From which label to which label?

A better energy label starts with the right measures. Not every investment delivers the same number of label steps, and some measures pay for themselves far faster than others. Below you can read which measures usually have the greatest effect, how the label has been determined since 2021, and in what order it is sensible to make your home more sustainable.

How the label is calculated

Since 1 January 2021, the energy label has been determined using the NTA8800 method. A certified EP-W advisor inspects the home on site and records, among other things, the insulation of the roof, facade and floor, the glazing, the systems for heating and hot water, the ventilation and any solar panels.

The outcome is expressed in kWh per square metre per year and translated into a label class ranging from A++++ to G. Because the inspection is detailed, every measure counts in a targeted way in the calculation. Unsubstantiated assumptions are avoided: whatever the advisor cannot establish is filled in using standard default values, which often works out less favourably than reality. Good documentation of previously implemented measures therefore pays off.

Measures with the biggest jump

In most existing homes, these measures deliver the greatest label gains:

• Roof and floor insulation: relatively simple to install and often a clear label step.
• HR++ or triple glazing instead of single or old double glazing.
• Cavity wall insulation where the cavity has not yet been filled.
• An efficient heat source, such as a (hybrid) heat pump alongside or instead of the central heating boiler.
• Solar panels, which sharply reduce the calculated energy demand.
• A solar water heater or heat pump boiler for the hot tap water supply.

The smart order of making your home sustainable

Making a home more sustainable works best from the outside in. First insulate the shell of the home, meaning the roof, facade, floor and glazing. This lowers the heat demand, improves comfort and prevents you from later installing a heat pump that is too powerful, and therefore too expensive.

Only once the shell is in order does it pay to tackle the systems. A heat pump performs best at low supply temperatures, and those are only achievable in a well-insulated home. This order prevents duplicate work and ensures that every euro counts to the maximum in the label.

What often disappoints

Individual, small measures do not always lead to a higher label class. Comfort measures that have little influence on the calculated energy performance may also fall outside the label. A single new radiator or draught strips rarely shift the class.

If you want to be sure which step is worthwhile, have it calculated in advance what a measure will deliver for your specific home. This way you avoid investments that do little on paper and you choose precisely those measures that genuinely move you a label step forward.

What a label step delivers for you

A better label is more than a letter on paper. It translates directly into lower energy costs and a more pleasant indoor climate, with less draught and cold downdraught. In addition, the label carries increasing weight in sale and rental: buyers and tenants look at the monthly costs, and a green label demonstrably makes a home easier to sell and finance. Many lenders also offer more borrowing capacity or an interest discount for energy-efficient homes.