Due to rising energy prices, many people want to make their homes more sustainable, but how? At the Huis en Energiebeurs in the Bossche Brabanthallen, visitors will find solutions that save a lot of money. “My electricity supplier has gone bankrupt. That is why I now have to pay 600 euros per month instead of about 250 euros. If I don’t make my house more sustainable, my energy bill will become almost unaffordable,” says a visitor while looking at solar panels.
Taking shorter showers, switching off lamps and not leaving appliances on standby can already help to bring down the sky-high energy bill, but to really save considerably, more drastic measures are needed. There are dozens of experts at the fair who help visitors to increase sustainability and save money, because knowledge is often lacking.
“I have no idea how best to make my house more sustainable.”
Exhibition visitor Endre says: “I live in an old farm that is poorly insulated. I’m already trying to cut costs by burning less, but I’m still paying 350 euros per month. That’s way too much for me, so I’m looking for a cheaper alternative. I just have no idea which way is best for my house.”
Gijs wanted to buy solar panels seven years ago, but his wife did not want ‘those ugly things’ on the roof. “Now we look at those things from the neighbors. If I had bought them then, I would have almost earned the money back now. I have no regrets, but it is wise to think about the future again.”
In the middle of the hall is the Sustainable Dream House with numerous energy-efficient solutions. In the model home you see an induction hob to reduce your gas consumption. But also economical appliances to consume less power. The bathroom has a water-saving shower head, which saves you water and energy.
These are all simple ways to become more sustainable with small adjustments, but it doesn’t really yield much yet. That is why many visitors are looking for more drastic measures. One way to save hundreds of euros per year is to install a heat pump. The most common is hybrid variety.
“The better your insulation, the more it will bring you.”
Joanne de Jongh of Milieu Centraal: “The heat pump, together with your central heating boiler, ensures that your house is heated. This is done electrically, so you use less or no gas. In many homes, the hybrid pump can be used immediately, which means that you will immediately save a lot of money. The better your insulation, the more it will yield you.”
The latest sustainable inventions can also be found at the fair. One is a PVT panel. “We are all familiar with solar panels that supply electricity. The new panel not only generates energy, but also heat that can be used by the heat pump,” explains Jojanneke. All you need is space on your roof.
The Huis en Energiebeurs will last until Sunday.
