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In Finland, almost 27,000 households have taken a significant step towards greener living by switching from traditional oil heating systems to fossil-free alternatives, thanks to grants from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre). With funding still available for nearly 9,000 more single-family or semi-detached homes, now is an opportune moment for homeowners considering such a switch, especially with the upcoming summer.
The ELY Centre continues to offer popular grants of 4,000 and 2,500 euros to small house owners who decide to abandon oil heating. These grants are available until the remaining funds of 35.6 million euros are exhausted or until autumn 2025, whichever comes first. This funding also extends to those switching from natural gas heating.
Grants are awarded to private individuals or estates for the removal of an oil heating system and the purchase of a new heating system, provided the home is in year-round use. To qualify, the entire oil heating system, including the tank, must be removed. Only one type of government subsidy or tax deduction can be applied per renovation project.
“Based on customer feedback, the application process has been smooth for those who carefully follow the guidelines. Applications are processed quickly when all necessary documents, including powers of attorney from other property owners, like spouses, are included from the start,” advises Sabina Mäki, Group Manager at the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre, which centrally processes applications from across the country.
Since the autumn of 2020, over 32,000 small house owners have applied for the grant, with the ELY Centre making approximately 30,400 grant decisions, 88% of which have been positive. Grants are paid out after the renovation is completed, with nearly 24,000 projects already funded.
Of the applicants, 70% have chosen to switch to air-to-water heat pumps, 19% to ground-
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
