Making Your Home Sustainable

In short

You do not have to renovate your whole house to make it more sustainable: often a few targeted measures already lower your energy bill. We list the most popular measures, with indicative costs and savings, and look at how to finance going green with an extra mortgage or a subsidy.

1. How can you make your home sustainable?

Below are the most common measures with indicative amounts. The actual costs and savings differ per home.

Cavity wall insulation

Saving: roughly € 310 to € 820 per year.
One-off cost: roughly € 1,200 to € 3,250.

One of the easiest measures: relatively little work and mess. A home quickly loses around 20% of its heat through the walls.

Solar panels

Saving: roughly € 900 per year.
One-off cost (about 10 panels): roughly € 4,200.

First work out how much electricity you use, then you know how many panels you need. The payback period is usually 5 to 8 years.

Heat pump

Saving: roughly € 180 to € 320 per year.
One-off cost: roughly € 4,000 to € 16,000.

A heat pump draws heat from the air, ground or groundwater. A hybrid heat pump is the cheapest, because you do not have to replace all your radiators at once. The ISDE subsidy often refunds part of the purchase.

Pitched roof insulation

Saving: roughly € 400 to € 600 per year.
One-off cost: roughly € 2,000 to € 4,000.

Similar to wall insulation. If your roof is already panelled on the inside, it takes more work.

HR++ glazing

Saving: roughly € 200 to € 730 per year.
One-off cost: roughly € 3,100.

HR++ glazing insulates even better than ordinary double glazing. Replacing single glazing saves far more than replacing existing double glazing.

Floor insulation

Saving: roughly € 250 to € 750 per year.
One-off cost: roughly € 1,750 to € 3,400 (outsourced).

The effect is a little smaller than wall or roof insulation, but still worthwhile.

2. Financing sustainability with your mortgage

Normally you borrow at most 100% of the home value. For sustainability measures you may borrow extra, up to 106% of the value, on condition that you actually spend that extra amount on energy-saving measures. The money is often placed in a construction deposit, from which you pay the invoices once the measures are carried out. Want to know how much you can borrow for this? You can calculate your renovation mortgage.

Borrowing extra for an energy-efficient home

If you buy a home that is already very energy-efficient, you can often borrow a fixed amount on top of your income-based capacity. The higher the energy label, the more that is. For a home with the highest label you can borrow a few thousand to several tens of thousands of euros extra, and for a net-zero (nul-op-de-meter) home with an energy-performance guarantee of at least ten years it rises to around € 50,000. Nibud sets the exact amounts each year, so always check the current standards.

3. Subsidy for sustainability (ISDE)

For many measures you can get a subsidy through the Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving (ISDE). The condition is that you are an owner-occupier. If you combine insulation measures, the subsidy is often higher. Calculate and apply for the subsidy via RVO (ISDE for homeowners).

4. An interest discount for a sustainable home

Several providers give an interest discount if you buy an energy-efficient home, or if you make your home more sustainable later and your energy label improves. Ask your adviser which providers offer such a "green" discount and whether it is worthwhile in your situation.

Frequently asked questions

What is an energy label?

The energy label shows how energy-efficient a home is, from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). A valid energy label is mandatory when selling or letting. It gives buyers an indication of the expected energy costs.

Are there energy requirements for new-build?

Yes. Since 2021 new-build must meet the BENG requirements (Nearly Energy-Neutral Buildings), which replaced the old EPC standard.

Can I add sustainability costs to my mortgage?

Yes, up to 106% of the home value, provided you spend the extra amount on energy-saving measures.