New Green Savings is struggling with low interest and is easing the conditions

Prague - The New Green Savings Program (NZÚ) has simplified its conditions and increased the contribution for the preparation of expert assessments. This change is likely a response to lower interest. The higher grants also apply to applications already submitted, with successful applicants automatically receiving increased support for the preparation of expert assessments, the State Environmental Fund stated today on its website. By the end of June, there were 848 applications for grants amounting to 160 million crowns according to the SFŽP.
    The Alliance Chance for Buildings claims that interest in the program, which started on April 1, is not as high as the Ministry of the Environment initially expected. Many potential applicants are reportedly deterred by the complicated administration, which is why the ministry has now simplified the program to expedite the disbursement of funds.
    Environment Minister Richard Brabec (ANO) signed an amendment on Tuesday that brings primarily a lighter administrative burden for applicants. For example, the maximum support for expert assessment processing in support area A.4 will increase from the original 10,000 to 20,000 crowns. It will no longer be necessary to provide evidence of a bank account and signatures on power of attorney do not need to be officially verified. More detailed information about the changes can be found on the fund's website.
    The call focused on family homes offers 1.9 billion crowns, with the receipt of applications lasting until the allocation is exhausted, but no later than October 31, 2014. In the program, people can, for example, replace windows, doors, or environmentally harmful boilers with new energy-efficient ones. However, last year there was greater interest, with a total of 2,529 electronic applications submitted in the first month for 500.4 million crowns, although 548 applications for nearly 118 million were not officially processed due to deficiencies.
    Chance for Buildings welcomes the simplification of administration. "The influx of investments into energy-efficient construction has, according to numerous studies, significant multiplier effects on the Czech economy. We estimate the absorption capacity in the segment of family homes at four to seven billion crowns annually. We should ideally get close to this figure," said Peter Holub, director of Chance for Buildings, in response.
    However, he considers the slight easing of energy conditions to be a double-edged sword, as it allows for the implementation of partial measures, such as insulation without window replacement. Looser conditions could mean that an applicant partially renovates a house, thus blocking the opportunity to carry out comprehensive energy-efficient renovations and not achieving the desired energy savings.