Thermomodernisation of buildings is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the context of rising energy costs and the need to protect the environment. Upgrading a house or multi-family building can result in significant savings on heating bills, improve the comfort of the home and increase the value of the property at the same time. What is more, those who decide to make such an investment can count on various forms of financial support, including subsidies for thermomodernisation. What is the process of thermal modernisation, what subsidies are available and what conditions must be met to obtain them? Here are the highlights.
What is thermal modernisation and why should it be carried out?
Thermomodernisation is a large-scale effort to improve the energy efficiency of a building. It includes a number of measures such as insulation of external walls, ceilings, roofs and upgrading of heating systems. As a result, the building uses less energy for heating, which translates into lower energy bills and fewer harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
In Poland, thermomodernisation is becoming increasingly common, especially among owners of older houses that do not meet modern energy standards. One of the main motivations for carrying out this work is the available home insulation grants, which can cover a significant part of the investment costs. As a result, even people who do not have a large budget can afford to upgrade their building.
The Clean Air Programme – the key to funding
The most important programme supporting thermomodernisation in Poland is the Clean Air Programme. This programme aims to combat smog and reduce emissions from heating single-family homes with outdated and inefficient heating systems. It offers a wide range of financial support for a variety of investments to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, such as:
- subsidising the thermal insulation of your home,
- replacing heat sources with cleaner ones,
- installation of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (recuperation),
- installation of renewable energy sources such as heat pumps or photovoltaic panels.
What conditions do I need to meet to get a grant for insulating my house?
In order to benefit from the funding, certain criteria must be met, which depend on the support programme chosen. For the Clean Air Programme , the requirements are relatively clear. Beneficiaries of the programme can be owners or co-owners of single-family houses and detached dwellings with separate land and mortgage registers. Income criteria are also important – those with lower incomes can count on higher financial support, making the programme also accessible to less well-off households.
The basic step in applying for a grant for thermal modernisation is to submit an application. It should include a detailed description of the planned modernisation work and include the required documents, such as an energy audit, cost estimate and work schedule. An energy audit is an extremely important document that determines the current energy status of a building and indicates which elements need improvement. Based on this, the most effective measures and materials can be selected, such as spray insulation or PIR thermal insulation panels.
Submission of a grant application – step by step
The process of applying for funding may seem complicated, but it is well organised and support institutions offer assistance at every stage. Here are the basic steps you need to take to get a home insulation grant:
- Energy audit – conducting an energy audit allows to assess the condition of a building in terms of energy consumption. The auditor indicates which elements of the building need to be upgraded and which measures will result in the greatest savings. This allows the work plan to be adapted to the actual needs of the building.
- Preparation of documentation – after the audit, the necessary documentation should be prepared, including a detailed cost estimate for the works and a retrofit plan. It is important that all activities comply with the requirements of the programme we want to use.
- Submission of an application – the application should be submitted online via the government’s Clean Air Programme website or in hard copy to the relevant authority. Ensure that the application includes all required attachments.
- Completion of works – once the application has been approved, the works can proceed. It is important that they are carried out on schedule and using approved materials, such as PUR foam spray insulation or PIR thermal insulation panels. The PCC Group offers a wide range of high-end spray insulation products and systems.
- Acceptance of works and billing – once the works have been completed, it is necessary to provide documentation confirming that the works have been carried out and that the expenditure has been accounted for. Only after successful acceptance can a part of the costs incurred be reimbursed.
Choosing insulation materials – why is it so important?
A key element of any thermal modernisation project is the selection of appropriate insulation materials. Insulation of walls, ceilings or roofs has a direct impact on the energy efficiency of a building, so it is worth choosing proven and modern solutions. PUR foam spray insulation is one of the most popular solutions on the market, characterised by its high insulation efficiency. Thanks to its structure, PUR foam seals even hard-to-reach areas perfectly, preventing heat loss and minimising thermal bridges.
Equally popular are PIR thermal insulation panels, which offer high insulation with minimal thickness. PIR is a material that works well for external walls as well as roofs or floors. By choosing this type of insulation, the energy efficiency of a building can be significantly improved while saving space.
What works are eligible for funding?
Funding for thermal modernisation covers a wide range of works to improve the energy efficiency of a building. These include:
- external wall insulation,
- insulation of roofs and ceilings,
- replacing windows and doors with more energy-efficient ones,
- modernising or replacing heating systems,
- heat recovery installation,
- installation of renewable energy sources.
It is noteworthy that many of these works can be carried out as part of a single project, allowing for a comprehensive effect in the form of a significant reduction in energy consumption. Choosing the right materials, such as PUR foam spray insulation andPIR thermal insulation boards, is key to achieving optimum results.
Thermomodernisation is a process that brings long-term benefits in both economic and environmental terms. Thanks to available subsidies for thermal modernisation and government programmes such as Clean Air, it is possible to significantly reduce investment costs – read about the cost of PUR foam insulation. A key element of any refurbishment is the selection of appropriate materials, such as PUR foam spray insulation and PIR thermal insulation panels, which will ensure the building’s high energy efficiency. It is therefore worth considering upgrading your home and taking advantage of the support available.
- https://czystepowietrze.gov.pl/
- https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/skorzystaj-z-programu-czyste-powietrze