While a house from 1870 generally does not score a cheerful energy label, Dirk Ploegmakers from Boxtel has managed to do it. His monumental home, which is over 150 years old, even competes for the title of most sustainable house in the Netherlands. “We still have just under zero on the meter, but we are coming very close.”
“Welcome to perhaps the most sustainable house in the Netherlands,” says Dirk as he opens the door with a big smile. “We bought this building more than two years ago and have spent a year making it as sustainable as possible.” It is a free-standing monument from 1870 that is completely insulated and has no gas. In combination with the solar panels, energy consumption is extremely low.
Dirk and his family could not buy the property too expensively and spent around €200,000 on it. “In a monumental building you are not allowed to simply adapt and replace everything, so that makes it extra difficult to make such an old building sustainable,” says Dirk. “For example, you are not allowed to install normal double glazing, because then you have to adjust the window frames and that is not allowed. So you need extra expensive insulating glass for monuments. Fortunately, you can apply for a subsidy for many adjustments, which really saves tens of thousands of euros,” says Dirk while he shows the ingenious monument glass.
It is quite a list of adjustments that Dirk has made: air conditioning, heat pump, buffer tank, underfloor heating, central balanced ventilation, roof insulation, attic floor insulation, temperature control per room, HR++ glass, facade insulation. But also extra curtains, carpeting, induction stove, a wood stove, solar panels, LED lamps and an energy-efficient washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer and tumble dryer.
“It was not my intention at all to participate in the competition most sustainable house to participate, it was more of a joke. But now that I have been nominated, I would like to win,” says Dirk, laughing. You can vote for sustainable houses on the sustainable houses route website until March 1. The winners will be announced on March 4.
Although the building is already in the running for the title of most sustainable home, Dirk’s plans are not over yet. His dream is to also use batteries or other means of energy storage in the future, so that solar energy can be better used.