Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainable Living

The use of natural gas releases greenhouse gases such as_CO2. These gases are largely responsible for climate change. To combat climate change, the Netherlands aims to phase out the use of natural gas by 2050. Instead, we want to switch to renewable energy sources. Natural gas lines are no longer being installed in new residential areas, but we will need to make adjustments to existing buildings to achieve this goal.

The transition from natural gas to another sustainable heat source in Voorschoten won’t happen overnight. Nor is the same solution feasible in every neighborhood in Voorschoten. That is why the municipality is drawing up a broad outline of a plan this year: the heating transition vision. It outlines the most logical choice for each neighborhood to make the switch and the timeframe within which a neighborhood could make the transition. We are also examining, on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, whether an interim solution is a good idea, such as home insulation, energy conservation, or switching to a hybrid heat pump, which uses significantly less natural gas. By the end of 2021, all municipalities in the Netherlands were required to have a heating transition vision in place. In our municipality, the vision was adopted by the city council on December 16, 2021. We have now developed a general vision extending through 2050. Over the coming years, we will continue to work on neighborhood implementation plans for each neighborhood.

About 95% of Dutch households use natural gas to heat their homes, cook, or provide hot water. On average, Dutch households consume about 1,400^{m³ of} natural gas annually. The majority of this natural gas—about 80%—is used to heat homes. The rest is used for cooking, showering, and hot water.

In practical terms, this transition means that in the future, you will no longer use a natural gas boiler, stove, or water heater. This will require modifications to existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. We will determine exactly what those modifications will entail on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood or home-by-home basis. We will make these decisions in collaboration with residents, business owners, and other organizations. If you own a home or rent a home or commercial building and use natural gas, this means there will come a time when changes will be made to your home or property. This will happen by 2050. Of course, we will keep you as informed as possible about this.

Alternatives to natural gas are still very much under development. We expect these developments to progress so rapidly that several new alternatives will emerge in the coming years. We are currently conducting research into which alternatives are feasible and desirable in Voorschoten. The initial findings are included in the heating transition vision.

Phasing out natural gas and switching to a sustainable energy source involves costs. It is not yet known how high these costs will be; that depends on the choices we ultimately make in each neighborhood. However, the Climate Agreement states that all residents, businesses, and other organizations must be able to participate, and the solutions must therefore also be affordable. We are looking for solutions that are “housing-cost-neutral”: this means that a household’s monthly expenses for energy, mortgage, or rent will not increase.

The national government is exploring various options to make the transition away from natural gas affordable for everyone. One possibility is to pre-finance the necessary investments—for example, through the National Heat Fund or building-specific financing.

The municipality believes it is important for residents, businesses, and other organizations to be involved in the transition from natural gas to sustainable heat. This is also because, very often, some of the measures must be implemented in residents’ homes. That’s why it was so great that more than 600 residents contributed their ideas to the development of the heating vision. Now and in the coming years, as we begin working on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis—for example, with insulation projects—we’d very much like to do so together with the people directly affected.

The potential for green gas production in the region, as well as at the national and international levels, is far below current natural gas demand. In the Climate Agreement, the green gas sector has stated its intention to aim for the production of 70 PJ of green gas in the Netherlands by 2030. This represents approximately 6% of current natural gas demand. It remains to be seen whether that target will be met, but green gas will remain a scarce commodity in any case. The availability of green gas beyond that point is still uncertain.

Nuclear energy is an option for_CO2-neutral, large-scale electricity generation. It is not directly linked to the heating of buildings. Because of its national importance, nuclear energy is managed by the national government, not by local or regional authorities. Nuclear energy can therefore play a role, but this is not a matter for the local level.

That will vary by neighborhood. If the municipality designates a neighborhood as eligible for a collective solution, you will receive an offer. You may decline this offer if you have an alternative solution that is at least as good as or better than the collective solution.

