Clean Air is a programme geared towards improving energy efficiency and reducing the emission of particulate matter and other pollutants into the atmosphere caused by the heating of single-family homes using older heating sources and low-quality fuel. The call for applications under this programme was launched exactly a year ago.

“We encourage Poles to take advantage of our programme and replace their heating sources for more modern and ecological ones, as well as to insulate their homes. This will not only allow them to breathe cleaner air in future, but will also lessen the impact of heating on their household budgets,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Improving the effectiveness of the Clean Air programme

As Minister Kowalczyk pointed out, the implementation of the programme is planned until 2029, and its budget amounts to 103 billion PLN.

“During the first year since the launch of the programme, homeowners willing to take advantage of grants and loans for thermal modernisation of their homes and replacement of heat sources submitted over 80,000 applications for a total amount of over 1.8 billion PLN. The highest number of applications were submitted in the regional funds in Katowice, Krakow and Warsaw. I am convinced that in 2019 we will exceed the number of 100,000 applications,” the Minister said.

Minister Kowalczyk pointed out that the program was recently joined by municipalities, who have appointed their staff to help with filling in and verifying the applications. This is an enormous help for residents, because until now, subsidy applications were collected and processed only by Voivodeship Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

“The implementation of this pilot project will significantly improve the use of the programme and will also enable us to estimate the cost of running the programme borne by local governments,” the Minister added.

“We have already signed appropriate agreements with 525 local governments. Talks are also underway with further municipalities interested in this programme,” he added.

Minister Kowalczyk also pointed out that to date, more than 46,000 resolutions granting subsidies for the total amount of more than 880 million PLN in grants and loans have been adopted.

The Minister also stressed that as of now, the activities aimed at expanding the programme also include consultations regarding the possibility of involving commercial banks in the process of carrying out the programme, which should also have a positive impact on the increase in the number of applications.

According to the Minister of Environment, one should also keep in mind the tax exemption, which is used now by the beneficiaries carrying out thermal modernisations and replacing their furnaces and boilers.

“The exact number of beneficiaries of the tax exemption in 2019 will be known at the end of April 2020, after the personal income tax returns are submitted,” he added.