Billions to fight smog under new rules

Funding of up to PLN 135 000 is now available for the replacement of an old, high-emission heating source and the thermal modernisation of a single-family residential building. In addition, you can get up to PLN 1,200 in subsidies towards the cost of carrying out an energy audit of the building. The highest amount of subsidy will go to those who also decide on comprehensive thermo-modernisation of the building, i.e. e.g. insulation or replacement of window frames leading to a reduction in the demand for usable energy necessary to heat the building.

This is the government's response to the worsening energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine in recent months and the associated drastic increase in energy costs, which is affecting millions of Poles. The new offer from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, which is the author of the Clean Air Programme, is intended to meet these challenges.

In line with the principle that it is best to prevent the development of a disease rather than treat its symptoms, from this year a much greater emphasis has been placed not only on getting rid of old and energy inefficient "fossil fuels", but above all on reducing heat losses in single-family homes. This will not only improve air quality, but will also translate into concrete savings in millions of Polish homes. This is because in insulated buildings, we will not have to use as much fuel to provide the thermal comfort we expect. And this means lower expenses during the heating season for many Polish families.

Who can benefit?

Any owner or co-owner of a single-family residential building or a separate dwelling in such a building can apply for a grant under the Clean Air Programme if they meet the income criteria described below.

Since January of this year, the income thresholds in the programme have been raised significantly, which determine the limits of co-financing; at the same time, they have been defined in such a way as to ensure that the highest aid goes to those most in need.

The group of beneficiaries eligible to receive the highest available support includes people whose average monthly income is up to PLN 1090 per person (in a multi-person household) or up to PLN 1526 (in a single-person household). They can count on the largest possible subsidy of up to PLN 135,000.

Much more than in previous years may also be received by the so-called beneficiaries of increased support, i.e. persons, whose monthly average income in a multi-person household does not exceed PLN 1894 per person or PLN 2651 in a one-person household. In this case, the maximum support may amount to PLN 99,000.

Basic support may be applied for by persons whose annual income does not exceed PLN 135,000; beneficiaries with such income can count on co-financing of up to PLN 66,000 .

Importantly, regardless of the level of co-financing, the money is paid in the form of a non-refundable grant.

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importantly, beneficiaries of the increased and highest support can apply for half of the subsidy amount to be paid as part of the so-called pre-financing of the investment, i.e. before the actual start of the works in the building. This will shorten the waiting time for the contractor and allow the planned modernisation to start sooner. It is worth emphasising that the disbursement of funds has been organised in such a way as to place as little burden as possible on the applicants. Therefore, the money paid as pre-financing will go - via the provincial funds for environmental protection and water management - directly to the work contractors. The first tranche of the subsidy will be transferred to their account within 14 days from the signing of the agreement by the beneficiary under the programme, and the remainder will be paid out within 30 days from the completion of the investment, after the beneficiary has submitted an application for payment to the relevant Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (wfośigw).

Doors open to all

Irrespective of their financial situation, the beneficiaries who will benefit the most are those who decide not only to replace their inefficient heating source, but also to undertake a comprehensive thermo-modernisation of their building. In these cases, they will be able to count on the highest possible support. In addition, they will gain an additional PLN 1,200 for carrying out a so-called energy audit, i.e. a professional expert opinion which will identify the technical deficiencies of the building and determine the scope of necessary thermomodernisation works to make the house as airtight and insulated as possible.

It is worth noting that the new edition of the Clean Air Programme will also benefit those who have already applied for funds for the replacement of heat sources and, for example, invested in a new boiler or installed emission-free heating devices, i.e. heat pumps. They will be able to reapply for further funding, this time only for thermal modernisation of the building. In this way, they can receive up to an additional 70,000 zł if they carry out comprehensive thermomodernisation at the highest subsidy level.

How, then, do we move from plans to action and where should we apply to obtain co-financing? Applications for co-financing should be submitted to wfośigw in the voivodeship in which the building is located or through one of the banks involved in servicing the programme (a list of these banks can be found at https://czystepowietrze.gov.pl).