Energy-efficient upgrades increase your home’s value

Since 2008, any property sold, rented or built in the Netherlands must be given an energy label registered by an approved energy adviser. Energy labels vary from G (red, least efficient) to A++++ (green, most efficient). The energy label instantly tells you about a property’s energy efficiency.

Not all homes have a valid, registered energy label, however. At the time of writing, just 46% of owner-occupied homes have a registered label compared with over 75% of rental properties.
You can check your home’s current energy label and its validity on Milieu Centraal’s website (in Dutch).

Tilburg University and Maastricht University have conducted lengthy studies on the impact of energy labels on asking prices. Their research suggests that buyers have become more discerning over the years.

Indeed, despite demand outstripping supply, homes with a red F/G energy label sell below the asking price. That’s because these homes cost more to heat and will require expensive energy-efficiency upgrades in the future.

Research conducted by the research agency Brainbay in May 2025 (article in Dutch) shows that more energy-efficient homes increase in value, with each upgrade to the next highest category leading to a higher average value. Even smaller upgrades can be beneficial.

The table on this page shows the considerable impact of a home’s energy label on the asking price. As you can see, the selling price of a property with label C is on average 10.2% higher than a comparable property with label G.

Figures from the Dutch association of real estate agents (NVM) and Brainbay also show that the gap in prices between less and more energy-efficient homes also continues to grow. Basically, ‘greener’ homes sell much faster.

You can obtain a better energy label by increasing your home’s energy efficiency. Broadly speaking, you can take the following measures:

• Make sure your property is properly insulated and ventilated.
• Install a hybrid (or electrical) heat pump or connection to a heat grid.
• Install solar panels.

Every home is different. An energy adviser can tell you which measures are right for your home and provide advice on your home’s energy performance (EPA). This advice is unique to your home.

The energy-efficiency improvements must meet certain criteria, often technical in nature, which your energy adviser can look at. Your energy adviser can also calculate your home’s energy label and help you to register it.

You can find accredited energy advisers through KEGO (the knowledge centre for energy efficiency in the built environment, website in Dutch) or one of ABN AMRO’s partners.

If you’d prefer to work things out for yourself, you can use tools like the Energy Saving Check or visit Milieu Centraal’s website (in Dutch) for more information.

Savings, mortgage or second mortgage

If you have lots of liquid assets, investing this money in making your home more energy-efficient is usually a good option. Equally, you could fund upgrades by increasing your mortgage or taking out a second mortgage.

Bank loan

If you’d rather borrow money from a bank, how much you can borrow depends on your income, the value of your home or both. The Dutch government has established rules for these types of loans.

Over recent years, it has become increasingly easy to borrow money specifically to make your home more energy-efficient. If you’d like to take out a loan for a home with a low energy label, you can often borrow more money – as much as €20,000 more.

You can also borrow more for a home that’s already been made energy-efficient, as lower energy bills leave you with more money to cover mortgage repayments. The additional amount you can borrow can be as much as €50,000.

If you don’t want to change your mortgage, consider taking out a green loan. These types of loans are often available at attractive rates. Read more about ABN AMRO loans.

Government grants and loans

Lastly, you can access government grants and loans at attractive conditions. To help you choose the right grant for you, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and Milieu Centraal have released  a grant guide for homeowners. These grants can cover up to 30% of the costs.

If your home’s energy label is registered as B or higher, you can benefit from up to 0.15% off your mortgage interest. This also applies if you have a lower energy label but plan to make energy-efficiency upgrades in the near future.

The discount is available at the start of a new fixed-rate period, or if you register the energy label within 24 months of the start of your fixed-rate period. Read about how to claim our sustainability discount.

Upgrading your home’s energy efficiency has many benefits, one being that it can considerably increase your home’s value. It also makes your home a more comfortable place to live. Plus, you’re doing your bit for the planet.