Extra information
Insulating becomes easy when you know what to look out for. Below we provide additional information about the following questions:
When is my insulation good enough?
The insulation measures in this campaign meet the subsidy conditions of RVO. With these measures, your energy consumption will decrease and the comfort in your home will increase. The question is, of course, whether this insulation is sufficient?
In the Netherlands, a standard has been set for the degree of insulation of existing homes. If you adhere to this minimum standard, your house will be so well insulated that you can live comfortably without natural gas. You can then heat your home at a lower temperature, for example with an electric heat pump instead of a gas boiler.
On the website Verbeter je huis this standard has been elaborated in a package of insulation measures for the various parts of your house. This package is feasible for the homes in Duinoord and brings your home close to the standard for a natural gas-free home:
Floor: R-value 3.7
Windows: U-value 1 – 1.2
Roof: R-value 4
Facade R-value 1.6
The measures in this promotion comply with this standard for home insulation. You prepare your house to switch to a heat pump or another form of heating with a low temperature. If you want to be sure that you are taking the right measures, it is wise to request energy advice. An energy advisor calculates how much heat your home loses and can indicate exactly how much insulation you need to heat your home at a lower temperature.
To insulate is to ventilate
Insulation and ventilation go hand in hand. With good insulation you keep the heat inside, because the outside of your house loses less heat and the gaps are better sealed. This means that the natural ventilation through the cracks is reduced and that your house must be able to breathe in a different way.
For a healthy indoor climate, it is necessary that moist air and harmful substances (caused by cooking, showering, breathing, new materials) can leave the house and that sufficient fresh air can then be supplied from outside. If too much moisture lingers in your home, it can seep into the walls and lead to unhealthy mold growth.
In this video, GGD Haaglanden explains how important ventilation is for your health. If you want to know more about how to ensure sufficient ventilation, visit the website of Milieu Centraal
How do you approach the VvE?
The majority of the homes in Duinoord are apartments (a flat, first floor, upstairs apartment or downstairs apartment) that are part of an Owners' Association (VvE=Vereniging van Eigenaren). The exterior of the property is a shared responsibility. As an individual homeowner you cannot just decide to insulate the roof or floor, that is a matter for the VvE. But how do you do that? What is then possible? And how do you get all owners on the same page? You can contact the VvE desk of the municipality of The Hague with these other questions.
You can also request an exploratory meeting with one of the energy coaches from Duinoord. We have experience with sustainability in a VvE context and are happy to think along with you about the possibilities.
Do I need to apply for an environmental permit?
Duinoord is a protected cityscape. In order to preserve the appearance of our neighbourhood, there are strict rules about what you can and cannot change on the outside of your home. In many cases you must apply for an environmental permit, so that the municipality can assess whether the adjustments meet the requirements. However, an environmental permit costs time and money and is quite cumbersome.
We are still in consultation with the municipality to see whether the obligation to apply for an environmental permit for insulation measures can be relaxed. Until then, the following rules apply:
- You can get a permit to install insulating glass in existing frames if the appearance of your home does not change.
- An environmental permit is also required to install roof insulation on a flat roof. This is granted if the roof edge is not adjusted and the roof covering does not rise above it.
- You must apply for a permit to install roof insulation on the outside on a sloping roof and for facade insulation on the outside.
For more information about applying for an environmental permit, visit the website of the municipality of The Hague.
Where can I find more information?
If you want to read more about making your home more sustainable, we can recommend the following websites:
- Milieu Centraal
An independent and reliable guide to sustainable tips and advice. At Milieu Centraal you will find extensive information about insulation measures. - Verbeter je huis
A website of Milieu Centraal and the national government with practical information about making your home more sustainable. On Verbeter je huis you will find, among other things, an improvement check to find out which measures you can best start with. - Municipality of The Hague.
On the website of the municipality of The Hague you will find all information about the plans and actions of the municipality to turn a The Hague into a sustainable city with clean energy. - RVO
On the website of the RVO you will find all information about the subsidies for sustainable measures for home owners, VvEs and private landlords.