Clean Air Program 2026 — How to Get a Subsidy for Insulation?

Clean Air Program 2026 — Everything You Need to Know About Insulation Subsidies

The Clean Air program (Program Czyste Powietrze) is the largest subsidy program in Poland aimed at owners of single-family houses. Since its launch in 2018, it has undergone numerous modifications, and the 2026 edition brings favorable changes to income thresholds and maximum funding amounts. If you are planning to insulate your home, this article will guide you through the entire process — from checking whether you qualify to submitting your application and settling the subsidy.

What Is the Clean Air Program?

The Clean Air program is funded by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOSiGW) and the Provincial Funds (WFOSiGW). Its aim is to improve the energy efficiency of single-family buildings and replace old, inefficient heat sources.

What Does the Program Cover?

In the context of thermal modernization, the program funds:

• External wall insulation — insulation material, adhesive, reinforcing mesh, facade render
• Roof or ceiling insulation — mineral wool, polystyrene, vapor barrier
• Floor insulation on grade
• Window and exterior door replacement with models having better insulating parameters
• Heat source replacement — e.g., old coal boiler for a heat pump, condensing gas boiler, or pellet boiler
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery installation (recuperation)
• Energy audit — as an eligible cost
• Design documentation related to thermal modernization

Three Funding Levels

The program divides beneficiaries into three groups based on annual income.

Basic Level

• Income threshold: annual income up to 135,000 PLN
• Maximum subsidy amount: up to 66,000 PLN (with heat source replacement) or up to 33,000 PLN (without heat source replacement — insulation only)
• Funding intensity: up to 40-55% of eligible costs, depending on the scope of work
• Form: non-repayable grant

This is the most popular level — the vast majority of applicants qualify. For wall insulation and window replacement alone, the realistic subsidy is typically 15,000-30,000 PLN.

Enhanced Level

• Income threshold: average monthly income per person in the household up to 2,651 PLN (net)
• Maximum subsidy amount: up to 99,000 PLN (with heat source replacement) or up to 48,000 PLN (without replacement)
• Funding intensity: up to 70-80% of eligible costs
• Form: non-repayable grant
• Additional requirement: income certificate issued by the municipality

Highest Level

• Income threshold: average monthly income per person in the household up to 1,894 PLN (net) or entitlement to permanent/periodic/family benefit
• Maximum subsidy amount: up to 135,000 PLN (with heat source replacement) or up to 70,000 PLN (without replacement)
• Funding intensity: up to 90-100% of eligible costs
• Form: non-repayable grant (advance payment up to 50% of the subsidy possible)
• Additional requirement: municipality certificate confirming income or benefit entitlements

Who Can Apply?

Formal Requirements

• Owner or co-owner of a residential single-family building or a residential unit with a separate land and mortgage register in such a building.
• The building must be commissioned for use — the program does not cover buildings under construction.
• The applicant must be a natural person — companies and institutions do not qualify.
• The building must be located in Poland.

Important Limitations

• Only one application per building (but it can be expanded to cover additional scope).
• The program does not cover multi-family buildings (housing communities, cooperatives — the Warm Housing program exists for them).
• Costs incurred before the application date are not eligible (except for energy audits).
• Work must comply with technical requirements — e.g., minimum insulation thickness as determined by the audit.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Energy Audit (Recommended)

Although an audit is not strictly required at the application stage, we strongly recommend it. An audit:

• Determines the optimal insulation thickness and scope of work
• Provides the basis for calculating eligible costs
• Is itself an eligible cost (up to 1,200 PLN subsidy)
• Significantly simplifies filling out the application

Audit cost: 800-2,000 PLN. After subsidy: effectively 0-800 PLN.

Step 2: Gathering Quotes and Offers

Prepare quotes from contractors for the planned work. You do not need to sign contracts yet, but you need realistic cost estimates to properly fill out the application. The quote should include:

• Breakdown into materials and labor
• Costs of individual elements (wall insulation, window replacement, etc.)
• Compliance with the scope of eligible work in the program

Step 3: Preparing Documents

Documents required when submitting the application:

• Application form (filled out online at gov.pl or in the WFOSiGW Beneficiary Portal)
• Document confirming property ownership (e.g., land register extract — available online at ekw.ms.gov.pl)
• Co-owner consent (if the building has multiple owners)
• Municipality income certificate (for the enhanced and highest levels)
• PIT for the previous year or income declaration (for the basic level)

