For the restoration of a house, it will be possible to borrow up to two million CZK from the NZÚ, and for an apartment, 750,000 CZK

Prague – For comprehensive renovation of family homes under the New Green Savings program (NZÚ), it will be possible to take out an interest-free loan of up to two million crowns. For apartment buildings, the support will be up to 750,000 crowns per apartment, and low-income households will be able to obtain a direct subsidy of up to 400,000 crowns in the NZÚ Light program. Minister of the Environment Igor Červený announced this at a press conference today. Applications will be accepted starting June 25. The program is expected to be secured until 2029.

The state will allocate two billion crowns for direct subsidies from the NZÚ Light program from the Modernization Fund. According to Červený, the state will try to find additional funds in case of greater interest. Financing of loans will be provided in cooperation with the private sector.

Previously, people could also receive subsidies from the NZÚ. However, Červený reiterated that support will consist solely of interest-free loans, with the exception of economically vulnerable groups. The state will now cover all interest and fees, and households will repay only the net cost of the project, that is, the borrowed amount. Interest-free loans for projects approved by the State Environmental Fund (SFŽP) will be provided by banks and financial institutions based on the assessment of the applicants' creditworthiness.

Interest-free loans will be available to owners of family homes, and in the case of apartment buildings, to associations of apartment unit owners and housing cooperatives. The repayment period will depend on the type of house and the extent of the renovation, ranging from ten to 25 years. Direct subsidies are aimed at households threatened by energy poverty. Support will be granted for smaller-scale renovations, especially for house insulation, window and door replacement, heating source replacement, or the installation of renewable energy sources. Vulnerable households will also be able to apply for a loan.

For family homes, an interest-free loan of up to 750,000 crowns will be available for partial renovations and up to two million crowns for comprehensive renovations. For apartment buildings, this will be up to 250,000 crowns for partial renovations and 750,000 for complete restoration. In the case of apartment buildings, a financial bonus of up to 120,000 crowns per apartment will be available if it is occupied by a low-income household. The aim is to ensure that these households do not face increased monthly contributions to the repair fund due to the renovation of the house.

According to Červený, direct subsidies will be available for households eligible for social benefits or with lower incomes living in non-energy-efficient homes. In most cases, this would include seniors, disabled pensioners, or economically weaker families. For example, a pensioner receiving a pension of up to 31,000 crowns, a couple of pensioners receiving a pension of up to 46,000 crowns, or a family with two children under 13 years with an income of up to 53,000 crowns will be able to apply for the subsidy.

"For house insulation, window replacement, entrance doors, or the installation of shading technology, it will be possible to provisionally draw up to 250,000 crowns. An additional 150,000 crowns can then be used for heating source replacement or the acquisition of solar water heating, and additionally on top of the last phase for the installation of a small photovoltaic power plant," he said.

Former Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) wrote on the network X that the state will send additional money to banks through the new support model. He believes that young families or seniors, who were primarily supposed to benefit from the support, often do not qualify.

According to Červený, the Ministry of the Environment has decided to primarily go with interest-free loans to ensure continuous support from the program. Last November, the NZÚ office prematurely ended due to high interest in subsidies and rapid exhaustion of funds. Households that prepared renovation projects in the previous phase of the program will not need to revise them, according to the minister, and will not lose support.