Energy label: important for sustainability and the value of your house

An energy label is compulsory if you sell or rent out your home. You can’t officially transfer a property without a valid label, and the label also shows how energy-efficient your home is, with G being the lowest label and A++++ the highest. Green energy label can earn you thousands of euros extra.

Buyers are increasingly looking at energy efficiency and are willing to pay extra for it. During viewings, they actively ask about sustainability and the costs. This is why many people choose steps such as insulation and solar panels, followed by heat pumps, hybrid heat pumps and gas-free living.

Research by Brainbay and the Dutch association of real estate agents (NVM) also shows that a better energy label directly affects the value of the property. For example, a house with label A is worth €3,850 per m2, while the value of a house with label G is around €3,240 per m2. That difference of more than €600 per m2 can add up considerably. For an average house of 113m2, this means a difference of almost €69,000. Even smaller improvements can yield significant results. For example, if you upgrade a property from label G to label C, the value can increase by around 11.3%.

Sustainability does require an investment, but you often recoup part of these costs through lower energy costs and a higher property value.

If you’re wondering what you could get out of a better energy label, we’ve put together a run-down of the key benefits for you.

1. Lower energy consumption and lower costs The better your energy label, the less energy your home consumes and therefore the lower your costs are. Even if you’re not planning to move soon, sustainability measures can make a significant difference to your energy consumption.
2. Greater home comfort Well-insulated houses stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, meaning they’re more comfortable to live in.
3. Faster sale and greater chance of offers above the asking price Homes with a green energy label (A, B or C) are sold faster on average than homes with a poorer label. Sustainable homes are also more often sold above the asking price than less energy-efficient homes.
4. Possibly lower mortgage interest rate In some cases, a better energy label can get you a lower mortgage interest rate when you agree on a new fixed-rate period.
5. Do your bit for the climate By making your home energy-efficient, you reduce your carbon emissions and do your bit to combat climate change. Want to know how you can improve your home? Do the Energy Saving Check.

You can make your home more energy-efficient in several ways, and they don’t always have to be complicated or drastic. Both small changes and larger investments can make a noticeable difference in energy consumption and comfort. Take a look at all of the easy tips on saving energy.

Small changes with a big impact

Saving energy often starts with simple steps you can take straight away, even if you’re a tenant. For example, using your washing machine’s eco setting, setting the central heating boiler to 60°C and installing radiator foil. Minor actions like this don’t take much effort, but they still lower your energy consumption and therefore your energy costs.

Insulation as a foundation

A well-insulated home is the foundation for energy savings. If your home isn’t yet insulated as well as possible, you might want to consider floor insulation, cavity wall insulation or roof insulation. Keeping heat inside more effectively means you don’t need to heat so much and makes the indoor climate more pleasant.  

Windows and doors: prevent heat loss

Windows and doors play an important role in heat loss. Old single glazing or outdated double glazing lets a lot of heat escape. Replacing this with modern insulated glazing can save you a lot of money. In some cases, it’s also a good idea to have the window frames replaced, especially if they’re not suitable for good insulated glazing. 

Heating: ready for the future

Once the insulation is in order, you can look at the way you heat your home. As homes will need to move away from gas in the future, alternatives are becoming increasingly important.

Ventilation for a healthy indoor climate

Good ventilation is essential for a healthy house. The system removes polluted air and lets fresh air in. People confuse ventilating with airing, but it is more than that: it involves a continuous airflow through ventilation grilles or mechanical systems. Without proper ventilation, moisture can build up in walls, floors and ceilings, making your home harder and more expensive to heat.

Generating your own solar energy

Last but not least, you can generate your own energy with solar panels. This lets you produce some of the electricity you use in your home, such as for lighting and appliances. Solar panels help to cut your energy bills and bring your home closer to energy-neutral, resulting in a better energy label.  

If you want to make a flat or apartment more sustainable, you arrange the measures inside your home yourself. Measures on the outside and in communal areas are done by the Owners’ Association (VvE).

If you rent your home, you probably won’t be able to make any major energy-saving investments yourself, so you should ask your landlord about your options. Sometimes more is possible than you might expect, especially with housing associations. What’s more, homes with energy labels E, F and G can’t be rented out from 2030, and this obligation already applies to housing associations from 2028. This makes sustainability measures increasingly important for landlords too.