowance will be able to receive direct subsidies. They have the option of an interest-free loan or a grant for insulation of up to 250,000 crowns and up to 150,000 for suitable renewable energy sources. For the remaining applicants, the state will cover the interest incurred beyond the scope of the renovation in the form of an interest-free loan.

The New Green Savings Program has been operating since 2009 with the aim of motivating owners to renovate the residential housing stock and reduce energy consumption. Last year, the application process for subsidies was temporarily closed due to high demand from applicants. During its operation, the program has supported about 600,000 households, two-thirds of which have been since 2021, during which, according to the Ministry of the Environment, investments in energy savings by households amounted to approximately 55 billion crowns.

According to the ANO, SPD, and Motorist cabinet, the program had to be adjusted since the previous government of Petr Fiala (ODS) overestimated revenues from emission allowances, which among other things go to the State Environmental Fund (SFŽP). The current government is planning with 5.5 billion crowns in this year's budget, which is nearly half less than the previous cabinet had planned.