The share of passive houses in completed buildings is growing annually

Prague - The share of passive houses in completed constructions in the Czech Republic is increasing by a few percentage points each year. While in 2010, there were 3.9 percent of such houses among completed buildings according to energy efficiency, five years ago it was 6.6 percent, and two years ago it was already 8.9 percent. Tomáš Vanický from the Passive House Center told ČTK that for last year, the share of passive houses is expected to be around 11 to 12 percent.

"The share of passive houses is increasing thanks to government support, legislation, and various financing options. From enthusiasts to people who think about a healthy lifestyle, very low energy needs are beginning to become a standard requirement for clients," said senior consultant CPD Vanický.

According to the Passive House Center, which brings together a hundred companies and experts for energy-efficient buildings and energy savings, suitable renovations can reduce costs for an average family house from hundreds of thousands of crowns spent annually on energy to 20,000 to 50,000 crowns. Vanický added that this amounts to 8,000 to 20,000 crowns in monthly deposits.

As an example, he mentioned the renovation of a house from the 1950s. Before the renovation, it would have a heating consumption of 234 kWh per square meter per year; now, after the modifications, it has 18 kWh per square meter per year. At a heating temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and the current energy price, the annual energy costs for the presented example fell from over 300,000 crowns to about 24,000 crowns.

Generally, annual savings of 30 to 70 kWh per square meter can be achieved during implementation. This is thanks, for example, to quality insulation of the house, replacing windows with triple glazing, and installing controlled ventilation with heat recovery, which is followed by the installation of photovoltaic panels or heat pumps.

CPD has agreed with ČSOB to provide consulting and expert support for those interested in energy-efficient housing. Demand for advice on savings has indeed increased by 400 percent last year. In 2021, CPD had two to three inquiries a week, whereas last year, with the onset of the crisis, there were fifteen during the same period. Even skeptics woke up and found that this is an investment in the future that pays off, said Vanický.

Interest in energy-saving measures is also confirmed by data from the Hypoteční banka and ČSOB Stavební spořitelna. Its CEO Martin Vašek stated that nine out of ten households address savings, and last year, 24 percent of all loans from his company were for savings, amounting to over nine billion crowns, whereas in 2020 it was only 800 million crowns. The average mortgage amount for energy-efficient housing in 2022 reached 4.17 million crowns at ČSOB.

The increasing interest in saving on energy due to renovations is also influenced by government support for New Green Savings and the newly introduced New Green Savings Light.