The EU-funded Green for Households project enables people living in single-family homes and apartment buildings across Slovakia to apply for vouchers to cover up to 50 % of the installation costs of small devices that generate heat and electricity from renewable sources. Photovoltaic panels with a maximum output of 10 kilowatts for production of electricity and solar collectors, biomass boilers and heat pumps that meet the heating needs of a single building can be purchased using the vouchers.
- 01 January 2007
“It is not easy for families to invest in modern, environmentally friendly energy systems because they spend most of their money on the building itself, or replacing windows or insulation. This programme can motivate people to take an interest in the most suitable energy use solutions and enable them to obtain equipment today that they would otherwise put off buying or be unable to afford.”
In its pilot phase, Green for Households provided more than EUR 41 million over 28 funding rounds for the fitting of 18 501 devices, including 6 973 solar collectors, 5 242 heat pumps, 3 673 photovoltaic systems and 2 613 biomass boilers. Together, these devices have an output of 141 megawatts.
The higher the capacity of the equipment they install, the more assistance applicants can get. From 2020, for heat pumps, the vouchers are worth up to EUR 3 400, for solar collectors EUR 1 750 and for both photovoltaic systems and biomass boilers EUR 1 500.
Affordable renewable energy
Renewable energy systems are often prohibitively expensive for households. Green for Households encourages an increase in domestic renewable energy use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, it gives a boost to the renewable energy device market, improves knowledge and practices among contractors installing such systems and promotes research into related fields.
Households wishing to access support must familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions and find out which renewable energy source is most suitable for them. They then choose a device from a list of 3 600 specific types and an authorised contractor approved by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA).
A 90-day deadline
Subsequently, the application form is completed and submitted electronically. The system has been adapted to the needs of households and as of 2022 it works in such a way that after submitting an application, the applicant receives a voucher activation code, which they provide to the contractor, who activates the voucher.
Once the voucher is activated, SIEA prints it and sends it to the applicant, who gives it to the contractor. Installation of the device must take place within 90 days of the issuing of the voucher. Following installation, the contractor uses the voucher to request reimbursement from SIEA. All relevant information can be found at zelenadomacnostiam.sk.
After the conclusion of the pilot project in 2018, Green for Households 2 and Green for Households 3 were launched with budgets of EUR 48 million and EUR 45 million respectively. Both projects cover the period 2019-2023. Thus far, Green for Households has supported the installation of more than 41 000 devices.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Green for Households” is EUR 45 000 000 with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 35 992 039 through the “Quality of Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Energy efficient low-carbon economy in all sectors”.