Nearly half (49 percent) of the eight hundred respondents in the survey stated that heating at home is most often at 21 to 22 degrees. They don’t want to change anything next summer, which has already started in most places in the Czech Republic. As many as 42 percent of people have absolutely no plans to lower the temperature at home, 29 percent are willing to lower it by just one degree. At the same time, Czechs don’t think much of buying products that can help reduce heating bills, such as blackout curtains.

As many as 39 percent of respondents stated that they are willing to lower the temperature when not at home and at night, when the weather is generally less hot. Only 6.5 percent of respondents plan to significantly lower the temperature at home.

However, most Czechs prefer to buy things they don’t really need, rather than lowering the temperature in their apartment or house. 68.5 percent of survey participants said they prefer to save money to buy new clothes or electronics, 61 percent of respondents want to save on entertainment, in particular will limit cultural and sporting events or holidays.

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Instead of spending on things they don’t need, people are forced to think about ways to save energy, or what to flood their homes with in winter. Due to high energy prices, interest in wood, coal and alternative sources is growing.

Half of the people who build houses are interested in heat pumps and 42 percent in photovoltaic power plants, according to a survey from wooden building builder RD Rýmařov. However, the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians active in construction points out that a poorly chosen method of using and operating a heat pump can lead to an increase in energy costs instead of a reduction.

More and more households are struggling with their budgets – with energy, food and, in many cases, increasing mortgage payments.

Data from eská spořitelna, which takes into account declining purchasing power or differences in the amount of individual household budgets, show that seven percent of Czech households have no financial reserves and another one-third have less than one month. At the same time, households that enjoy financial health, according to economists’ recommendations, should have reserves to cover expenses for three months.

“This requirement is not met by 55 percent of households in our country, of which 57 percent have already started reducing their reserves,” said David Navrátil, economist at eská spořitelna.