According to a survey conducted by the research group Knowlimits, up to 91% of households are currently not considering switching their energy sources for heating, cooking, or water heating.
The primary reason cited is the fear of rising energy costs. Most respondents consider the Czech Republic to be a moderately or heavily polluted country. The results of the study, which explored Czech households’ attitudes toward decarbonization, were presented to journalists by representatives of Knowlimits.
About half of Czech households use gas, coal, or wood for heating. Another 30% rely on district heating, which primarily comes from fossil-fuel-powered thermal plants.
“Reducing emissions from buildings is one of the most important measures of the European Green Deal in combating climate change. However, according to estimates by the Association of Heating Companies, up to a quarter of a million first- and second-class emission boilers are still in operation in the Czech Republic, despite a ban that has been in place since September 1. This shows that Czech households are only at the beginning of this journey, and their current sentiment indicates they are not yet ready to embark on it,” said the study.
The research revealed that the main concern is households’ fear of high costs, which can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of Czech crowns when switching to other sources, as well as the potential for rising energy prices. These concerns were most frequently expressed by men and older individuals. Slightly more women stated that they would like to switch to alternative energy sources but lacked the financial means to do so.
