New Regulations for Silesia and the PAS Survey | BOKKA
Silesia is following Kraków’s example and in under a month will introduce a ban on burning solid fuel in homes. The Polish Smog Alert (Polski Alarm Smogowy — PAS) recently conducted a survey among residents of the region, revealing that one in three had not heard of the new anti-smog regulations!
The anti-smog resolution was adopted in 2017. It stipulates that old solid-fuel boilers — for example coal-fired ones — may only be operated until the end of the current year. 65 per cent of those surveyed by PAS stated that they support the ban on coal heating, yet a large proportion do not know that these changes are due to come into force from the following year.
According to the Polish Smog Alert, the low level of public awareness is the result of an insufficiently broad information campaign — a responsibility that falls to the regional authorities. This does not, however, exempt residents from complying with the new regulations. So-called “dirty boilers” (kopciuchy) will not be permitted to operate after 1 January 2022 — doing so will constitute an offence subject to a fine. Recommendations for local authorities in Silesia (Województwo Śląskie) regarding enforcement of the anti-smog resolution have already been published.
Residents of Silesia are broadly positive about the forthcoming changes and expect decisive action from the regional authorities. To enable effective monitoring of local pollution levels, data collected in the Central Register of Building Emissions (CEEB — Centralna Ewidencja Emisyjności Budynków) is required. The obligation to submit a declaration regarding a building’s heating system rests with the owner; however, according to PAS research, almost half — 44 per cent — of single-family homeowners in Silesia are unaware of the CEEB.
According to the Polish Smog Alert, without a wide-ranging public information campaign about the CEEB, the chances of gathering the data needed for research will be slim.
Reducing CO2 emissions is possible by replacing the heat source with a more modern one and by carrying out a thermal upgrade (energy retrofit). Information about PIR thermal insulation and advice on the subject can be obtained from BOKKA’s Sales Representatives and Customer Service Specialists. Visit our website www.bokka.pl and our online shop www.sklep.izolacjepir.pl.
