Step-by-step plan to make your home more sustainable: How to make your home more energy efficient

In recent years, making homes more sustainable has become increasingly important, for both environmental and financial reasons. Many people are thinking about making their homes more sustainable, but are not sure where to start. That's why we at Duurzaamstebouwer.nl offer a convenient quick scan on, with which you will receive a personal step-by-step plan within one minute. In this blog, we'll take you through the process of sustainability and give you a comprehensive step-by-step plan to make your home more energy efficient.

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Do the quick scan here and see what sustainability step your home is ready for.

Why should I make my home more sustainable?

Before we dive into the roadmap, it is important to understand why sustainability is so relevant. A sustainable home means lower energy costs, increased home comfort and a smaller ecological footprint. In addition, a well-sustainable home can increase in value, which is an advantage if you want to sell your home in the future. So making your home more sustainable is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet and the value of your home.

Step-by-step plan to make your home more sustainable: where to start?

If you're wondering where to start making your home more sustainable, our step-by-step plan can help you. This plan is based on the data you enter in our quick scan. Below, we'll discuss the most important steps you can take to make your home more sustainable.

1. Insight into your energy consumption

The first step in making your home more sustainable is gaining insight into your current energy consumption. That is why our quick scan asks about your annual gas and energy consumption. By knowing how much energy you're currently using, you can determine where you can make the biggest savings. Many households consume more energy than necessary, and with the right adjustments, this consumption can be significantly reduced.

2. Insulating: The basis of sustainability

One of the most important steps in making a home more sustainable is insulation. Good insulation ensures that heat stays inside in the winter and outside in the summer, so you don't have to heat and cool as much. In our quick scan, we ask about the current insulation status of your home: which parts of your home have already been insulated and when did this happen? Based on this information, we can advise on further insulation options, such as roof insulation, cavity wall insulation, floor insulation and high-efficiency glass.

What are the costs of insulation? The costs of insulation vary depending on the type of insulation and the size of your home. On average, cavity wall insulation, for example, costs between €15 and €30 per square meter, while roof insulation can range from €40 to €60 per square meter. You usually earn back these investments within a few years by saving on your energy bill.

3. Improve your heating system

Another important aspect of sustainability is improving your heating system. Our quick scan asks about the source of heating in your home and whether you already have floor heating. The step-by-step plan then shows where it is best to start. Floor heating is more efficient than traditional radiators and ensures more even heat distribution in your home. In addition, you can consider switching to a sustainable heat source, such as a heat pump. Heat pumps use energy from the air, soil, or water to heat your home, which uses far less energy than traditional gas heating.

Costs of a heat pump The investment in a heat pump is greater than in a traditional boiler, but the savings on your energy bill can be significant. A heat pump costs an average of between €10,000 and €15,000, but with subsidies and long-term savings, this can be a very profitable investment.

4. Ensure good ventilation

Ventilation is often an underestimated part of sustainability. While insulation ensures that heat stays inside, ventilation ensures that there is enough fresh air into your home. This is important for air quality and the prevention of moisture and mold problems. In our quick scan, we ask if your home has good ventilation. If not, this is an important step in making your home healthier and more sustainable. Mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery can ensure that fresh air enters your home continuously without wasting energy.

What are the costs of a ventilation system? The costs for a ventilation system with heat recovery vary, but average around €3,000 to €6,000. This is also an investment that you will earn back in the long term through a lower energy bill and a healthier indoor climate.

5. Install solar panels

Does the step-by-step plan indicate how to start with solar panels? Solar panels are one of the most visible measures to make your home more sustainable. They convert sunlight into electricity, which reduces your direct energy costs. Our quick scan asks if you already have solar panels; if not, this is an important step to consider. Solar panel prices have fallen in recent years, while efficiency has increased, making them a very attractive option.

Costs and revenues of solar panels The costs for solar panels depend on the number of panels and the capacity, but on average, you pay between €4,000 and €6,000 for a system that can provide electricity to an average household. The payback period is usually between 5 and 10 years, depending on your energy consumption and the amount of sunlight your roof receives.

6. Raise your home's energy label

An important goal of making your home more sustainable is to increase your energy label. This is also covered in the step-by-step plan to make your home more sustainable. The higher the label, the more energy efficient your home is. In our quick scan, we ask about your home's current energy label. Based on this, we provide advice on the steps you can take to improve this label. This can range from replacing old windows to installing a heat pump or installing additional insulation.

7. Tackling humidity and draught problems

Moisture and draught problems can not only reduce home comfort, but also lower the energy efficiency of your home. If this bothers you, it is important to address these issues first before taking other sustainability measures. Good insulation and ventilation are essential to solve these problems. Our quick scan specifically asks about moisture and draft problems, so that we can give you specific advice.

I want to make my home more sustainable: What now?

If, after reading this blog, you think: “I want to make my home more sustainable, but where do I start?” then we recommend that you use our rapid scan to fill out. Within one minute, you will receive a personal step-by-step plan, tailored to your specific situation. This plan helps you to work in a focused and efficient way, so that you can make your home more sustainable step by step.

At Duurzaamstebouwer.nl, we understand that making your home more sustainable is a big step. That's why we're here to support you at every step of the process. From making a plan to implementing the measures, we help you achieve your goals.

Would you rather not have a scan but personal advice?

Do you not like to complete a scan online but would you prefer human contact? Understandable! Leave your contact details and we will answer all your sustainability questions by phone. Would you rather have us stop by! We also do that free of charge and with great pleasure!

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