News item | 06-03-2024 | 6:30 PM
Municipalities from Groningen and North Drenthe, the province of Groningen and the national government are jointly coming up with an insulation approach for home owners. This way, homeowners in Groningen and North Drenthe can benefit from a lower energy bill and energy poverty is further combated. This approach stems from the region’s ambition to become natural gas-free and from the government’s response to Nij Begun. The insulation approach is a major and important first step in this regard. 1.65 billion euros is available for the insulation approach. The measure applies retroactively from April 25, 2023.
Home owners in Groningen and North Drenthe (municipality of Aa and Hunze, Noordenveld and Tynaarlo) who have made or will make an investment in insulation measures after April 25, 2023, will receive an additional subsidy. The isolation approach includes all necessary measures up to and including: standard for home insulation. For the insulation of rental properties, housing associations in Groningen and North Drenthe will receive 200 million euros for insulation measures in rental properties. It has been agreed with the housing associations that the insulation measures will not lead to higher rents and that tenants will therefore benefit from lower energy costs.
When developing the insulation approach, the government and the region give priority to the most vulnerable households and those most affected by the consequences of the earthquakes and reinforcement operation. In addition, in accordance with the recommendations of the Van Geel Committee, the aim was to limit and dampen the differences in the reinforcement area between neighbors in the same street or neighborhood as much as possible. This approach is an important first step in this regard.
The following groups can be distinguished:
Residents with (medium) heavy reinforcementwhich also involves a minimum of four months of construction time and where the residents cannot live at home, are eligible for a 100% subsidy for insulation measures (measure 28). This means that the National Coordinator Groningen (NCG) links the insulation measures to the major reinforcement of the home. If the homeowner so wishes, the NCG will fully include the insulation, including the finish, in the reinforcement at no extra cost. This method is already being applied.
Residents within the reinforcement area. This concerns both homes that are already up to standard or reinforced, as well as homes that are still eligible for minor reinforcement and the districts and neighborhoods around them where more than 30% of the homes are included in the reinforcement operation. Home owners receive a 100% subsidy for the necessary measures – up to the standard for home insulation – up to a maximum of €40,000. This includes the existing national ones ISDE subsidyThe amount per home depends on the characteristics of the home and the extent to which it is already insulated.
Residents in the province of Groningen and North Drenthe with an income up to 140% of the statutory minimum wage will be reimbursed 100% for the necessary measures – up to the standard for home insulation – up to a maximum of €40,000 – to catch up on sustainability gaps in this group and thus combat energy poverty. Here too, the amount per home depends on the characteristics of the home and the extent to which it is already insulated.
Residents in the rest of the province of Groningen and North Drenthe receive a 50% subsidy for the necessary measures – up to the standard for home insulation – up to a maximum of €20,000. This includes the existing national ISDE subsidy. This is approximately double the compensation that residents in the rest of the Netherlands can receive. Here too, the amount per home depends on the characteristics of the home and the extent to which it is already insulated. For homeowners who cannot pay the remaining 50% themselves, there is the option of pre-financing from the National Heat Fund. The 50% personal contribution can be paid from the monthly savings on the energy bill.
Energy efficient living
A well-insulated home ensures that everyone can live comfortably and energy-efficiently. This helps to reduce high energy bills and energy poverty. This is especially important for cash-strapped households who have difficulty paying their energy bills.
From April 25, 2023
From the first quarter of 2025, home owners can apply for the subsidy contribution for investments they have made or will make in insulation measures. The approach will be further developed in the coming months. The measures will take effect retroactively on April 25, 2023. This was chosen because on that day the government presented the government’s Nij Begun response and the associated package of measures. Home owners who, in addition to the insulation approach, also want to take further measures towards a natural gas-free home, such as purchasing a heat pump, can make use of the existing national subsidies.
Continued and more information
All available information about the insulation approach can be found on the websites below. In the coming months, the approach will be further developed by the government (national, province and municipalities), together with residents, builders, housing associations and the National Heat Fund. For more information, residents can visit the websites of their municipality and the central government.