Strict noise standards have recently been introduced for heat pumps. The noise from a heat pump is produced by its outdoor unit, and the standards were established specifically for that unit. There are also effective ways to mitigate that noise, such as by shielding or enclosing the outdoor unit, or placing it in a location where you can hardly hear it.  If there is sufficient space, the outdoor unit can be replaced with a so-called ground loop. This solution is more expensive than an outdoor unit, but it produces less noise and is more energy-efficient.

The reliability of a heat pump is comparable to that of a central heating boiler. A heat pump is a proven technology that has been used in homes for over 15 years. The reliability of a district heating network is comparable to that of the current electricity or natural gas grid. The companies that install district heating networks and supply heat are reputable organizations with extensive experience. They are required to provide guarantees regarding the supply of heat to homes. To ensure this, the government oversees these operations through the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

You can seek advice from the Regional Energy Help Desk at or, if you own a historic building, from De Groene Grachten.

All new homes are natural gas-free. They are no longer connected to the natural gas network.

Businesses such as schools, offices, and stores must also switch to natural gas-free heating by 2050. They are also part of the neighborhood-focused approach outlined in the heating transition vision.

This is based on various factors. These include social costs or costs to the end user, but also, for example, the space available underground or the timing of gas pipeline or sewer line replacements. Finally, homeowners must also be willing to participate.       

Energy-saving measures are always a good idea. These include insulation, double- or triple-pane windows, ventilation with heat recovery, and low-temperature heating.

The heating transition vision states that, starting this year—2022—we want to focus primarily on insulation. That’s because it immediately saves energy and reduces_{CO2 emissions}. An interim solution, such as heating via a hybrid heat pump, is also a good idea. Ultimately, we will make a permanent switch to natural gas-free heating. Now that the heating vision is in place, the municipality will work with residents to draw up implementation plans. We’ll be getting to work in all kinds of neighborhoods over the coming years. Some neighborhoods will be further along in this process than others. That depends on a variety of factors: the type of homes, whether people are willing to make the switch, whether that switch is feasible, and so on. New residential developments will be built without natural gas connections. Homeowners can also choose to heat their homes entirely with sustainable energy sources.

The efficiency of heat supply is the sum of the efficiencies of the heat source, supplementary combustion, the district heating network, and the heat connection. The way in which the heat source produces heat is the most decisive factor here. Some factories have excess heat (residual heat), and with geothermal energy, the heat is already present. Extracting this heat requires very little energy compared to the amount of heat it yields. This is even more efficient than an electric heat pump. At a power plant or biomass plant, however, producing heat does consume energy. The efficiency here is 150% and 80%, respectively. Co-firing provides 20% of the heat and usually involves a gas boiler with an efficiency of 90–100%. Currently, about 20% of the heat is lost during transport from the source to the home. In the future, this loss will decrease;the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency( ) expects it to drop to just over 40% by 2050.

The annual efficiency (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance, SCOP) of an electric heat pump ranges from 200% to 500% to 600%. This depends, among other things, on the type of heat pump (ground-source heat pump, outdoor air heat pump, or ventilation heat pump) and the home’s insulation. This means that a heat pump converts 1 kWh of electricity into 2 to 5–6 kWh of heat. This is much higher than the efficiency of a gas boiler, which is approximately 100%. Electric heat pumps are therefore a highly efficient technology.

Solar water heaters are a sustainable technology. They are primarily used for hot water. For the Heat Transition Vision, we are focusing only on technologies that can also be used for space heating. PVT panels are a new technology. These panels produce both hot water and electricity. When combined with a heat pump, a PVT panel can heat a home. Homeowners in neighborhoods that are switching to all-electric heating may also want to consider this option for their homes. Of course, this is a personal choice for the homeowner, and whether it’s a good fit depends on the individual situation.

The goal of the heating transition is to eventually heat your home_{in a carbon-neutral way}. If your neighborhood is selected for a collective solution, you will receive an offer. As a homeowner, you have the final say on whether to accept this offer. You may decline it if you have an alternative solution that is at least as good as or better than the collective solution.

