H.T. is a 23-year-old university student living in a family-owned apartment in Budapest’s 2nd district. He lives with his partner part of the year, while completing the final year of his studies in special education. The apartment has been gradually renovated over time, and one of the most significant improvements he carried out recently was replacing the outdated windows.
He is concerned about climate change and tries to incorporate environmentally conscious habits into daily life, though he is also realistic about the limits of individual impact. In his view, meaningful change depends largely on state-level regulation and corporate responsibility. At household level, he believes individuals can contribute, but these actions often feel more like personal reassurance than real climate impact. He is aware of some state renovation programmes, but has found them difficult to access due to lack of clear information and complicated procedures.
The apartment’s biggest problem used to be heat retention. The old windows were drafty and unable to keep the warmth inside, which resulted in cold rooms and high gas bills during the winter months. About a year ago, he decided it was time to replace them. The motivation was simple: the flat was uncomfortable, and heating was inefficient.
The window replacement happened in two phases. During a kitchen renovation, he replaced the window in that room first, and a year later he had the other two windows changed as well. The process itself went smoothly — the installers completed the work in a day, and only minimal finishing work was needed afterward. The only real obstacle was a heavy metal security grate fixed to one of the windows, which he removed, repainted, and later reinstalled himself.
HT did not receive any financial support for the renovation, even though he looked into available options. He knew about state-backed or municipal schemes, but was not eligible for any of them. When choosing the new windows, his decisions were mostly guided by price and practicality rather than technical consultation.
Energy use in the home is shaped by the flat’s specific heating system. Two rooms are heated by gas convectors, while other areas either have no heating or rely on electric units. Although he once considered upgrading the entire system, the layout of the apartment would require major structural work, and a gas technician advised him that the existing convectors were in good condition. He now uses a small smart thermostat device — a local Hungarian invention — that helps regulate temperature more evenly, reducing the problem of overheating followed by rapid cooling.
Since the window replacement, the apartment retains heat far better. The indoor temperature is more stable, heating is easier to control, and bills have become slightly lower. The change also brought more everyday comfort: instead of constantly turning heating on and off, he can maintain a steady, comfortable temperature.
Looking back, HT feels that his renovation choices were shaped by limited time and financial resources. He spread the work out over several years — bathroom, windows, kitchen — because doing everything at once would not have been possible. Still, he believes that if he ever renovates another home in the future, he would prefer a single, well-planned renovation rather than many small stages, as stretching the process over years was emotionally draining.
He also mentioned his father’s experience renovating a family house on Szentendrei-sziget with the help of an energy-efficiency grant. Although the project was ultimately successful, the administrative burden was overwhelming: constant paperwork, sudden changes to requirements, and confusion even within the institutions handling applications. For HT, this reinforced how difficult it is for ordinary homeowners to navigate support schemes — even for those who are willing and motivated.
HT’s advice for others is simple: plan renovations realistically, consider doing them in one phase if possible, and prepare for the time and patience required. Small improvements like window replacement can make a meaningful difference in comfort and energy use — but accessible, user-friendly support systems would make the process far easier for many households.