Natural Gas-Free Heating

Just like the rest of the Netherlands, Voorschoten is phasing out natural gas. This is because the use of natural gas results in high CO₂ emissions. Excessive CO₂ emissions cause global temperatures to rise. The consequences of this rise in temperature are so severe that a global decision has been made to reduce CO₂ emissions. Among other things, this means we’ll be heating our homes differently and finding an alternative to cooking with natural gas.

Municipal Vision for Heating (Heating Transition Vision)

The municipality of Voorschoten has drafted a vision outlining how Voorschoten will transition to sustainable heating by 2050. We call this the Heating Transition Vision (TVW). It details the opportunities we currently see in each neighborhood and the milestones we aim to achieve for the future.

The transition to a natural gas-free municipality is a complex process. The municipality is therefore taking its time with this. Through 2050, work will proceed in phases—neighborhood by neighborhood—in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, toward a natural gas-free future. Key principles in this process are affordability and freedom of choice. Visit Voorschoten Natural Gas-Freefor more information about the heating transition vision.

What will the municipality be doing together with the residents of Voorschoten now?

Exactly how each neighborhood will transition off natural gas and what work will be required are not yet known. The municipality of Voorschoten is therefore focusing primarily on reducing energy consumption through insulation, weatherstripping, and low-temperature heating until 2030.

However, the municipality is already beginning to implement action plans in the neighborhoods identified in the heating transition vision as having high potential (Bijdorp, Vlietwijk, Krimwijk). To develop these plans, the municipality is collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in the neighborhood.  

In addition, further research is being conducted in the meantime into potential heat sources and the possibilities for establishing district heating networks. 

What can I do on my own right now?

Is your neighborhood not yet scheduled for renovation, but would you like to get started anyway? There are steps you can take right now to be prepared for when the time comes. Tenants can ask their landlord or housing authority about their plans.

Insulation

Insulating your home is an important first step in preparing your home for the transition to a natural gas-free future. This includes triple-pane windows, floor insulation, exterior wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, and roof insulation. In most cases, insulation measures pay for themselves within a few years. Additionally, insulation work is usually not very disruptive, so inconvenience is kept to a minimum. You can find more information on this topic on the page about insulation.  

(Hybrid) Heat Pump

A heat pump is an alternative way to generate heat. By extracting heat from the ground, water, or air, a home or tap water can be heated. Switching to a heat pump is typically the final step in the process of making your home more sustainable. For example, it’s important to first insulate your home properly and install a low-temperature heating system. Low-temperature heating (LTV) is a general term for heat distribution systems that operate at a maximum supply temperature of 55 degrees Celsius. The most common application of low-temperature heating is underfloor heating, but it is also possible to use low-temperature radiators, convectors, or even wall-mounted heating. To make the switch to a fully electric heat pump (without a gas connection in the home), low-temperature heating is an absolute requirement. 

If a home or building has high gas consumption and/or the distribution system is not (yet) suitable for operating at low temperatures, a hybrid heat pump can serve as an interim solution. In this case, the home is not yet disconnected from the natural gas supply, but it is possible to reduce gas consumption by half. Click here for more information about (hybrid) heat pumps: .

Electric Cooking

Induction cooking uses electricity. Induction cooking is very similar to cooking with gas: you can adjust the temperature quickly. But it’s also safer than gas: the cooktop itself doesn’t get as hot, and there’s no open flame. Plus, an induction cooktop is easy to clean.

If you’re switching from a gas stove to an induction cooktop, check to see if your pans are compatible. Induction works using magnets. Your pans must therefore have a bottom that can be magnetized; otherwise, heating with induction current won’t work. This requires a layer of steel in the bottom. Pots made solely of stainless steel, copper, or aluminum, as well as ceramic (oven) dishes, do not work on induction. However, there are also stainless steel or copper pots that do have a metal layer in the bottom, and you can continue to use cast-iron pots as well. You can check this with a small magnet: if it sticks, the pan is suitable for cooking on an induction cooktop.