We don’t have all the answers yet—we have to be honest about that. The heating transition plan outlines, in general terms, what we plan to do in Voorschoten. But the entire transition to sustainable heating won’t be complete until 2050. In the meantime, there will undoubtedly be new developments. Do you have questions you can’t find answers to yet? Let us know, and we’ll see how we can answer them as best as possible. We may also add your question to this list of frequently asked questions. Please email us atduurzaam@voorschoten.nl.

The most important thing is to make sure you’re already using less gas for heating by insulating your home. As a homeowner, you can take steps such as installing roof, floor, and cavity wall insulation, HR+++ glass, and solar panels. As a renter, you can take smaller steps such as installing draft stoppers or applying radiator foil. Check with your landlord or housing authority to find out what plans and options are available for larger-scale measures. If you have the option to choose your cooking method, opt for induction.

Insulation is the first step toward making your home more sustainable. It significantly reduces your energy consumption. With good insulation, very little heat is lost, and you need less energy to heat your home. The temperature inside your home remains consistent. In the winter, a well-insulated home stays nice and warm, and in the summer, it stays cool. In addition to saving energy, insulation ensures a pleasant and comfortable home. Insulation is especially important for low-temperature heating systems, such as heat pumps or ground-source heat and cold storage (WKO). Without proper insulation, this type of heating system won’t effectively warm your home.

To help you make your home more sustainable, the municipality of Voorschoten is partnering with theRegional Energy Help Desk at.  

Would you like to make your home or building more sustainable? There are various grants and loans available to you—for private homeowners, homeowners’ associations, business owners, and organizations alike. Visit ourgrants pageto find out which programs you’re eligible for.

In early 2015, all five million homeowners received a provisional energy label from the national government. This label is based on factors such as the year of construction and is intended to encourage homeowners to consider ways to make their homes more comfortable and energy-efficient. If you sell or rent out your home, you must have the provisional label converted to a definitive one. To do so, an energy advisor will visit your home. For more information about energy labels, visit “How do I, as a homeowner, obtain an energy label for my home?” | Rijksoverheid.nl. If you do not have a final label when selling or renting out your home, you risk a fine of up to 405 euros. Curious about your (provisional) energy label? Visitwww.energielabel.nl(external link).

At this time, there is no district heating network in Voorschoten. However, the municipality is investigating, in collaboration with six other municipalities in the region, whether the construction of a district heating network is feasible. The study currently underway concerns the construction of a district heating network between Rijswijk and Leiden, which is part of Warmtelinq. Establishing a district heating network requires thorough research and a careful process, so this study will take time. For this reason, the construction of a district heating network will most likely not take place before 2025.

Warmtelinq is a regional pipeline system. Heat is transported through it via water. Even once Warmtelinq is extended to Voorschoten, the project won’t be complete. To deliver heat to homes in Voorschoten, a local pipeline network must be built to carry the heat to the homes. A station must also be built to transfer the heat from the regional pipeline to the local pipeline. Constructing that network also takes time.

Voorschoten’s Heat Transition Vision (TVW) examined all neighborhoods in the municipality and assessed what viable alternatives exist to natural gas heating. The analysis was conducted at the neighborhood level. This means that the situation specific to a single home may differ from the conclusion reached for the neighborhood in which a person lives.  More information is available atWhat Can You Do as a Resident? | Voorschoten.  

Suppose you live in a neighborhood where a district heating network is a logical alternative to natural gas. That means:

• If the feasibility study for a district heating network yields positive results, there is a good chance that this district heating network will also be installed in that neighborhood.
• In that case, construction will most likely not begin before 2025.
• But if there are plans for a district heating network, it doesn't just happen out of the blue. That means:
  • consultation and participation with the residents of Voorschoten and the neighborhood where the network would be built
  • careful integration into the surrounding area
  • If a district heating network is established, whether or not to connect to it will remain an individual choice for the homeowner. The new heating law (the Collective Heating Supply Act, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024) will likely stipulate that a homeowner must have an equivalent alternative.

Not just large district heating networks

In addition to a large district heating network, smaller district heating networks are also conceivable in the future. Take a look, for example, at an innovative project in Nagele: a district heating network serving 8 homes and a school. However, we currently have no concrete plans for this in Voorschoten.