The Czechs will start the next heating season they will not be allowed to heat in solid fuel boilers I. and II. emission class. The ban on their use will apply from September 1, and the reason is that they excessively burden the environment.
According to the Ministry of the Environment (MŽP), another 150,000 boilers need to be replaced. However, he points out that some people do not have older boilers in operation, but keep them as a backup source, e.g. to heat pump and other types of heating. According to the president of the Association of Heating Technology Companies, Zdeňko Lyčka, there may be another 50,000 to 70,000. “Obviously, their owners do not officially report such boilers,” Lyčka points out.
Although these households do not have much time left, the interest in replacing the heating is decreasing compared to last year.
“In the past two years, the old boilers changed really rapidly, the fear of the energy crisis probably helped the most. Those who really needed replacements, had enough funds to buy a new source and were proactive enough, usually have it done,” says Vladimír Stupavský, chairman of the Klastr Česká peleta association.
Boilers I. and II. emission class
- From September 2024, a law will enter into force that prohibits the use of solid fuel boilers I. and II. emission class, but also banning the use of boilers that were manufactured before 2000, which do not have an assigned emission class.
- Boilers I. and II. emission classes are among the oldest and also the least ecological, as their operation produces more emissions than boilers of higher classes.
- The owner of the boiler can find the data on the emission class on the production label, in the technical documentation for the boiler, or he can request this data from the manufacturer. The label is usually on the back of the boiler.
How to get the replacement done on time
If latecomers order the replacement of the boiler now, they will still meet the September deadline. “We now have the capacity and we are ready for the increase in demand,” says Karel Náprstek, technical director of Woltair and an expert on heat pumps. Installation companies are now able to process orders faster thanks to digitization, but also due to the drop in demand, which has been going down for the last six months.
“Fortunately, the situation has stabilized in recent years, so the waiting times for the delivery of the selected heat pump are relatively short today. However, the assessment of the suitability of the building and the subsequent selection of the appropriate type, including project documentation, is not a matter of a few days, but rather weeks, especially when it comes to an older house and the replacement of an old wood or coal boiler,” says Vojtěch Formánek from the Master Therm company, which deals with the installation of heat pumps.
If households deal with the exchange at the last minute, they will miss the deadline. “The capacity of heating companies to replace all inadequate boilers, i.e. the 150,000 to 220,000, no longer exists,” Lyček describes the situation.
Checks and possible fines
For violating the law, which prohibits the operation of “dirty” boilers in family and apartment buildings as well as in recreational properties, there is a risk of a fine of up to CZK 50,000which can be awarded repeatedly.
“In this case, the controlling authority is the locally competent municipal authorities of municipalities with extended powers. The aim of the ban is to ensure proper operation of stationary combustion sources, not to impose and enforce sanctions. These should be applied mainly in cases where it is not possible to achieve remedial measures,” says spokesperson for the MoE Veronika Krejčí.
Even with a very generous financial contribution from the state in the form of subsidies, they would have to spend up to several tens of thousands of crowns on their own to replace the old boiler with a modern heat source.
Relying on the fact that no one will come to the dirty boiler will be tricky. “From September 1, 2024, it will be easy to request a mandatory report on the inspection of the boiler, from which it is clear which boiler is operated in the household and whether it is legal. Officials can easily access this information,” warns Stupavský.
The situation is worse with the remaining boilers, as the owners do not have sufficient funds to purchase a new one. “Even with a very generous financial contribution from the state in the form of subsidies, they would have to spend up to several tens of thousands of crowns from their own money to possibly replace the old boiler with a modern heat source,” says Lyčka.
The deadline will no longer be postponed
However, there is also a group of households that reject the new heating source as a matter of principle. “Especially older people no longer have the motivation to do so, younger, poor operators deal with other priorities,” Lyčka thinks.
According to Stupavský, all more than 150,000 boilers will not have time to be replaced in about four months anyway. “A lot of unreplaced boilers also end up cracking, cutting, or otherwise breaking on their own and beyond repair,” he says. Most boilers I. and II. emission class is older than 15, sometimes even 20 years, and their service life is coming to an end.
The date of mandatory shutdown has already been postponed once. It was originally supposed to apply from September 2022, but households and structures for family recreation were given time until this year. However, the ban has been in effect for almost two years, for example, for boarding houses and other establishments. In addition, the deadline for the end of non-ecological boilers has already been set for 12 years.
According to experts, some people can count on the fact that the mandatory exchange date will be moved again. However, neither the heating companies nor the ministry are counting on that. “This deadline has already been postponed by two years with regard to the completely extraordinary situation on the energy market as a result of international events and with regard to the socio-economic situation of households,” says Krejčí.
Subsidy for boiler replacement
Kettle subsidies are intended for low-income households, who can get financing to cover up to 95 percent of the costs of replacing an old boiler with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
“About 800 million crowns are still available for new applications. In case of greater interest, it is possible to increase the call allocation by unspent funds from the previous call, i.e. by approximately 100 million crowns,” Krejčí explains.
If you have applied for a subsidy and the boiler has not yet been replaced, this may protect you from a fine at the first inspection.
In all regions, subsidy applications can be submitted until August 30 or 31. “However, we do not recommend delaying the application for support. If you have applied for a subsidy and the boiler has not yet been replaced, it may protect you from a fine during the first inspection,” says a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior.
Subsidy from the New Green Savings program can cover up to half of the costs. The allowance for replacing a biomass boiler is about 80,000 CZK, for a heat pump up to 140,000 CZK and for connection to district heating up to 40,000 CZK.
Households of senior citizens, recipients of a disability pension, housing allowance or households receiving child benefits can possibly use the program The new green savings Light.
“In addition to up to CZK 150,000 for quick replacement of windows, doors or roof insulation, it also offers up to CZK 90,000 for the purchase of a thermal or photovoltaic system for heating water,” describes Krejčí. This will reduce the energy demand of the building, which will reduce heating costs for people.
