News item | 01-05-2023 | 15:29
The cabinet presented a new package of climate measures last Wednesday. This includes 9.3 billion euros for the built environment and 0.2 billion for biobased construction. In 2030, millions of homes and buildings will be made sustainable and heated sustainably. That is why requirements will be tightened from 2026 on the efficiency of heating installations. In addition, the (hybrid) heat pump will become the standard for heating our homes, shops, schools and offices. This new standard gives an impulse to making homes and buildings more sustainable, reduces the consumption of precious natural gas and stimulates the technical development of the heat pump. As a result, production increases, the price decreases and the heat pump becomes a financially even more attractive alternative to the central heating boiler. The investment in a heat pump currently pays for itself in an average of seven years, followed by a structurally lower energy bill for the entire lifespan of the (hybrid) heat pump.
Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Housing and Spatial Planning):
“We want to quickly make more sustainable homes and use less natural gas. For the climate and because of the increased gas prices. And we want everyone to be able to participate in this. The hybrid heat pump, which will be the minimum standard from 2026, uses less natural gas, lowers energy bills and contributes to the climate. Everyone should be able to benefit from this, which is why there are subsidies and loans: the investment is therefore affordable for everyone and pays for itself.”
Why a minimum standard?
With the introduction of a minimum standard, we will use less natural gas step by step. This, together with good insulation, is important to be able to achieve the climate goals. The minimum standard applies from the moment the boiler is replaced. This gives the least hassle and lowest cost. The hybrid heat pump is a logical choice for many homes, but there are also other solutions. Such as a fully electric heat pump or a connection to a heat network, for example district heating.
By setting standards, people know what steps to take to heat their home more sustainably, while at the same time having the certainty that they are making a wise investment. Subsidies are available for the investment (ISDE) and the Heat Fund can provide a loan. The 0% interest rate at the Heat Fund will be expanded to incomes up to 60,000 euros. We are abandoning the adage “Borrowing money costs money” for making their own homes more sustainable for this group because we want to remove barriers and reward sustainability. Standards also provide clarity for producers, enabling timely anticipation of the increase in replacement demand and scaling up production capacity. This is necessary, because last winter’s high gas prices meant that the sector could not keep up with the demand for hybrid heat pumps. Higher volumes can also cause prices to fall, which in turn leads to a shorter payback period.
Exceptions
For most ground-based homes, a hybrid heat pump usually pays for itself in seven years, making it mandatory to switch. An exception will be made for situations in which the standard cannot be properly applied, for example due to noise requirements, necessary adjustments to the home or when the heating installation leads to disproportionately high costs; for example because a collective district solution (such as a heat network) will be realized within ten years. Monuments are currently excluded in advance due to complex permit processes. The same applies to apartments due to points of attention in the field of noise and spatial integration.
Environmental performance heat pump
Commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior, TNO has conducted research into the environmental impact of (hybrid) heat pumps; both of the use of materials and of the energy performance. The conclusion is that (hybrid) heat pumps in existing buildings are almost always better for the environment than a central heating boiler. This is because the environmental impact of materials is relatively small compared to the impact of energy consumption. How much better the (hybrid) heat pump is depends on the situation, the chosen heat pump with associated refrigerant and the ratio between green and gray electricity that is consumed.
More information on www.verbeterjehuis.nl/ Warmtepomp
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