A total of 221 people submitted applications for a climate loan at reduced interest. 98 of these applications were approved, 13 were refused, and over 100 are still under review.
The "KlimaPrêt" climate loans aim to promote sustainable renovation of dwellings that are over 10 years old by prefinancing the renovation work. To qualify for a zero-interest loan, applicants need to satisfy a number of conditions, including a cap on household income. Loans are then repaid over a maximum term of 15 years.
Reduced interest loans require no socio-economic conditions to be satisfied. Successful applicants receive an interest subsidy of up to 1.5% and equal to no more than 10% of the principal. They are also repaid over a period of up to 15 years.
Other energy efficiency initiatives have proved more successful. The "Neistart Lëtzebuerg" was introduced in June 2020 and increased the available subsidies for energy renovations of houses. In the nine months since its launch subsidies totalling €10.7 million were granted.
MP David Wagner from the Leftist Party (Déi Lénk) recently submitted a parliamentary question to enquire how many applications the responsible departments had received since the start of the programme.
In their reply, Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg and Minister for Housing Henri Kox specified that since 1 June 2020, the responsible state departments had received a total of 570 applications carrying a so-called "accord de principe". People can receive this approval following an energy consultation.
Both ministers stressed that carrying out such a project required time. However, the first applications which could benefit from the "Neistart Lëtzebuerg" bonus are currently being processed. The aids granted since June 2020 mainly involved projects which had been started prior to the launch of the new programme.
Nevertheless, over the past nine months, authorities approved 217 projects for energy renovation and granted 514 subsidies for the installation of new heating systems based on renewable energies.
In addition, 266 subsidies were granted for the installation of a photovoltaic system, and 1,150 subsidies for the construction of passive houses or flats.
Since 1 June 2020, the state granted subsidies amounting to €10.7 million: €2.2 million for energy renovations, €1.9 million for new heating systems, €1 million for the installation of photovoltaic systems, and €5.6 million for the construction of new buildings.
More information on government energy efficiency schemes is available on guichet.lu.
