In the renovation program New Green Savings, it will be possible to draw an interest-free loan

Prague - For energy-saving renovations of homes under the New Green Savings program (NZÚ), it will be possible to obtain an interest-free loan, while only low-income households in the NZÚ Light program will receive direct subsidies, said Environment Minister Igor Červený (Motorists) today. The state will therefore cover the interest costs that people incur beyond the renovation. This year, the state will release four billion crowns from the Modernization Fund for the program. According to former Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), the government is favoring the wealthy with this change.

"In previous years, we simplified and opened the program so that it was not just for the rich. However, the current government is changing direction and favoring those who already have money," Hladík wrote on network X. He added that if the state starts covering interest, part of the funds designated for households will end up with banks.

Direct subsidies will be available to households that currently qualify for the super allowance. They have the option of an interest-free loan or grants for insulation of up to 250,000 crowns and up to 150,000 for suitable renewable energy sources. Owners of family houses, as well as homeowners' associations and housing cooperatives, can apply.

The New Green Savings program has been operating since 2009, aiming to motivate owners to renovate the housing stock and reduce energy consumption. Last year, the acceptance of grant applications was temporarily closed due to high demand from applicants.

Applications for the standard program will open at the turn of April and May, and for NZÚ Light in June. According to Červený, compensation for projects from last year will be launched on March 25. People who prepared a project last year, did not manage to submit an application, and do not plan to use the project documentation, can receive compensation from the state for the documentation of 50,000 crowns for family homes and 100,000 crowns for apartment buildings.

According to Červený, a new form of consulting and renovation passports will be introduced. The renovation passport will have four stages, where applicants can choose how quickly they want to proceed.

"We realize that the project must be financially sustainable in the long term, but also so that it helps society. The engine of renovation is not the subsidy. The engine of renovation is lower energy prices," Červený stated. He added that the government does not want to jeopardize stability in this area, and the Czech Republic cannot afford for the NZÚ program to be suspended. The new form, according to him, brings a stable and predictable system until 2026.

During its operation, the program has supported about 600,000 households, of which two-thirds since 2021, during which, according to the ministry, investments in household energy savings amounted to approximately 55 billion crowns.

According to the cabinet of ANO, SPD, and Motorists, the program had to be adjusted because the former government of Petr Fiala (ODS) overestimated income from emission permits, which, among other things, go to the State Environmental Fund (SFŽP). The current government is working with 5.5 billion crowns in the budget for this year, which is nearly half less than the previous cabinet had planned.