Financing energy upgrades: which options do you have?

There are four routes: savings, the Energiebespaarlening from the Nationaal Warmtefonds, a VvE loan and an extra mortgage for energy saving. Not all four are open to everyone. The table shows who each route is meant for.

Want to know the cost first? Request your no-obligation quote. You need it for your loan as well.

The Nationaal Warmtefonds lets owner-occupiers and VvEs borrow money to make their home more sustainable. You borrow between €1,000 and €29,000 for an existing home you live in yourself.

If your verzamelinkomen (the sum of income and assets on your tax return) is below €60,000, you pay 0% interest. If you live together, your income and your partner's count together. You find it on your income statement from the Tax Administration. You do not apply for the 0% separately, the Warmtefonds assesses it itself. With a higher income you do pay interest. You see the current rate in the Warmtefonds calculator.

You choose a term of 7, 10 or 15 years. Borrow more than €15,000 and 20 years is possible too.

As a homeowner or home buyer you may take out a higher mortgage to make your home more energy efficient. The worse the energy label, the more room:

• €20,000 for energy label E, F or G.
• €15,000 for energy label C or D.
• €10,000 for energy label A++, A+, A or B.
• No extra room for A+++ or A++++, because those homes are already so efficient.

Whether you can use this also depends on your mortgage lender and your situation. Discuss it with your mortgage adviser before you sign.

Indication, not financial advice. We use these assumptions:

• A loan of €8,000 for a home battery, installation included.
• 0% interest, because the combined verzamelinkomen is below €60,000.
• A term of 120 months (10 years). That is an assumption.
• No extra costs.

• Monthly payment: €8,000 ÷ 120 = €66.67 per month.
• Total to repay: €8,000, because there is no interest.

The Warmtefonds lets you choose the term yourself. Check the terms for your own application in the Warmtefonds calculator.

What a home battery earns is a sum of several things: how much solar power you have left over during the day and still use yourself in the evening, what you can do with your energy contract and what you receive for feeding in. That sum is different for every household, so we do not set a saving per month next to the monthly payment here. For the purchase price, read what a home battery costs.

A loan is not a subsidy: you pay it back. These schemes also play a part:

• Heat pump: the ISDE subsidy exists for it. With the ISDE check you look up the registration code of your heat pump.
• Solar panels: on the supply and installation of solar panels on or near your home you pay 0% VAT.
• Home battery: you pay 21% VAT on it. Under conditions you can reclaim it, and the VAT refund check shows whether that works for you.

• When the monthly payment stretches your budget. Even at 0% interest you repay the full amount.
• When you are about to move. Ask the Warmtefonds what happens to the loan before you sign.
• When you are not sure the measure suits your home. Only start applying once it is clear what you are having installed, because you send your installer's quote along.
• When you would pay interest and can take the amount from savings without worry. Then borrowing costs you extra money.

Tell us your situation and we will look at it with you as far as the installation goes. For the financing itself, go to the Warmtefonds or your mortgage adviser. All amounts on this page are an indication, not financial advice.