Half of households are threatened by so-called energy poverty

Prague - Half of Czech households facing high heating costs may fall into so-called energy poverty. This means they will not have enough resources to ensure electricity, heating, or other energy sources. This follows from the study "Potential for Energy Savings in Buildings" by the Porsenna company, which presented its conclusions to journalists today. The ecological movement Duha highlighted today the possible positive benefits of supporting energy renovations of buildings for the economy and employment.
    In the study, the Porsenna company that focuses on energy management states that in 2012, 77 percent of all inhabited apartments in the Czech Republic were not insulated. At the current pace of insulation, this proportion is expected to decrease to 55 percent by 2020. "By 2030, according to our estimates, approximately one million housing units will still not be insulated, primarily in family homes," warned analyst Michal Čejka from Porsenna, adding that theoretically, energy poverty threatens a third, and in extreme cases, half of households.
    Current and future retirees are said to be the most at risk. "Their homes may become unsuitable for living or too costly in terms of energy consumption over the next 20 years. Investments in renovations and expenses for heating energy may exceed the financial capabilities of many seniors," noted Luděk Niedermayer from Deloitte.
    Although Czechs have learned to save on energy, and household consumption has been stable in the long term, energy prices are on the rise. In the last 12 years, they have increased by five percent, and according to the study, the rate of growth is expected to accelerate further. "Future retirees, if they do not build additional savings for their pensions, will spend an increasing share of their income on energy," added Niedermayer.
    As a solution, the study suggests that the state should continue to support home repairs for housing and intensify this assistance in the future. The goal should be to insulate up to 80 percent of all apartments by 2030. According to calculations in the study, insulating all residential buildings by 2030 would cost one trillion crowns.
    Energy renovations of buildings, such as insulation, boiler replacement, or the implementation of solar systems, are also supported by the movement Duha. Two years ago, it suggested that the state should allocate 16 billion crowns annually for these measures between 2013 and 2020. Today, it published a study indicating that such support would create an additional gross domestic product of about 253 billion crowns and 31,000 stable jobs, and would also provide an additional 12.5 billion crowns to public budgets each year.
    Co-author of the study, economist and member of the National Economic Council of the Government Miroslav Zámečník, stated in an online interview about the study's presentation that with the current options of the state, he would be happy with a third of the recommended 16 billion crowns annually. He pointed out that, for example, revenues from the auction of emission permits are decreasing, as their price has significantly fallen in the European market recently.