Changes to the Clean Air program entered into force on April 22 and concern primarily the quality of heat pumps and boilers. According to the new rules, they will only be able to be selected from the list of green devices and materials (ZUM). Isover experts remind that replacing the heat source alone will not translate into lower heating bills unless the building is first thermally modernized.
- Under the Clean Air program, you can apply not only for subsidies for replacing a heat source, but also for building insulation, including its comprehensive thermal modernization.
- The amount that can be obtained for this purpose is up to PLN 136,200. Meanwhile, of the over 820,000 applications for funding submitted so far, only less than 430,000 concerned thermal modernization. Those who have already applied for a subsidy to replace the boiler without insulating the building can still apply for funds for thermal modernization.
- It is worth carrying out thermal modernization of the house as long as the government offers financial support, especially since, according to analyzes commissioned by Isover, comprehensive insulation of a “cube” or “barn” house can reduce its energy demand by up to about 70%, and the thermal modernization of the attic itself and external walls – by up to approximately 57%.
From April 22 this year co-financing from the “Clean Air” program for heat pumps and heating boilers will only be available for devices included in the UTI list.
There are voices that the changes introduced are the result of last year’s situation, when the media reported on “horror bills” and investors who replaced old furnaces with heat pumps, hoping to reduce heating costs. Meanwhile, something completely opposite happened.
Poles replaced their stoves because they wanted to save on heating
According to the new rules, heat pumps that will be included on the UTI list must meet a number of conditions, including: have a report on tests carried out in independent, accredited laboratories located in the EU or EFTA.
However, wood gasification boilers and pellet boilers of a higher standard will continue to be subsidized. According to Henryk Kwapisz, Director of Institutional Relations of the Saint-Gobain Group in Poland, this is the right direction because it will eliminate dishonest manufacturers from the market offering devices that do not meet the declared technical parameters.
According to him, the new changes will certainly help implement the pro-environmental goals of the “Clean Air” program. At the same time, it reminds that replacing the heat source itself will not translate into lower heating bills unless the building is first thermally modernized.
The aim of the “Clean Air” program is primarily to fight smog and reduce emissions of harmful substances that result from heating homes with poor-quality fuel in outdated furnaces. Therefore, great emphasis is placed on replacing high-emission heat sources. Meanwhile, a significant number of investors who decided to use subsidies to replace old boilers with new boilers or heat pumps were guided primarily by the desire to save on heating, says Henryk Kwapisz. – However, it should be remembered that replacing the heat source with a more efficient one will not translate into lower heating bills if the house is not insulated first. What’s the point of having a new, larger boiler if the heat generated in it will escape from the uninsulated building? It’s like trying to heat a house with all the windows and doors wide open. Unfortunately, investors very often forget about this, he adds.
This state of affairs is confirmed by data from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, which reports that in recent weeks there has been an increase in the number of applications under the “Clean Air” program, submitted by proxies for a pre-financed subsidy, exclusively for heat pumps, excluding thermal modernization.
The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management points out that the most worrying factor may be the installation of a new heating device (usually heat pumps, for which new requirements will apply in the program) in a house that is not insulated, and as a result, heating bills will increase instead of decreasing. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management also reminds that replacing the chimney in combination with thermal modernization means lower bills, a comfortable home, health and clean air.
How to use the Clean Air program to save on bills?
Under the Clean Air program, you can apply not only for subsidies for replacing a heat source, but also for building insulation, including its comprehensive thermal modernization. The amount that can be obtained for this purpose is up to PLN 136,200.
Meanwhile, of the over 820,000 applications for funding submitted so far, only less than 430,000 concerned thermal modernization. Those who have already applied for a subsidy to replace the boiler without insulating the building can still apply for funds for thermal modernization.
Investors who have applied for a subsidy in connection with the desire to replace the furnace boiler have the opportunity to apply for financial support again, this time for the insulation of building partitions and the replacement of windows and doors. A new feature is the possibility for people with the lowest income, who qualify for the increased and highest level of funding, to apply for a subsidy of 50% as part of the pre-financing of the investment. In a word, they can receive part of the funds before the work begins, emphasizes Ewa Bryś, an Isover brand expert.
It is worth carrying out thermal modernization as long as the government offers financial support, especially since, according to analyzes commissioned by Isover, comprehensive insulation of a “cube” or “barn” house can reduce its energy demand by up to about 70%, and the thermal modernization of the attic itself and external walls – by up to approximately 57%.
People who have decided to replace heat sources in combination with even partial thermal modernization are already noticing real savings. Please remember that we do not have to do all the work at once, because we can insulate the house in stages. We can start thermal modernization of the attic even now, regardless of weather conditions. Therefore, it is not worth delaying the submission of an application for funding, but remember to choose ISOVER thermal insulation materials and solutions included in the ZUM list (https://lista-zum.ios.edu.pl/) – says Ewa Bryś.
An energy-efficient house is, first of all, an insulated house
While attic insulation can be performed regardless of the weather conditions, in the case of thermal modernization of walls, we are dealing with seasonality. Spring is the perfect time to start work on the facade – not only because of the lack of frosts, but also because it can be done before the first heatwave.
Many people forget that by properly insulating a building, we can protect ourselves not only against heat escaping from the rooms and the cold outside, but also against very high temperatures, which we have been dealing with more and more often in recent years.
Insulating your house in spring allows you to save not only on heating bills, but also on electricity used to cool rooms in summer. In order for the thermal modernization to bring the proper effect, i.e. increase the building’s energy efficiency, it is crucial to use products with very good and durable thermal parameters.
Isover experts will not only perform calculations based on which they will indicate the most effective variant of thermal modernization of walls, roofs and ceilings, but also advise how to choose the thickness of insulation in order to obtain funding from government programs, as well as what materials to choose and how to install them correctly. Let us remember that properly selected materials also affect the quality of the insulation, which in turn translates into the amount of savings we can achieve – explains Ewa Bryś.