Go to content

Central government promotes energy savings

Dutch central government is promoting a 1.5% increase in energy savings per year in order to cut CO2 emissions. It is making agreements on this with industry and other economic sectors. Homeowners can get loans or grants to make their homes energy-efficient.

Energy-efficient homes

‘Save Energy Now!’ is the slogan of a new government campaign encouraging people to make their homes more energy-efficient. Measures include:

  • better insulation of the roof, façade, cavity walls, floor and windows;
  • solar water heating;
  • heat pumps;
  • ventilation with a heat recovery function;
  • solar panels.

For certain energy-saving measures, homeowners may be eligible for a grant or low-interest loan.

Energy-efficiency agreements between government and economic sectors

Government has made agreements on energy savings with various economic sectors. Agreements include:

  • Next Generation Cultivation Methods in horticulture. From 2020, new greenhouses will be climate-neutral.
  • 50% energy savings in the IT sector by 2030.

  • From 2020, new homes will be almost energy-neutral. This means they will generate as much energy as they use. From the end of 2018, all new government buildings will be nearly-energy-neutral.

Energy savings agreements with the rental housing sector

Government has also made agreements to make rental housing more energy-efficient:

  • Under an agreement with the construction, engineering and energy sectors, 300,000 existing homes and other buildings will be made more energy-efficient every year.

  • Local authorities and businesses are working together on 14 projects to make at least 33,500 homes more energy-efficient. To keep costs down, they will work ‘block by block’ as far as possible.

Incentive schemes for energy savings in the rental housing sector

To help landlords fulfil the agreements with the rental sector, they can apply for grants under two incentive schemes:

  • The Energy Performance Incentive Scheme for the Rental Sector (STEP) enables landlords to improve the energy performance of their rental properties.

  • The Energy Savings Fund for the Rental Sector (FEH) offers low-interest loans for landlords to make their rental properties more energy-efficient.

Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth

The Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth contains targets for sustainable energy and energy-efficiency for the years up to 2023. It was signed by central government and a wide range of partners in 2013. Besides giving a boost to sustainable energy, the agreement is also aimed at creating extra jobs.

The Energy Agenda contains targets for the period from 2023 to 2050.

Documents