Documents required for settlement:

• VAT invoices for materials and labor
• Work acceptance protocol
• Photographic documentation (before and after)
• Product data sheet / declaration of performance for insulation materials
• Energy audit (if included in costs)

Step 4: Submitting the Application

The application can be submitted:

• Online — through the Beneficiary Portal on the relevant WFOSiGW website or through gov.pl (trusted profile or electronic ID)
• At the municipality — many municipalities have consultation points and accept applications on behalf of WFOSiGW
• Through a bank — selected banks (e.g., BOS, Alior, BNP Paribas) offer a pre-financing pathway — you submit the subsidy application together with the loan application

Processing time: WFOSiGW has 30 days for formal assessment and 30 days for substantive assessment. In practice, 4-8 weeks pass from submission to decision.

Step 5: Carrying Out the Work

After receiving a positive decision (written or in the portal), you can begin work. Remember:

• All work must be completed in accordance with the scope indicated in the application
• You have 30 months from the application date to complete the work (basic level) or 36 months (enhanced and highest levels)
• Invoices must be issued in the applicant’s name
• Payments are best made by bank transfer (easier documentation)

Step 6: Settling the Subsidy

After completing the work, you submit a payment request (settlement) — also online in the Beneficiary Portal. You attach:

• VAT invoices
• Acceptance protocol
• Photographic documentation
• Declaration of work completion

WFOSiGW has 30 days to disburse the subsidy after positive verification of the settlement. Funds are transferred directly to your bank account.

How Does a Contractor Help with the Subsidy Process?

A good insulation company not only performs the work but also supports the client throughout the subsidy process.

What Should a Company Offer?

• A quote aligned with the program form — with a breakdown of eligible and non-eligible costs
• Help filling out the application — an experienced contractor knows the forms and what data to enter
• Material selection meeting program requirements — e.g., appropriate insulation thickness, window parameters
• Proper invoicing — invoices must contain a detailed description of work and materials consistent with the application scope
• Photographic documentation — photos before, during, and after completion
• Acceptance protocol with a description of completed work

At Elewacje z Klasą, we help our clients at every stage of the subsidy process. We prepare the complete documentation for settlement and advise how to maximize the funding amount.

Most Common Application Mistakes

Based on our experience with clients, here are the traps applicants fall into.

1. Starting Work Before Submitting the Application

Costs incurred before the application submission date are not eligible. The only exception is the energy audit. First the application, then the work.

2. Discrepancy Between Scope of Work and Application

If you declared wall insulation with 15 cm polystyrene in the application, but the contractor installed 12 cm — problems may arise during settlement. The scope of work must match the declaration.

3. Missing Required Parameters on Invoices

An invoice for polystyrene should include: type (EPS, graphite), thickness, lambda coefficient, quantity. A generic description of “building materials” is not sufficient.

4. Exceeding the Completion Deadline

30 months may seem like a lot, but with contractor or material problems, time flies quickly. Plan with a buffer.

5. Errors in Income Calculation

Income is not the same as revenue. Check the exact definition of income used in the program — it is the amount after deducting income-earning costs and social insurance contributions, but before tax deductions.

Combining with Other Programs

My Electricity Program (Moj Prad)

If you are planning a photovoltaic installation, you can use the My Electricity program independently of Clean Air. The programs do not exclude each other, but the same costs cannot be funded from two sources.

Thermal Modernization Tax Relief

Thermal modernization costs that were not covered by the subsidy can be deducted from income under the thermal modernization tax relief (up to 53,000 PLN). This means that, for example, with a subsidy covering 50% of costs, you can deduct the remaining 50% from your tax.

Municipal Programs

Many municipalities offer additional subsidies for thermal modernization, ecological heat sources, or window replacement. It is worth checking at the municipal office — amounts are usually smaller (2,000-10,000 PLN) but can be a valuable supplement.

Summary — How Much Can You Realistically Save?

Sample calculation for a single-family house in Kraków (180 m² of facade, basic level):

With annual heating savings of 3,500-5,000 PLN, the investment pays for itself in 4-6 years.

Want to find out what subsidy you can get for insulating your home? Contact Elewacje z Klasą — we will help you estimate the funding amount free of charge and guide you through the entire process. We operate in the Kraków area and surroundings.