According to another study published by TNS OBOP and commissioned by the FREE initiative, a lack of financial incentives and public subsidies for municipalities are the main obstacles to decarbonising the Polish economy. Almost 99% of Polish mayors declare willingness to implement energy efficiency solutions, but only if they receive sufficient funding.

According to the poll conducted by TNS OBOP among mayors and presidents of Polish cities, rural areas are not implementing the Polish energy strategy, which aims at increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake in Poland. Mayors also believe that innovative energy solutions in their regions could bring direct benefits to municipalities in terms of helping the environment and decreasing local budget spending on energy.

The results of the study show that the vast majority of municipalities took steps to improve isolation of buildings and exploit renewable energy sources. An increasing number of Polish municipalities are also interested in such energy efficient solutions as Micro-CHP and heat pumps.

The results of the study were discussed on 19 October 2011 at the debate organised by the FREE initiative on "The role of rural areas in improving energy efficiency in Poland – improving directions.” Participants discussed the need to establish concrete energy guidelines and funding programmes for rural areas.

According to FREE expert, Dr. Philip Elżanowski, "It is necessary to develop appropriate tax legislation on energy and carbon emissions, as well as financial incentives to implement clean technologies. It is also important to create a legal and institutional framework for energy distribution in Poland, and to foster and encourage the uptake of innovative and energy efficient solutions in the construction sector and by individual households."

Polish FREE experts also underline that it is very important to take action on the household level, by creating sufficient financial incentives for innovative energy solutions.

"To increase the energy efficiency of Polish farms, it is necessary to create financial instruments which would allow Polish households to actively participate in the development of decentralised energy. Households should play a key role in building a low carbon economy,” says Janusz Mikula, another FREE expert