Insulating a detached house is one of the most effective investments you can make in a property - it lowers heating costs, improves living comfort and increases the house’s market value. The Nová zelená úsporám (New Green Savings) 2026 programme, the national scheme for energy-saving grants, lets you get state support for this investment, though the conditions have become stricter since last year. The key to success is proper preparation - and this is exactly where a thermographic inspection plays an essential role.
How NZÚ 2026 works - two routes to a grant
NZÚ Light - a gradual, step-by-step renovation
NZÚ Light is intended for those who want to insulate in stages - one or two measures at a time, such as insulating the façade or replacing the windows. Since 1 May 2026, a renovation passport prepared by an energy specialist authorised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) has been mandatory for an NZÚ Light application. Without this document, the application will not be processed.
A renovation passport is not merely an administrative formality. It is a complete strategy for the energy renovation of a house, broken down into stages - it states in what order it makes sense to carry out each measure, so that the investments complement rather than block one another. For example, you should not insulate the roof before replacing the roof structure, and there is no point replacing windows if the façade is going to be cracked open again in two years’ time.
NZÚ Standard - a comprehensive renovation with higher support
NZÚ Standard targets more extensive renovations that demonstrably improve the building’s energy class. The conditions are stricter - an Energy Performance Certificate (PENB) is required both before and after the renovation, along with professional supervision and a more significant reduction in the building’s energy demand. In return it offers a higher level of support and covers a wider range of eligible costs.
Both variants cover part of the eligible costs - the percentage share increases with the scope and ambition of the chosen measure. The exact current rates are always available on the website of the SFŽP (the State Fund for Environmental Protection).
Why start with a thermographic inspection
Many homeowners go straight to a contractor with the request “insulate my façade.” But the façade may not be the main cause of the heat loss. Without prior diagnostics, you risk investing in areas that will not solve the problem - and drawing on the grant inefficiently.
A thermographic inspection reveals exactly what the naked eye cannot see:
- where thermal bridges occur - corners, lintels, ring beams, balcony slabs
- whether the roof is genuinely losing heat, or whether the existing insulation is adequate
- where condensation is occurring, or where air is flowing uncontrolled through the building envelope
- the condition of the windows and frames - whether the problem lies in the glass or in the connecting joints
- where there are hidden faults in vapour barriers or insulation within the layers of the structure
The result is a thermographic report with precise photographs and an expert assessment. This document serves as an input for the energy specialist preparing the renovation passport - it saves time, increases the accuracy of the recommendations, and helps set the right priorities for each stage of the renovation.
Step by step: from thermal imaging to a paid-out grant
1. Thermographic inspection of the house
We carry out the inspection with a thermal camera; for detached houses we typically combine ground-level shots with aerial footage from a drone. Measuring conditions are optimal during the heating season (October to March), when the temperature difference between inside and outside is large enough. We deliver the thermographic report within five working days.
2. Preparing the renovation passport
Based on the thermographic report, the house’s existing documentation and the PENB, an MPO-authorised energy specialist prepares the renovation passport. The document sets out the recommended sequence of renovation steps and the estimated energy savings after each stage is completed.
3. Choosing the measures and the contractor
With the renovation passport in hand, you know exactly what to do first. You choose the specific measures (for example, insulating the façade and replacing the roof windows) and obtain price quotes. Contractors must be listed in the SFŽP register of approved suppliers - without this listing, the costs are not eligible.
4. Submitting the application
The application is submitted electronically via the AIS SFŽP portal. The standard attachments are the renovation passport, the PENB, price quotes, proof of ownership of the property, and a declaration that the programme conditions are met. NZÚ Standard also requires professional technical supervision.
5. Carrying out the work and providing evidence
Work may only begin once the SFŽP has issued a favourable decision (or once the statutory deadline has passed - see the conditions of the current call). Once complete, you submit invoices, photo documentation and, for NZÚ Standard, a new PENB demonstrating that the target energy class has been achieved. The grant is paid out after the submitted documents have been checked.
What thermal imaging does not guarantee - but helps reveal
A thermographic inspection is not a guarantee that a grant will be approved - the level of support depends on the scope and quality of the measures actually carried out, not on the diagnostics alone. However, thermal imaging fundamentally helps to:
- avoid unnecessary spending on measures that are not a priority
- give the energy specialist hard data instead of estimates
- provide grounds for a claim if the completed work does not deliver the expected result
- verify, once the renovation is finished, that thermal bridges have genuinely been eliminated (a follow-up inspection after insulation)
The most common mistakes made by NZÚ applicants
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Starting work before submitting the application | Costs become ineligible, the grant is lost |
| Contractor not listed in the SFŽP register | Application rejected |
| Missing or incomplete renovation passport | Application returned for completion |
| Underestimating the required improvement in energy class | Lower grant than expected |
| No prior thermographic diagnostics | Insulation fails to address the real heat loss |
Conclusion
NZÚ 2026 is a genuine opportunity to significantly cut the cost of insulating a detached house. The conditions are more demanding than in previous years - a renovation passport is mandatory, the energy specialist must be MPO-authorised, and the contractor must be listed in the SFŽP register. Anyone who prepares this route properly can secure the grant without unnecessary complications, confident that they are investing where it genuinely makes sense.
A thermographic inspection is the logical first step: it gives you clarity on where the house is actually losing heat, and provides objective data both for the renovation passport and for choosing the right measures.
Send us your enquiry - we will reply within 24 hours with the price of the inspection and the nearest available date. We carry out inspections throughout the Czech Republic and deliver the thermographic report in an electronic format suitable as supporting documentation for an energy specialist.