Energy bills can be very high in the Netherlands, especially during the colder months. The good news is that you don’t always need to make expensive changes to your home to reduce your costs.
Some changes cost nothing at all. Others require a small investment but can save you money for years.
I’ve lived in different types of homes in the Netherlands, from energy label A to less efficient homes, and I’ve learned that small changes can make a noticeable difference.
Here are 12 practical ways to lower your energy bill in the Netherlands.
1. Turn down your thermostat
Heating is one of the biggest parts of a typical household energy bill, so this is a good place to start.
Try lowering your thermostat by one degree and see whether you notice a difference. You don’t necessarily need your entire home to be warm all day.
For example, you could:
- Keep the living room comfortable while you’re using it.
- Lower the temperature when you go to bed.
- Turn the heating down when you leave the house for several hours.
- Avoid heating rooms that you rarely use.
A smart thermostat can make this much easier because you can create a schedule instead of remembering to change the temperature manually.
2. Buy a smart thermostat
It is very easy to forget to turn of the temperature before you go to bed. Also it is quite annoying to wake up in the cold. With a smart thermostat you can set up the heating to start up just half hour before you wake up. Also, it is very handy to set it up to lower the temperature two hours before you go to sleep. The house still stays warm and you save two hours of expenditure without even thinking about it.
3. Don’t heat every room
Do you really need your bedroom to be 20°C all day? Probably not.
If you spend most of your time in the living room, focus your heating there. Bedrooms can often be kept cooler, particularly during the day.
If your home gets cold quickly, you can heat the bedroom shortly before going to bed rather than keeping the radiator on all day.
Just make sure you don’t allow rooms to become excessively cold or damp for long periods.
4. Keep your radiators clear
Furniture, curtains and other objects can block heat from circulating around a radiator.
Make sure your radiators have enough space around them so that warm air can circulate properly.
Also check whether your radiators need bleeding. If a radiator is cold at the top but warm at the bottom, it may need to be bled.
These are small things, but they can help your heating system work more efficiently.
5. Use radiator foil
If your radiators are positioned against an outside wall, some of their heat can be lost through the wall.
Radiator foil can reflect some of that heat back into the room.
It is relatively inexpensive and can be particularly useful in older homes that aren’t well insulated.
If you rent your home, this is also the type of small improvement that may be possible without making major changes to the property.
6. Ventilate your home. But don’t waste heat
It might seem strange to open your windows when you’re trying to save energy.
However, ventilation is important for keeping your home healthy and preventing excess moisture.
The trick is to ventilate properly rather than simply leaving a window open all day while the heating is running.
Keep ventilation openings clear and make sure your home gets enough fresh air. At the same time, seal unnecessary drafts around doors and windows.
If your home becomes very humid, your heating may also have to work harder to keep it comfortable.
7. Improve your home’s insulation
If you’re a homeowner, insulation can make a much bigger difference than constantly trying to remember small energy-saving tricks.
Depending on your home, you could look at:
- Roof or attic insulation
- Wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Double or triple glazing
- Sealing drafts around windows and doors
If you’re planning a renovation anyway, it can be a good opportunity to improve insulation at the same time.
And don’t forget that insulation and ventilation need to work together. A well-insulated home still needs adequate ventilation.
If you’re not sure where to start, the Dutch government-backed Verbetercheck can help you identify possible improvements and estimate costs and savings.
8. Lower your central heating temperature
Many people don’t realise that you may be able to lower the temperature of the water used by your central heating system.
Some modern boilers can work efficiently at a lower temperature than the traditional setting.
However, this is different from the temperature of the hot water coming from your taps.
If your boiler also provides domestic hot water, don’t simply reduce the hot-water temperature below the safe level recommended by the manufacturer. Check your boiler’s manual or ask a professional if you’re unsure.
Also, the ideal heating temperature depends on your home, insulation and heating system. If your house stops reaching a comfortable temperature, you may need to adjust the setting again.
9. Take shorter showers
Heating water also costs money. If you take long, hot showers every day, reducing your shower time can make a difference over the course of a year.
You could also consider:
- Installing a water-saving shower head.
- Taking slightly shorter showers.
- Avoiding unnecessarily hot water.
- Turning the water off while soaping up.
You don’t have to stop enjoying your shower. Even a small reduction in your daily shower time adds up.
10. Use your washing machine and dryer efficiently
Your washing routine can affect your electricity consumption more than you might expect.
Try to:
- Run the washing machine with a full load.
- Use lower-temperature programmes when appropriate.
- Choose an eco programme when it makes sense.
- Hang clothes to dry instead of automatically using the dryer.
- Clean the dryer’s filters regularly.
The dryer is particularly useful to look at if you’re trying to reduce electricity consumption.
If the weather allows it, hanging your clothes outside is free.
11. Watch out for electricity “vampires”
Some appliances continue using electricity when you aren’t actively using them.
Think about:
- TVs
- Game consoles
- Computers
- Monitors
- Chargers
- Speakers
- Kitchen appliances
You don’t need to unplug everything in your home every night.
Instead, look for groups of devices that can easily be switched off together. A power strip with an on/off switch can make this much easier.
If you’re curious about where your electricity is actually going, a smart meter or energy monitor can help you identify periods of unusually high consumption.
12. Compare energy contracts
Reducing your consumption isn’t the only way to lower your energy bill. Your energy contract matters too.
If you’ve been with the same supplier for years, don’t assume that you’re still getting a competitive deal.
Compare your current contract with other available options and check if is time to switch energy contract.
Until next time, stay savvy.
Mew
