The main problem of panel houses in the Czech Republic is high thermal losses

Brno - The outdated facade systems of panel buildings cause high thermal losses and freezing of structures, and alongside static defects, they are the main problem of panel housing in the Czech Republic. A common mistake during the renovation of apartment buildings is the demand for the installation of solar panels or heat pumps without addressing heat losses from the facade. This was stated by Petr Horák from the Brno University of Technology at the conference on the renovation of technical building facilities, held as part of the Brno construction trade fairs.
    "In every reconstruction of a building, whether it is a panel house or a family house, the motto should be that the cheapest energy is the one we do not consume," said Horák.
    An alternative to connecting to central heating supply is the construction of a boiler room with its own heat source. People often choose gas boilers because renewable energy-based systems are not subsidized as generously as, for example, in Germany or Austria, according to Horák. Higher subsidies can only be obtained for special buildings, such as schools or government offices.
    "From the perspective of efficiency and return on investment, a heat pump is the most suitable alternative to a gas boiler," Horák noted. However, a common mistake is the belief that it is enough to disconnect the existing heat source and connect a heat pump in its place. Since water heated by a heat pump has a different pressure than that of traditional gas boilers or central heating supplies, poor functioning of the heating system occurs in such a case. "Poorly designed and incorrectly connected equipment will not work properly, even if it is a top-quality product," added Horák.
    State support for the renovation of panel buildings must plan for a lower budget this year compared to last year. The State Housing Development Fund has allocated 1.5 billion crowns for the Panel program, which the government approved for this year, approximately a third of last year's amount. The support provided by the fund for repairs and modernization of panel buildings has decreased this year from four to two percent.
    Experts estimate the total costs for necessary repairs and renovations of all panel buildings in the republic at approximately 350 billion crowns.